Groundworks

When building in the countryside you often want to preserve nature and protect the vegetation as much as possible. Piers are a proven foundation that leaves a minimal footprint. It is also easy on the wallet and works excellently even when the ground is hilly and rocky so that you can avoid blasting.

Because a pier foundation is a type of crawl-space foundation, these are unfortunately often confused. A pier foundation is naturally ventilated and not a closed construction like, for example, a classic torpargrund. In a correctly executed pier foundation, organic material is excavated and replaced with capillary-breaking material. Drainage is added to lead moisture away from the foundation. A pier foundation is also a good construction to avoid problems with radon.

Even if the principle behind a pier foundation is simple, it is important that it is carried out correctly. A base of gravel/macadam and a durable membrane should be made. The anchoring of the piers should be chosen according to the ground conditions on site. We assist ground contractors with drawings and instructions for the foundation work. With the Total responsibility service, the entire project including groundworks is included in our commitment and guarantee.

Pier foundations cost on average 1.500 – 2.500 kr per square meter of building area. Excavation and routing of electrical and VA services cost about 1.500 kr per meter.

The underside of our modular houses is covered with zinc sheet metal and there is no wood or other organic material under the house. This also provides a protective barrier against insects.

Our modular houses come ready from the factory with interiors, kitchen and bathroom fully finished. This means they have a fully insulated bottom floor structure that is set down on the piers. Using a cast concrete slab would mean double foundations, reduce ventilation, cause greater impact on the ground and cost significantly more.

In cases where our houses constitute the upper floor of a basement or souterrain level, however, the foundation is poured. Then the lower floors are built on site while the modular house is lifted into place afterward.

Our site-built houses are executed with the architecture and construction that best suit the site and the client. The vast majority of projects are built with pier foundations as preserving the natural landscape is prioritized.

Houses with pier foundations are often provided with a deck on one or more sides and the sides are covered with a ventilated skirting or trellis. Sometimes we also build stairs and steps that accommodate the height differences between the deck and the ground line.