Expert: Dan Griffin - 12/15/2010

Question
My builder told me they placed a frost footer on my basement foundation.  I have superior walls as my basement and they only placed the walls on compacted gravel.  We have a walk out basement and now see frost inside our basement on the walk out side.  The frost is on the floor and approximately 6 inches up the wall.  We are running a dehumidifier as we were instructed and our basement has heat.  It is set at 57.  We don't think they placed a frost footer like they said, and we are worried that our foundation is in jeopardy.  Please advice what should we do?

Answer
Hope, I wish I could be of more help.   A frost footer means that the footing has been dug and poured down deep enough to be below the frost line.  This depth varies all over the country, here it is 18".  Footings that are that deep should not be heaved up by the expansive forces of freezing temperatures.  If your house was inspected by the city throughout consturction, the footings will have been poured to your local frost depth.

This will have nothing to do with your seeing frost.  YOu have some warm moist air hitting something that is awfully cold to have visible frost.  Things to consider:  a fan to circulate your 55 air, caulk or otherwise improve weatherstripping at doors and windows.

I'm sorry I do not know anything about superior walls, but it does sound like you may have extensive cold at the base of these walls above the gravel footing.  I have no experience with this type basement/footing.