Stem Wall Concrete Slab Foundation

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.

Stem wall concrete slab foundation. With a stem wall foundation the concrete is poured in multiple stages. A trench is excavated around the foundation for the construction of the stem wall. The first of these is to build a stem wall of concrete blocks up to the desired slab level. The stem wall transmits the load of the structure to the footing which distributes the structure weight over a wider area.

There are several stages to the construction of a stem wall which begins with cinder blocks that are reinforced with steel rods and concrete. This type of foundation is much more stable when fill dirt is required achieve the final build elevation. 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. The key difference in this build type is the use of stem walls.

Depending on the building the stem wall is usually built to the height of three cinder blocks. 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. 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.