Openly will accept Pier and Piling foundations of homes in South Carolina if they are built after 2008 and as long as the foundation height is under 10 feet off the ground.
Openly will accept the following foundation types (subject to state-specific guidelines):
Concrete Slab
A slab foundation is concrete, typically 4" to 8" thick. It’s usually poured or placed directly on the ground with a layer resting underneath it to allow for drainage, which means it lacks any crawlspaces.
Crawlspace
A crawlspace foundation is a small space, typically around four feet deep, and sometimes vented for airflow to help with moisture control. A crawl space will often be built under a home rather than a basement.
Basement
This foundation is built at least eight feet below the ground to accommodate an underground living space. There are usually two types: complete and daylight / walk-out. Daylight / walk-out basements usually include at least one side of the basement with a full-sized window or door to the outside. A full basement is a basement without windows.
Hillside
Hillsides can present some unique challenges, but several possible solutions exist. Often, retaining walls are used. Retaining walls are usually built of rebar and concrete blocks or reinforced with compacted soil or conventional gravity retaining walls.
Openly does NOT accept the following Foundation types:
Stilt Foundation
Stilt supports are used in houses on steep hillsides and for homes on flood plains or beaches and can involve timber, concrete, steel, or a composite of materials holding up the house on the downslope side or above ground. These homes are sometimes without a continuous perimeter foundation.
Piling Foundation
A pile foundation is a deep foundation that is a slender column or long cylinder made of materials such as concrete or steel, which are used to support the structure and transfer the load at the desired depth either by end bearing or skin friction.
Pier Foundation
A pier foundation also lifts a dwelling off the ground like a stilt/piling foundation to protect it from flooding / high tide. It used to be common that they were made of wood, but concrete is the more popular option today. Pier foundations have a reinforced footing driven deep into the ground to prevent shifting. The piers, which are usually 18 to 20 inches and up to 3 feet off the ground, then come out of the ground and attach to floor joists beneath the dwelling.
For further assistance, contact us via our webform or Live Chat.