Most of the houses that my company builds are on the barrier islands of southern New Jersey, and most of those homes sit on grade-beams or footings supported by wood pilings or piers. These foundations are used in different configurations in many parts of the country to support buildings where soil conditions may be suspect. Here on the coast, the soil is typically sandy and low-lying. Coastal storms in these areas bring tidal surges and breaking waves that can wash away the sandy soil in a blink. Pier-and-beam foundations (see illustration, next page) ensure that buildings are properly supported and anchored on building lots that are just a few feet above sea level.