Moisture-Resistant

Foundation Construction
BUILD A BETTER HOME
 Wood: The Natural Choice
Engineered wood products are among the most beautiful and environmentally
friendly building materials. In manufacture, they are produced efficiently from a
renewable resource. In construction, the fact that engineered wood products are
available in a wide variety of sizes and dimensions means there is less jobsite waste
and lower disposal costs. In completed buildings, engineered wood products
are carbon storehouses that deliver decades of strong, dependable structural
performance. Plus, wood’s natural properties, combined with highly efficient
wood-frame construction systems, make it a top choice in energy conservation.

A few facts about wood: Life Cycle Assessment measures the long-
term green value of wood. Studies by CORRIM
We’re growing more wood every day. For the (Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial
past 100 years, the amount of forestland in the United Materials) give scientific validation to the strength
States has remained stable at a level of about 751 mil- of wood as a green building product. In examining
lion acres. Forests and wooded lands
1
building products’ life cycles—from
cover over 40 percent of North America’s U.S. Forest Growth and extraction of the raw material to dem-
All Forest Product Removals
land mass. Net growth of forests has
2
Billions of cubic feet/year olition of the building at the end of its
exceeded net removal since 1952 3; in 30 long lifespan— CORRIM found that
2011, net forest growth was measured wood had a more positive impact on
25
at double the amount of resources the environment than steel or concrete
removed. American landowners plant
4 20 in terms of embodied energy, global
more than two-and-a-half billion new 15 warming potential, air emissions, water
trees every year. In addition, millions
5
emissions and solid waste production.
10
of trees seed naturally. For the complete details of the report,
5 visit www.CORRIM.org.
Manufacturing wood is energy
0
efficient. Over 50 percent of the energy 1952 2011 Wood adds environmental value
consumed in manufacturing wood prod- throughout the life of a structure.
Net Forest Growth
ucts comes from bioenergy such as tree When the goal is energ y- efficient
Resources Removed
bark, sawdust, and other harvesting construction, wood’s low thermal con-
Source: USDA—Forest Service
by-products.6 Very little of the energy ductivity makes it a superior material.
used to manufacture engineered wood As an insulator, wood is six times more
comes from fossil fuels. Plus, modern methods allow efficient than an equivalent thickness of brick, 105
manufacturers to get more out of each log, ensuring times more efficient than concrete, and 400 times
that very little of the forest resource is wasted. more efficient than steel.7

Good news for a healthy planet. For every ton

of wood grown, a young forest produces 1.07 tons of
oxygen and absorbs 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide.

Wood is the natural choice for the environment, for design, and for strong, resilient construction.

1. United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, FS-979, June 2011; 2. FAO, UN-ECE (1996) North American Timber Trends Study. ECE/TIM/SP/9. Geneva; Smith et al. (1994), Forest Statistics of the United States, 1992.
Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-168; 3. United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service; FS-801 Revised September 2009; 4. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, August 2014; 5. Forest Landowners Association,
2011; 6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 2007; 7. Produced for the Commonwealth of Australia by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, 2010.
Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

Steps to Constructing a
Moisture-Resistant Foundation
Details are critical when constructing a sound building foundation that will withstand water
intrusion and control dampness. Foundation repairs are often difficult and expensive, so it’s
important to build the foundation correctly the first time. The Build A Better Home program
from APA is designed to provide builders and homeowners with the construction guidelines
they need to protect their homes against damaging moisture infiltration. Key elements in the
building envelope are the roof, walls, and foundations. This publication discusses common
sources of moisture and addresses design details for foundations. Additional design fac-
tors that are not covered in this publication include ventilation, energy considerations, and
design recommendations for buildings within flood zones. Check with your local building
department for these and other requirements specific to your location.

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Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

SOURC E S OF MOI S TUR E IN N E W CON S TRUCTION

There are several common causes of water intrusion into floors, crawl spaces and basements:

1. Rainwater, either flowing from the ground or draining from the roof, can flow into the side of the foundation
and then into the crawl space or basement.

2. Rainwater can enter the ground and flow through the soil into the area under the house.

3. Natural springs sometimes emerge under homes. They may appear only seasonally.

4. Groundwater levels can rise and fall seasonally, imparting a hydrostatic pressure on the foundation walls and
slab. Sometimes the groundwater table can actually rise all the way to the surface. See Figure 1.

5. Groundwater below the level of the floor or foundation can wick upward through the soil by capillary action and
cause dampness in basements, crawl spaces and slab floors. In very fine soils or clays, this capillary rise can be
as much as eight feet above the groundwater table.

6. During construction, landscaping, remodeling or just over time, existing footing drain (perimeter drain) systems
can become clogged with dirt or tree roots, crushed, broken, or severed. Subsequent water backup may cause
dampness or even flooding in the foundation.

7. New concrete will usually be damp to the touch for several weeks or even months. This is because new concrete
contains excess water and the dampness occurs as the water evaporates. This type of dampness is not a long-
term problem.

FIGURE 1

WATER TABLE SLOPE

Natural ground slope

Water table lowered by

foundation drains

Natural water table

Water table rises at

center of building

Drain to daylight

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Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

GE N E R A L CON S IDE R ATION S A N D PR E V E NTI V E M E A S UR E S

The following construction practices will minimize water problems in many foundation installations. In addition
to following these preventive steps, it’s a good idea to consult a geotechnical engineer to ensure the foundation is
designed and built correctly.

Determine Frost Depth and Frost Protection Requirements

The frost depth is the depth below grade to which the water within the soil can freeze. It is also referred to as the
frost line. The depth of the frost line is dependent on the climatic conditions of the area, the soil property, soil
covering (e.g., pavement, snow) and nearby heat sinks or heat sources.

When placing any portion of the foundation above the frost line, protection to prevent frost heaving is required.
Frost heaving is an upwards pressure caused by the freezing of the water particles within moist soil. Soil-free pockets
of water can freeze and expand, exerting pressure upon the foundation which may lead to structural damage or
differential settlement. Check with your local building department, refer to the building codes, or consult a licensed
design professional to determine the requirement and solutions to provide frost protection for specific projects.

Identify and Design for Expansive Soils

Expansive soils are clays that absorb moisture within each fine particle. In the process, they may expand with
enough force to crack or collapse all but the strongest walls and floors. Cracks in a basement wall provide a more
direct path for water intrusion in addition to increasing the potential for structural damage.

Expansive soils should be removed from around the foundation and replaced by a backfill material consisting of
soils or gravels that do not expand when wet. When building on expansive soils, it is doubly important that rain or
groundwater does not get under the footing or floor slab.

Indentify the Presence of Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure of water forced against the exterior of a foundation wall or slab. When the
water table rises to the level of any portion of the foundation slab or foundation wall, a hydrostatic pressure is
present. The presence of hydrostatic pressure can force liquid water into the basement or enclosed crawlspace areas
through cracks and cold-joints along the basement wall and floor or into the pores of the concrete.

The water table at most areas will cyclically rise and drop throughout the year. Any time a foundation is exposed to
hydrostatic pressure due to the rise of the water table, a waterproofing material on the floor-on-ground and below
grade walls is required. The waterproofing should be installed in acccordance with the building code.

In some areas, a damp-proofing material is required instead of waterproofing. Check with the local building
department, refer to the building codes, or consult a licensed design professional to determine whether
waterproofing or damp-proofing is required.

Install a Footing Drain

A footing drain (Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6) is one of the most essential features for the prevention of moisture problems
and is common to all types of foundations. It should be installed around the perimeter of the foundation and
discharged to a suitable location downhill from the home, into a drywell or into a storm sewer system.

Where soil, adjacent structures or ground elevations prevent gravity drainage, a sump must be installed and the
water pumped to a dry well or discharged downhill from the house. If the water is pumped to a storm sewer, a
licensed plumber may be required to install the connection to the sewer.

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Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

Install a footing drain as follows:

1. Place a geotextile (filter) fabric on the bottom of the excavation.

2. Cover with four inches of one-size, clean, 3/4-inch crushed stone or gravel.

3. Place four-inch minimum diameter perforated drainpipe over the gravel if the soil is clay. Use a six-inch perforated
pipe if the soil is sandy and there is a lot of water to redirect. Orient the perforations down. The drainpipe may
be laid level along the footing.

4. At the point where the footing drain leaves the perimeter of the house, connect the perforated footing drain to
an unperforated drainpipe of the same diameter and run to a downhill area, away from the house, to a drywell,
storm sewer or to a suitable location for an above-ground discharge.

5. Cover the perforated drainpipe with about six inches of clean gravel and cover the gravel with the geotextile fabric.

PR E V E NTI V E M E A S UR E S FOR S PEC IF IC FOUN DATION T Y PE S

Most homes are built on one of three types of foundations: slab-on-grade, crawl space, or full basement. Pressure-
preservative-treated wood, concrete, masonry block, post-and-pier and pilings may be used. Only concrete and masonry
block foundations are addressed in this publication, although the principles of good practice are common to others.

Slab-on-Grade Foundation
Slab-on-grade foundations are typically built by pouring the floor and footing as one unit. In most cases, the floor is at,
or only slightly above, ground level. Walls of any height can be formed on top of the slab-on-grade foundation system.

If fine soils or clays are present, and the water table may rise to within ten feet of the surface, the ground should be
specially prepared to receive a slab floor (Figure 2).

FIGURE 2

SLAB-ON-GRADE FOUNDATION

3" min. granular capillary break

Concrete slab such as 3/4" gravel

10–20 mil polyethylene

Sill gasket

8" min. 6" min.

4" min. perforated
drainpipe

6" min.

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Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

Install a slab-on-grade foundation as follows:

1. Install a drainage and capillary break of a minimum of three inches of 3/4-inch minus (compactable) aggregate
over the ground. This gravel should be compacted.

2. Place a layer of 10–20 mil poly­ethylene (or reinforced polyethylene for greater puncture resistance) over the gravel.

3. Cast the slab over the polyethylene.

Note that excess water in concrete evaporates and leaves microscopic holes through which water can move. To minimize
concrete porosity, use a low water-cement ratio concrete mix with a high cement content and a superplasticizer additive.

Slope the ground surface away from the house and foundation. Make sure that all water from downspouts is discharged
away from the house into a drywell, storm sewer or suitable ground-surface location downhill from the house.

Crawl Space Foundations

This type of foundation is typically used to permit the construction of a wood-framed floor system above the
ground. The crawl space under the floor provides access to wiring, plumbing and heating ducts. The foundation
is composed of a separate perimeter footing plus concrete or masonry walls that may be only a few inches high
to several feet high. The unfinished dirt floor of this type of foundation system may be at or below the adjacent
ground level (Figure 3).

FIGURE 3

CONCRETE MASONRY CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATION

6" min.
8" min.
Low permeability soil

6" min.

Class 1 Vapor retarder covers

floor and extends to top of wall
Granular
backfill

Filter fabric

Concrete footing

Coarse gravel

4" min. perforated

drainpipe

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Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

The footing drain and gutter/downspout discharge systems should be installed the same way as for the slab floor
described above. Through-wall connec­tions for water, sewer and electrical should be minimized and thoroughly
sealed (Figure 4). Again, make sure that the ground slopes away from the footings.

FIGURE 4

THROUGH-WALL SEALING

Waterproofing Foundation wall

membrane

Sealant between
Fillet if required by sleeve and wall
waterproofing type

Sealant between
Clamping ring (optional)
pipe and sleeve

Pipe sleeve extending min. 4"

beyond exterior face of wall Pipe penetration

Geotextile or protection course

Building codes often require ventilation or other methods to dissipate moisture in the crawl space. Check with the
local building department to determine approved methods to control crawl space moisture. Where used, typical
requirements for crawl space ventilation call for at least four ventilation openings with at least one on each wall
around the perimeter. Ventilation openings should be as high on the foundation walls as possible and the total area
should be evenly distributed among the walls.

The formula below is commonly used to calculate the required total size of the openings:

___
a=
150( )
A

where:

a = Total net free area of all vents (sq. ft)

A = area of crawl space (sq. ft)

Whether the crawl space is ventilated or not, there should be a six-mil-minimum thickness polyethylene ground
cover or other Class 1 vapor retarder material over bare ground under the house to prevent ground moisture from
migrating into the crawl space. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to seal all edges with tape or adhesive.
When a Class 1 vapor retarder material is installed as recommended, most codes provide that the ventilation area
may be reduced to 10 percent of the area calculated by the above equation.

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Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

Elevated Foundations
In flood zones, foundations must be elevated above design flood elevation, as stipulated in the building code. In
such cases, crawl space foundations are commonly used, or slab foundations are elevated through the construction
of an above-grade stem wall which is filled with compacted fill dirt.

Full Basement Foundation

This is actually a variation of the crawl space foundation but with full-height walls and a concrete floor. The basement
walls may be below grade (ground level) on all sides. On hillsides, one or more sides of the basement may be above or
partially above grade.

The same steps that were taken for the slab foundation floors also apply to basement floors. Concrete vibrators should
be used to prevent the formation of voids and cold joints in poured concrete walls. A liberal use of steel reinforcing
bars in the basement walls will help minimize cracking and increase structural strength. Use low water/cement ratio
concrete with a high cement content. Super­plasticizers will facilitate the workability of this concrete mix.

FIGURE 5

FULL-BASEMENT FOUNDATION WALL WITH MAT DRAINAGE

Sill gasket
Optional drainage mat in
place of granular backfill
Concrete foundation wall
Low permeability soil
Isolation joint with sealant

Capillary break between

footing and foundation wall*
Granular
backfill
Concrete footing
Filter fabric
4" concrete slab w/optional
welded wire mesh
Coarse gravel

4" min. 10–20 mil polyethylene

perforated
drainpipe

Min. 3" of 3/4" gravel

4" as capillary break

*It is good practice to include a capillary break in the footing key to reduce the moisture content of the foundation wall. Neglecting this break may
lead to capillary movement of water through the concrete, which may occur at high water table locations.

Form No. A520D  ■  © 2017 APA – The Engineered Wood Association  ■ www.apawood.org  9
Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

FIGURE 6

FULL-BASEMENT FOUNDATION WALL WITH GRANULAR DRAINAGE

Wall drainage gravel or

drainage mat (8" lifts)

Isolation joint with sealant

Capillary break between

footing and foundation wall*

Capillary break layer

(10–20 mil polyethylene)

4" min. perforated

drainpipe

*It is good practice to include a capillary break at the intersection of footing and basement wall to reduce the moisture content of the foundation
wall. Neglecting this break may lead to capillary movement of water through the concrete, which may occur at high water table locations.

The following steps will help ensure a water-free interior:

1. Minimize through-wall penetrations for water, sewer and electrical connections and seal all such penetrations
to prevent water leakage. Seal around all joints and penetrations for pipes and conduits (Figure 4).

2. Coat the exterior of the walls with a suitable waterproofing or damp-proofing material as required. Follow
manufacturer’s directions. This will be the backup system to help seal any existing or future minor cracks that
may admit water.

3. When the natural water level is above the footing, the sealer should be covered with a waterproof membrane capable
of withstanding the water pressure without leaking, even if a footing drain has been installed. When such a system
is used, the components should all come from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility of components.

4. Attach a drainage mat to the wall, over the waterproof or damp-proof membrane, to provide a free pathway for
water to flow to the footing drain. Gravel can also be used to create a drainage pathway to the footing drain but
care should be taken to not tear the waterproof or damp-proof membrane when placing the gravel (Figure 6).

5. Place a geotextile (filter) fabric on the bottom of the excavation and cover with four inches of one-size clean 3/4-
inch crushed stone or gravel.

6. Place four-inch-minimum diameter perforated drainpipe over the gravel if the soil is clay. Use a six-inch perforated
pipe if the soil is sandy and there is a lot of water to redirect. Orient the perforations down. The drainpipe may
be laid level along the footing.

Form No. A520D  ■  © 2017 APA – The Engineered Wood Association  ■ www.apawood.org  10
Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction

7. At the point where the footing drain leaves the perimeter of the house, connect the perforated footing drain to
an unperforated drainpipe of the same diameter and run to a downhill area, away from the house, to a drywell,
storm sewer or suitable location for an above-ground discharge.

8. Cover the perforated drainpipe with about six inches of clean 3/4-inch gravel and cover the gravel with the
geotextile (filter) fabric.

9. Backfill the excavation. Compact the soil carefully in layers as backfill is added. Avoid over-compaction because
that may damage the wall structurally.

B A S IC CON S IDE R ATION S IN FOUN DATION DE S IGN

Attention to details in foundation construction will prevent damaging moisture buildup and infiltration and make
it easier to keep the floor and crawl space areas dry. Here are a few important principles:

1. Water runs downhill, even when underground.

2. Dammed-up water will cause pressure against a wall that can increase the risk of leaks.

3. Ordinary concrete, mortar and masonry block are porous.

4. All concrete walls will crack—at least on a microscopic level. It is therefore advisable to take steps that will prevent
water from going through these cracks.

5. Avoid capillary action under slabs by using coarse gravel covered by 10–20 mil polyehtylene.

6. It is always easier and less expensive to prevent water problems than it is to fix them later.

About APA
APA is a nonprofit trade association whose member mills produce approximately 85 percent of the structural wood panel
products manufactured in North America.

The Association’s trademark appears only on products manufactured by member mills and is the
manufacturer’s assurance that the product conforms to the standard that is shown on the trade-
mark. Quality of all APA trademarked products is subject to verification through an APA audit.

THING APA’s services go far beyond quality testing and inspection. Research and promotion programs play
RATED SHEA
32/16ACING important roles in developing and improving panel and engineered wood systems, and in helping
SIZED FOR SP users and specifiers better understand and apply products.
1
EXPOSURE 1 IN.
0.45
THICKNESS
000 More Information Online
PRP-108
PS 1-09 C-D GORY
15/32 CATE Visit APA’s website at apawood.org for more information on engineered wood products, wood
design and construction, and technical issues and answers.

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 Build a Better Home:
Moisture-Resistant Foundation Construction
We have field representatives in many major U.S. cities and in Canada
who can help answer questions involving APA trademarked products.
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D I SC L A I M E R
The information contained herein is based on APA – The Engineered Wood Association’s c­ ontinuing
programs of laboratory testing, product research, and comprehensive field experience. Neither
APA, nor its members make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assume any legal liability or
responsibility for the use, application of, and/or reference to opinions, findings, conclusions, or rec-
ommendations included in this publication. Consult your local jurisdiction or design professional to
assure compliance with code, construction, and performance requirements. Because APA has no
control over quality of workmanship or the conditions under which engineered wood products are
used, it cannot accept responsibility for product performance or designs as actually constructed.

Form No. A520D/Revised July 2017