Basement Wall Types

Poured Concrete

• Poured concrete walls are economical and sturdy but take a long time to cure. They are formed by pouring concrete into wooden or metal forms on top of footings. After the concrete hardens enough for the walls to stand on their own, the forms are removed and the walls are left for a month to cure and harden all the way through. To strengthen the walls, pour a concrete basement slab before adding backfill soil around the exterior walls. This decreases the probability of the walls slipping off the foundation from the pressure of the backfill.

Precast Concrete

• Basement construction goes faster if you use precast concrete walls that are manufactured offsite. They are available in a wide range of lengths and heights that are dropped into place by a crane on top of the basement slab. This option is more expensive than pouring your concrete walls but a more convenient option.

Insulated Walls

• To make your basement more energy efficient without installing insulation, choose insulated walls. Made from materials that protect the basement from outside temperature fluctuations that increase energy costs and freeze plumbing pipes, insulated walls are as strong as concrete and easily installable on basement slabs.

Block, Brick and Stone Walls

• Although not as frequently used as poured or precast concrete, basement walls made of concrete blocks, bricks and stone are still constructed in some areas of the country. Concrete block walls are easy to build and cost-effective. Brick was frequently used in areas where clay soil for their production was abundant and stone foundations were once favored as the least expensive basement wall material.

Considerations

• Poured and preformed concrete walls, as well insulated types, are denser than blocks, bricks or stone and free of seams, which make them more resistant to forces of nature such as earth, wind, water and fire. Concrete blocks are more prone to cracking and leaking than concrete. Spotting and repairing cracks in poured or preformed concrete is easier than finding and correcting faulty concrete blocks. Additionally, concrete blocks have hollow centers that can accumulate water for many years without deterioration.