A sound foundation is the most important part of your home, so all Tilson foundations are site-specific engineered. We assess your geography, soil, and terrain before building to ensure a solid foundation. As Tilson places your foundation, we use methods to eliminate air pockets and create a nice finished look on the surface. We also use a vapor barrier and post-tension cables to create a superior foundation that combines the strength and durability of both concrete and steel.

Geotechnical Investigation

Before we even think about what kind of foundation will be designed for your home, an engineer will come out and do a geotechnical investigation. They provide us with detailed reports on the specific soil types within the footprint of your home to design the best possible foundation for you based on your land's characteristics and needs. 

Vapor Barrier

Before we pour the concrete, we install a vapor barrier between the ground and the slab. This black polyethylene plastic prevents moisture from transferring back and forth from the ground and the slab. This step creates a longer-lasting foundation while also providing an extra layer of protection against mold growth and ground-based pests.

Foundation Structure

Throughout our ninety years of building homes, we've found a post-tension slab on grade foundation to be the best for the various soil condition throughout the state of Texas. The foundation engineer designs how deep and how wide the beams need to be for your home, as well as exactly how far apart they need to be placed. Trucks from the ready-mix company pour concrete into the pump truck. The concrete goes up through a boom and then comes down into the slab to get the concrete fully down into the bottom of the beams. 

The foundation engineer also designs exactly how many tension cables are needed and the distance between the cables. The cables will form a grid throughout your foundation, and each cable is coated in axle grease. It will take a full 28 days for the concrete to cure. About 10 to 14 days in, the post-tension company will come back to tighten the cables. The cables going both directions are tightened to between 29,000 to 31,000 PSI, taking advantage of the compression strength of concrete, coupled with the tensile strength of the steel to ensure a high-quality foundation.

To learn more about the foundation process for your home, browse our resources below. We want to help you make a well-informed decision and provide you with all of the information needed so you can be sure your house is built on a solid base. You deserve nothing less than quality when it comes to building your home.