08/13/2026
This foundation is designed to keep the house from floating.
On this Aspen project along the Roaring Fork River, the basement extends below the natural groundwater table, requiring 15 wells, each 65 feet deep, to continuously dewater the site during construction. In some ways, the basement behaves almost like a boat below grade, with groundwater creating constant upward pressure. After excavating more than 22 feet, the walls were stabilized, the base was carefully prepared, and the waterproofing system was installed before the rebar and concrete work could move forward. The 50 inch mat slab provides the mass needed to hold the home securely in place and resist that buoyant force. A great deal of engineering goes into work like this, much of which will never be visible once the home is complete.