Do you know the actual weight of your home? Most homeowners that we come in contact with don’t, but Tom’s Basement Waterproofing has a few good reasons why it is crucially important to know. Not only will understanding the weight of your home help you better understand the weight of the foundation that is being held up by soil, it will also educate you on how environmental concerns can cause damage to your home, and how to prevent them.
Soil is prone to shrinking and expanding whenever it comes in contact, or no contact, with moisture. When the weather is warmer, the soil is dry and will shrink. When the weather is wet and cooler, the soil will swell up, absorb the moisture, and expand. These seasonal changes to the soil end up causing your foundation to have to accommodate and adjust to these issues. On top of its’ own foundational weight, your house also has to account for the items inside those walls.
The weight of average homes
Not all homes are created equal, but for the sake of example, we have conducted survey’s to allow us to give you a good estimate of what the weight of your own home may be.
- A 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom ranch, around 2,000 square feet will weigh around 200 lbs/sq. foot
- A 4 bedroom home, 2 1/2 bathroom house, and two stories tall will weigh around 275 lbs/sq. foot
- A 5-6 bedroom home, 3 bathroom house, and three stories tall will weigh around 350 lbs/sq. foot
These calculations only include the house itself, and the concrete slab foundation underneath the soil.
The weight of homes plus the contents of your home
Once you move past the standard weight of a basic and empty home, the numbers start to drastically differ, depending on what you are storing between the walls. Personal items, appliances, and furniture, all carry different weights, from house to house. Some homes have extremely heavy filing cabinets, while others may be living lighter. When it comes to numbers, think about what contents are in your own home, and round up or down, based on weight sizes.
Don’t forget about the air! Air weighs about 1.2 ounces per cubic foot of space in your home. It may seem like a low number, but it adds up!
What is the total weight of your home?
When we combine the base weight of your home, the contents, and air, the numbers may surprise you.
- 2,000 sq. foot home = 400,000 lbs
- items in the home = 10,000 lbs
- air inside the home = 1,200 lbs
- TOTAL WEIGHT OF AN AVERAGE HOME = 411,200 LBS
Are you surprised by that number? Many homeowners are just not aware of how heavy their homes really are! Now that you know, understand that a strong foundation is crucial when it comes to home safety. Want us to determine the specific weight of your home? Give us a call at Tom’s Basement Waterproofing today! (586) 776-7270