That makes for a better foundation:
poured concrete or
concrete block? I'm willing
to bet that, of the nine out of ten
builders who answer "poured concrete,"
few have had much experience
with block walls. Concrete
block foundations are strong, go up
quickly, and in my area, they cost
about 15% less than poured basements.
As with anything else, of
course, the success of a block wall
foundation depends on proper design
and detailing.
Get Off on the Right Footing
Given the wide range of soil characteristics
you may encounter, it's
impossible to describe a footer size
that will work in all situations. The
rule of thumb is to make the footer
as deep as the wall is thick, and
twice