Method and apparatus for mobile stem wall

Abstract

A stem wall is provided by manufacturing the stem wall and then transporting the stem wall to the house site for placement. Preferably, the stem wall is manufactured within an enclosed facility. Further, the stem wall is preferably manufactured at a location which does not require transporting the stem wall via public roadways to the house site. The stem wall can be manufactured by pouring concrete into a mold. Tension cables can be positioned within the mold and tightened after the concrete cures to provide increased tensile strength. The stem wall can be formed with one or more horizontal openings. Beams or pegs can be inserted through the horizontal openings to facilitate transportation of the stem wall to the house site. Before the stem wall is transported to the house site, a house can be built or placed on top of the stem wall.

1 . A foundation made by a process comprising:
 forming a stem wall structure;   transporting the stem wall structure to a structure site; and   placing the stem wall structure at the structure site.   
   
   
       2 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein forming the stem wall structure includes creating a mold. 
   
   
       3 . The foundation of  claim 2 , wherein forming the stem wall structure includes pouring a concrete mixture into the mold. 
   
   
       4 . The foundation of  claim 3 , wherein the concrete mixture includes a light weight aggregate or a foaming agent. 
   
   
       5 . The foundation of  claim 2 , wherein forming the stem wall structure includes inserting a tension cable in the mold and stressing the tension cable. 
   
   
       6 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the stem wall structure includes an exterior surface attachment point or a protrusion. 
   
   
       7 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the stem wall structure includes a horizontal hole extending at least part way through one wall of the stem wall structure. 
   
   
       8 . The foundation of  claim 7 , wherein transporting the stem wall structure includes inserting a member into the horizontal hole. 
   
   
       9 . The foundation of  claim 8 , wherein the member is a beam. 
   
   
       10 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises:
 attaching a full-sized house to the stem wall structure.   
   
   
       11 . The foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the stem wall structure is transported substantially as one connected piece. 
   
   
       12 . A method of providing a foundation for a structure comprising:
 forming a stem wall structure;   transporting the stem wall structure to a structure site; and   placing the stem wall structure at the structure site.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming the stem wall structure includes creating a mold. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the stem wall structure includes pouring a concrete mixture into the mold. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the concrete mixture includes a light weight aggregate or a foaming agent. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the stem wall structure includes inserting a tension cable in the mold and stressing the tension cable. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stem wall structure includes an exterior surface attachment point or a protrusion. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stem wall structure includes a horizontal hole extending at least part way through one wall of the stem wall structure. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transporting the stem wall structure includes inserting a member into the horizontal hole. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the member is a beam. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 attaching the structure to the stem wall structure.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the structure is attached to the stem wall structure at the structure site. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the structure is attached to the stem wall structure before the stem wall structure is transported to the structure site. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 building the structure on the stem wall structure.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the structure is built on the stem wall structure at the structure site. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the structure is built on the stem wall structure before the stem wall structure is transported to the structure site. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the structure is a full-sized house. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stem wall structure is transported substantially as one connected piece. 
   
   
       29 . A structure comprising:
 a mobile stem wall structure.   
   
   
       30 . The structure of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a building attached to the mobile stem wall structure.   
   
   
       31 . The structure of  claim 32 , wherein the building is movable with the mobile stem wall structure. 
   
   
       32 . The structure of  claim 30 , wherein the building is not legally or physically transportable via public roads from a home completion site to a home site. 
   
   
       33 . The structure of  claim 29 , wherein the mobile stem wall structure includes an exterior surface attachment point or a protrusion.