Stem Wall Concrete Slab Foundation

The key difference in this build type is the use of stem walls.

Stem wall concrete slab foundation. A trench is excavated around the foundation for the construction of the stem wall. Stem wall slabs are constructed in a multi part process where a footer is poured at virgin ground level then blocks are laid forming a wall up to the finished slab elevation. This process takes a bit longer than the monolithic slab but a more stable foundation will prevent other issues down the road that could arise with trusses or wall construction. Finally a slab is poured to the desired level.

With a stem wall foundation the concrete is poured in multiple stages. Stem walls are supporting structures that are used as a means of joining the foundation of a building with the vertical walls constructed on the foundation. This type of foundation is much more stable when fill dirt is required achieve the final build elevation. The stem wall on a concrete foundation is essentially the supporting wall that joins the foundation of a building to the vertical walls of the structure that is constructed atop the foundation.

The wall is often constructed with the use of concrete and steel and works with the foundational slab to create a solid basis for the building. Then the fill dirt is added and compacted. The stem wall transmits the load of the structure to the footing which distributes the structure weight over a wider area.