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What Type of Foundation is Right for your Building?

While most people use concrete for the floor and foundation of their building, there are a few other options to consider as well. The following section discusses a few of your other choices and highlights their pros and cons.

I’m a big fan of concrete – to me it’s the ideal floor for a garage. The material is easy to sweep and keep clean, small parts can be found when dropped (at least most of the time), and it seems to last forever with a minimum of upkeep. However, there are a few other types of floors or foundations that you might want to consider for your building:

  • Dirt – dirt has been around as long as I can remember and it’s definitely economical – you probably have some right there on your property. A floor made out of earth works fine for a carport and can even be used for a garage or outbuilding as long as there are concrete footings and piers to support the structure. However, keep in mind that the floor is going to be dusty when it’s dry and muddy when it rains – even a freshly washed car that’s dripping may cause a mess.

  • Gravel – spreading stone is a step up from dirt, but not by much. If you have anything other than a carport, you’ll more than likely still need concrete footings and piers. However, gravel is much less expensive than concrete so you may want to use it as a temporary floor if you’re on a tight budget.

  • Asphalt – this is a great floor material, but once again, depending on the size of your building, you may still need concrete to provide support. However, the asphalt can be installed after the foundation is in and it makes for a very durable and attractive garage floor. The material should be sealed on a regular basis much the same as an asphalt driveway to protect it from the elements.

While these are all great options and each has their strong points, if concrete is poured properly, it should last as long as or longer than your building.

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