There’s something intrinsically Southern in talking about a firm foundation. Maybe it’s that long and secure thread of old Protestant hymnology that underscores much of growing up in the Carolinas, but it’s also likely to be part of a culture where being strongly connected to one’s root system is a prized piece of life’s puzzle. There’s also an unfortunate tendency to talk about the size of a person’s feet as being part of their foundation, as in, “Well, look at her. She’s certainly got a firm foundation!” In my case, being a person with long, thin feet, someone once said to me, “Girl, if the Lord hadn’t turned down so much, you’d a been right tall,” with an answering comment by my dad saying, “She’s always had a firm foundation.”
For our house, Vince has tried to make sure the foundation is firm and strong. There’s a lot of heavy house that will sit on it and a powerful myriad of forces that can act against it. Now that the framing has begun, I understand why there were so many discussions about structural loads. The exterior walls are 2”x 8”, whereas the more common size is 2” x 4”. As one of the framers told us, “Those walls are HEAVY!” The first and second floor loads will be distributed through the truss system, but when the storms come, the foundation and the house will act as a unit to deflect the pressures of the winds. The 2”x 8” walls will stiffen the house, and everything from the very top plate to the bottom of the house will be tied together with periodic stainless steel threaded rod. The idea is to keep the house from pulling apart from the lift exerted on the house during a hurricane. With the exception of some things that aren’t available, all of the fasteners in the house are Type 316 stainless steel, so that there’s less of a chance for interior corrosion and weakness from failing fasteners. Type 316 is the fastener of preference for the Army's Field Research Facility in Duck.
Here’s the encyclopedic explanation of Type 316 stainless steel:
Stainless Steel is a common name for metal alloys that consist of 10.5% or more Chromium (Cr) and more than 50% Iron (Fe). Although it is called "stainless", a better term for it is "highly stain resistant". A somewhat dark metal, it looks bright because it reflects light. There are different types of stainless steels: when nickel is added, for instance, the austenite structure of iron is stabilized. This crystal structure makes such steels non-magnetic and less brittle at low temperatures. For greater hardness and strength, carbon is added. When subjected to adequate heat treatment, these steels are used as razor blades, cutlery, tools, etc. Significant quantities of manganese have been used in many stainless steel compositions. Manganese preserves an austenitic structure in the steel as does nickel, but at a lower cost.
Type 316 is most appropriate for severe environments, because of its resistance to corrosion. Type 316 is an austenitic, non-magnetic, and thermally nonhardenable stainless steel like Type 304. The carbon content is held to 0.08% maximum, while the nickel content is increased slightly. What distinguishes Type 316 from Type 304 is the addition of molybdenum up to a maximum of 3%.
Molybdenum increases the corrosion resistance of this chromium-nickel alloy to withstand attack by many industrial chemicals and solvents, and, in particular, inhibits pitting caused by chlorides. As such, molybdenum is one of the single most useful alloying additives in the fight against corrosion.
By virtue of the molybdenum addition, Type 316 can withstand corrosive attack by sodium and calcium brines, hypochlorite solutions, phosphoric acid; and the sulfite liquors and sulfurous acids used in the paper pulp industry. This alloy, therefore, is specified for industrial equipment that handles the corrosive process chemicals used to produce inks, rayons, photographic chemicals, paper, textiles, bleaches, and rubber. Type 316 is also used extensively for surgical implants within the hostile environment of the body. Type 316 is the main stainless used in the marine environment, with the exception of fasteners and other items where strength and wear resistance are needed, then Type 304 (18-8) is typically used.
I’m glad to know that the house will not be rusty, and looking at the first walls standing there in full strength was impressive, but the most exciting part was being able to stand on the first deck and realize what the view will be like from those rooms. The house is beginning to have shape and identity. I stood and looked out of the window that will be my studio’s view on the world. I thought of our family and friends waking up in the guest rooms and seeing the sunrise or watching the early dolphins. I can imagine the dogs, Addie and Lily, charging out over the walkover with such glee and Vince in his workshop, finally able to work with his long stored tools. The growing reality of the house and the life it will bring to us is breathtaking, like the view.
