What Is A Pier And Beam Foundation

When searching for a home have you ever asked wondered what type of foundation exists for the home that you would like to purchase? Seeing as how there are a few different types of foundations, this might be a great question to consider asking. Knowing if the home is a slab foundation or a pier and beam foundation can determine whether or not you want to purchase the home. What is a pier and beam foundation you ask? Well, it is an alternative to a slab or a basement foundation. Typically, it consists of crawl space underneath the home.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons and what’s involved with a pier and beam foundation.

Sample concrete pier and beam structure

Pier And Beam Foundation Pros

  • The home is less likely to flood because of elevation.
  • In addition to the reduced flooding possibility, you have easier access to plumbing and electrical lines underneath the home. This is because a crawlspace is created by the elevated foundation.
  • You will also note that the pier and beam foundation repair is easier and can be less expensive as compared to a concrete slab foundation.
  • Lastly, a pier and beam home can be more easily relocated if necessary.
Concrete pier and beam foundation sample

Pier And Beam Foundation Cons

There are some obvious cons and not so obvious cons to a pier and beam foundation. Let’s take a look at the list:

  • Easier to have a pest or rodent infestation. They can nest under the home in the crawlspace.
  • Your floors will creek and make noises as there is less support underneath them. This is because there is more hollow space and no concrete slab.
  • You might run into a dampness issue. An under-layer is typically placed on the floor joists in between the beams and the floor itself. This will reduce dampness possibilities. Checking with a professional might be a good idea to see if you need to waterproof the basement.
  • The air rises so during cold months, you could see an increase in energy bills to keep the home warm.

All of these situations are highly likely depending on where you live and the weather conditions where you live.

How Much Will It Cost Me To Repair

Generally speaking, you are looking at a repair cost of $5,600 to $8,500 for damaged pier and beam foundations. This range is dependent upon the size of your home and the extent of the damage.

Slab Foundation

A slab foundation is different than a pier and beam. While the pier and beam foundation has a crawl space underneath, a slab foundation is made of concrete with no space. Also, a slab foundation is made of 4-6 inches of concrete and on top of a layer of sand for drainage.

Basement Foundation

This type of foundation allows for a basement in the home. Basement foundations are usually at least 7 feet high, the deepest of all foundations, and match the amount of square footage above it. The advantages are that it increases energy efficiency, a multi-purpose space, and families enjoy this living area in the home.

Other Maintenance Ideas

While you are having your crawlspace inspected, it is a great idea to have the crawlspace cleaned while the professional is under the home.

In addition to having your crawlspace cleaned, you will want to check the landscaping to keep water away from the house. Not sure what type of plants to put around the foundation of a house? Install plants that will keep water away from the home or remove plants that are accumulating under the home.

Conduct your HVAC maintenance so you can make sure that is functioning properly and not leaking water. If your home is older, the HVAC system could need replacing.  You will want to inspect the HVAC unit to determine the longevity of its remaining parts.

Pier and Beam foundation sample
Pier and Beam Foundation

When Should I Call A Professional

When it comes to the home foundation, consulting a licensed contractor and foundation repair company is important. Getting under your home’s crawlspace is not an easy task. If you need your flooring checked and to make sure that your crawlspace is free and clear of any issues, you will want a professional contractor to complete your inspection. In addition, there are various building codes for your state and you will want to ensure that those codes are followed. Here is the link for Illinois and if you live in another state, you can use the same site and just change the state.

Conclusion

It is highly recommended that you consult a licensed contractor to conduct any repairs or new installations needed on your pier and beam foundation system. This will save you time and money, as you might not know the state building code and more damage could be done. Lastly, they will be able to assess all of the potential damages and provide a great estimate as to the cost of repairs. Home Inspection Geeks in the Chicago, IL, and surrounding areas of Lake, Cook, and DuPage Counties can take a look at your crawlspace and pier and beam foundation during a home inspection.

What is a Roof Scupper

Imagine walking around in a city with huge buildings that have flat roofs. You will see these decorative downspouts or even side spouts on the buildings. They can be very decorative and fit the style of the architecture of the building. Let’s assume that you never asked yourself, what is that thing connected to the gutter system?

We can also assume that no one ever told you, that it was a roof scupper, which made you question, what is a roof scupper? A roof scupper is a drainage system for flat roofs that allows water to move through a gutter system. It is best to consult a licensed roofing professional when conducting roofing work. If you take a look at the image below you will see one of many examples of a roof scupper.

Let’s learn more about what a roof scupper is and its purpose.

How Effective Is a Roof Scupper

A roof scupper is very valuable to a flat roof drainage system and works in conjunction with your downspouts. Also, a roof scupper gives you a chance to have proper drainage on your flat roof. As long as the scupper is clear of debris, the water will drain nicely. Roof scuppers are vital pieces of a flat roof drainage system. It is important to check them for proper drainage regularly. If you live up north, you will want to make sure you get the snow off the roof and the roof scuppers are kept clear of ice. If not, the water will back up onto the roof and into the home.

Various Types Of Roof Scuppers

There are a few types of roof scuppers and they come in different shapes. The most standard roof scupper is a rectangular-shaped box. Here is a list of ones we found on Amazon (Note: We have not tested these products).

  • Open Scupper–three sided scupper with an opening at the top
  • Through Wall Scupper-usually a rectangular hole in the wall, connecting to a downspout
  • Round Scupper or Decorative-found in the sidewall of a building, allowing water to run off through a piping system

The Difference Between A Roof Scupper and A Drain

You will be surprised at the difference between a roof scupper and a roof drain. One would assume that they are very similar items in your roof drainage system.

A roof scupper is a part of your roof drainage system that allows water to run off the roof through a metal edge, parapet wall, or through the flat roof into the downspout. This will prevent the water from running into the interior of the building as it puddles up on the roof.

Roof drains are assemblies where water runoff transfers through the roof drain and into piping that runs out to the exterior of the building. Roof drains can be installed in the middle of the roof and connected to piping that will run through the attic and out to the sidewall of the building exterior.

Cost Of a Roof Scupper

A basic roof scupper can run you around $100-$150. However, there are additional materials you need to make the installation successful: Caulk to seal the joints and the potential for welding of the scupper to the downspouts of your gutter system.

Since there are so many moving parts to installing a roof scupper, it is best to consult a licensed roofing specialist. There are local roofing codes for each state and you will want to make sure you follow those roofing codes. These are the codes for Chicago and these are for DuPage County.

Installation of a roofing scupper will likely run you between $400-$800, depending on the time and materials needed for the job.

Let’s take a look at how to install a flat roof scupper drain.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Flat roofs can puddle after heavy rain. It is important to have the proper drainage system so that this doesn’t occur. Installing a roof scupper will allow for proper drainage off of your flat roof. However, if the drainage system backs up, you could end up with roof damage. Check the roof for clogged drainage and puddles.

Check the pipes on the roof and make sure the vent is clog-free, along with no birds or rodents making nests. Additionally, check to make sure are no humans blocking the vent or corrosion of the pipe.

When Do I Call A Professional

When it comes to roofing, you will want to consult a licensed roofing contractor. Getting up on a flat roof to install a roof scupper could prove to be more challenging than you think. In addition, there are various building and roofing codes for your state and you will want to ensure that those codes are followed. So, for the safety of you and the home, you will want to consult a licensed roofing contractor.

Conclusion

In many cases, it is easy to identify the need to repair a leaking flat roof. In this case, the installation of a roof scupper would be ideal. Additionally, making sure that the drainage system connects properly will ensure that no leaks will occur on your flat roof.

It is also highly recommended that you consult a licensed roofing contractor to conduct any repairs or new installations needed on your flat roof drainage system. This will save you time and money, as you might not know the state roofing code and more damage could be done.

Lastly, they will be able to assess all of the potential damages and provide a great estimate as to the cost of repairs. Home Inspection Geeks can take a look at your roofing needs when we come out for a home inspection in the Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties, IL.