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PIER AND BEAM FOUNDATION ELEVATES THE <br />HOUSE ABOVE GRADE WITH A WOODEN SKIRT <br />GROUND SPACE <br />CLOSED WITH BRICK <br />Historic homes were not built on <br />concrete slab foundations as they are <br />today. The majority of houses are of <br />wood frame construction and have a pier <br />and beam foundation, often with a <br />perimeter beam or walll. The houses are <br />elevated above the ground because the <br />beams supporting the house rest on a <br />grid of cedar posts, brick or stone piers <br />set into the ground. This creates a crawl <br />space between the floor structure of the <br />house and the earth. <br />Homes of brick and stone, along with a <br />few wood frame houses, have brick or <br />stone perimeter walls. More commonly, <br />concrete block, which, resembles stone, <br />is used for perimeter walls. These <br />houses have interior posts or piers as <br />ro mentioned above. The perimeter walls <br />support the house and close the space <br />under the house, yet are designed with <br />openings for ventilation. <br />OF A CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOUSE <br />Houses that have no, perimeter walls <br />close the crawl space between the floor <br />of the house and the ground with a <br />"''skirt." <br />The design and detail of the skirt is <br />defined by the style and time period of <br />the house. For example, Craftsman <br />houses frequently have a flared skirt of <br />horizontal board sidiing that matches the <br />body of the house, No matter what the <br />styl�e, all skirting must provide ventilation <br />to avoid trappings imoisture, which causes <br />mildew and wood rot. <br />recommended: <br />Foundations, should be repaired <br />before starting other repairs to a <br />house. Leveling foundation may <br />