Choosing a Foundation and Building Envelope

Timber frame home being raised. © Bala structures

There are many choices to make regarding choosing a building envelope, starting with a basement foundation or a slab on grade, and a multitude of different wall systems. There are many factors that have to be considered, each affecting the other.

First you’ll need to prioritize and find a balance between budget, size and performance. If you have a minimum space requirement and maximum budget, you’ll need to find the best building envelope that meets those requirements.

If you have a maximum budget and want a high performance home, then you might have to sacrifice some square footage. A flexible design allows you to go this route and expand in the future if necessary.

Your building envelope ideally should be viewed in the same way you would any financial investment, invest money now to get more back later. A better insulated home might cost more up front, but once it’s paid for you’ll see a net savings from lower operational costs.

• Choosing a building envelope
• Slab on grade, or foundation and basement
• The importance of air barriers for a high performance wall system