Stem walls are concrete and steel structures that connect a building’s foundation to its vertical walls, providing stability and protection from soil moisture and insects. They are commonly used in residential and public buildings but not always necessary for raised designs.
Stem walls are support structures that are used as a means of joining a building’s foundation with the vertical walls built on the foundation. The wall is often constructed with the use of concrete and steel and works with the foundation slab to create a solid foundation for the building. In addition to establishing the building’s fundamental integrity, these walls also help minimize damage to the materials used to create the vertical walls.
When creating a house foundation involving a slab, the shaft wall is adhered directly to the slab. Usually, it is made of concrete blocks reinforced with the use of steel and concrete components. In appearance, this wall sits on top of the slab and effectively provides builders with something to attach the walls of the structure to the slab.
While the slab may be level with the ground or even slightly recessed into the surrounding ground, the stem wall rises above the surrounding ground level. In addition to facilitating the attachment of the vertical walls to the slab, the wall provides a raised platform for the walls. This can be important, especially if the materials used in making the vertical walls are subject to deterioration due to exposure to soil moisture or insects such as termites. By slightly raising the walls of the structure above ground level, damage of this type is less likely to occur.
The presence of a stem wall is common to the construction of many different types of buildings. In addition to residential construction, public buildings often include one as a means of anchoring the wall construction to the foundation. Even the manufacturing rigs are built with one for added protection and stability.
Not all building designs use this type of support structure. Those raised off the ground with the use of risers may or may not find the use of this device necessary, as there is no earth slab used in the overall design. There are building designs that use a timber foundation coupled to a timber stem wall overhang. While it does not serve the same purposes as the concrete wall version, it still provides additional support for the structure being erected on a raised foundation.
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