FOUNDATION

At Villagree Luxury Homes, every build begins with a strong foundation - literally. In Colorado, a full basement foundation with concrete footings and slab is a common and reliable solution, offering added living space, long-term durability, and essential support for custom homes.

We ensure each foundation is engineered for Colorado’s expansive soils and varying topography, protecting your investment from the ground up. 

What Makes Up a Basement Foundation? 

1. Structural Footings

• Wide, reinforced concrete strips are poured below frost depth to distribute the weight of the home and prevent settling. Footings are the first layer and anchor for foundation walls. 

2. Poured Concrete or Block Foundation Walls

• Walls are built on top of the footings, forming the perimeter of your basement. They are reinforced with rebar and waterproofed to resist ground pressure and moisture. 

3. Basement Slab

• After utility rough-ins, the basement floor is poured as a concrete slab, typically 4” thick and reinforced with wire mesh or rebar. This creates a smooth, durable surface for finished or unfinished space. 

4. Drainage Systems

• French drains (standard), sump pits, or gravity-based systems are site-specific and installed to keep groundwater away from the foundation and protect the basement from flooding. 

5. Vapor Barrier & Insulation

• A plastic liner is placed beneath the slab to block moisture, and rigid insulation may be added along walls to boost energy efficiency. 

Engineered Foundation Options for Expansive Clay Soils 

Colorado’s expansive clay can cause seasonal soil movement, making proper foundation design critical. Villagree uses site-specific engineering solutions depending the lot, including: 

• Over-Excavation & Reconditioning: Removing several feet of active clay soil and replacing it with compacted structural fill. 

• Caissons/Piers: Deep concrete columns drilled to bedrock or stable soil, supporting a floating foundation system. 

• Structural Floor Systems: Elevated main-level floors supported by walls and beams rather than resting directly on expansive soil. 

• Void Forms: Biodegradable boxes under slabs and footings that collapse to accommodate soil swelling without pushing upward. 

• Post-Tensioned Slabs: Reinforced slabs with steel cables tightened to resist cracking and movement.