Elevated 5 Feet or Less
Homes requiring an elevation of five feet or less are reviewed according to the home design, property conditions, manufacturer requirements, and applicable local codes.
Built for Florida properties
Elevated Foundations
Foundation planning designed around the home, the property, flood requirements, soil conditions, and the local building department.
Why elevation matters
Florida flood requirements can determine how a home must be supported.
Because of current floodplain and building-code requirements, many Florida homes must be constructed on an elevated foundation. The required height can depend on the property's mapped flood zone, Base Flood Elevation, local freeboard requirements, site conditions, and the elevation of the proposed home.
Tidecrest Homes reviews the home and property together so the foundation can be planned as part of the complete project—not treated as an afterthought.
Tidecrest foundation categories
Two levels of elevated-foundation planning
Elevated Above 5 Feet
Any home required to be elevated more than five feet requires an engineered foundation plan created for that individual home and that individual lot. All Tidecrest foundations above five feet are designed through our engineer.
Foundations above five feet
Four engineered foundation types
Shown in the order Tidecrest generally considers from most expensive to most affordable. Actual cost and suitability depend on the engineered design, property, soil, access, elevation, and building requirements.
1
Completely Open Concrete Foundation
An engineered concrete foundation designed without a center row of supporting piers. This open layout allows the greatest use of the area beneath the home, subject to floodplain, building-code, enclosure, parking, and use restrictions.
2
Concrete Foundation With Centerline Piers
This concrete foundation still allows the space beneath the home to remain usable, but includes a row of engineered concrete piers running along the centerline to support the home.
3
Completely Open Steel Foundation
An engineered steel support system that provides a largely open area beneath the home. The final column placement, bracing, connections, and corrosion protection are determined by the engineered plan.
Foundation illustration coming soon
4
Steel and Concrete-Filled Piers
An engineered system combining steel components with concrete-filled piers. Tidecrest will add a project photograph when an approved image of this foundation type is available.
Soil and foundation support
When driven piles may be required
Some foundations require driven piles because of their location, soil conditions, structural loads, or building-department requirements. When a compaction or geotechnical test is required for the property, the results help the engineer and building officials determine whether driven piles or another foundation-support method is necessary.
The test result does not make the decision by itself. The engineer's design and the authority having jurisdiction determine the final foundation requirements.
Designed for one home and one lot
Engineering comes before construction.
For foundations above five feet, Tidecrest coordinates an engineered plan for the selected home and property. The plan accounts for the proposed home, foundation height, wind and flood requirements, site conditions, and applicable permitting requirements.
How we plan your foundation
From property review to engineered solution
1Review the property and flood information
2Confirm the selected home and required elevation
3Complete required survey, soil, or compaction testing
4Coordinate engineering and building-department review
5Construct the approved foundation
Foundation descriptions are for preliminary planning only. Final foundation type, elevation, dimensions, materials, pile requirements, permitted use of the area below the home, and pricing must be determined by the project engineer and applicable authorities.