Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - "Pier and Beam" Foundation

Hi all. Question. I recently bought an old house in Houston, TX, went underneath it the other day and found that the foundation is simply cinder blocks holding up the beams. Is thia standard? I see a number of nice looking houses in the area that seem to be sitting on cinder blocks, but I'm not sure.

I ask for 2 reasons. First, because I want to raise/level the house between 1-2 inches. I take it is pretty give that I need to place shims over the blocks. Second, if this is ok, does this mean that when I build an addition I can use cinder blocks? I ask because I hear a lot about pourcing concrete, etc.

Answers would be great and I'd also appreciate references to books and websites that elaborate.

Thanks!

You pour concrete to build to code, which is the country's minimum safety standard. Here is some floor framing:
Do-It-Yourself Housebuilding: The ... - Google Book Search (http://books.google.com/books?id=pD5jlCN0UhQC&pg=PA110&dq=post+and+beam+foundation)

Here is where I got it from, enter the suject, pick the book preview-------

post and beam foundation - Google Book Search (http://books.google.com/books?ei=8h0KSqSpLKTgtAPf5ezhCA&ct=result&q=post+and+beam+foundation&btnG=Search+Books)

I'm sure you'll have more questions.......... Be safe, G

Not sure what the code or building practices are there. Hear we use a full block foundation that has a poured footer and its starts below freeze line and up above ground to house plate. What you are describing is what we do here to sit mobile homes on. ( no footers years ago) Then upgraded to block piers set on concrete pads. ( next upgrade for mobile homes was concrete pads below frost line and block piers. If there is sinking on the piers I would suspect no footers under block piers or in adequate ones at best. Explains the out of level and sinking.

Personally If code allows what you have grandfathered or not I would go beyond code and make 24" concrete pads below freeze line and mortared block piers at the min repair here. To go further then that I would do each pier and level house. After that I would add more block walls between piers and cross ventilate that. Now all the parts of the house beam plate is sitting on a a full block wall.

I don't have any books or web sites and wouldn't post any. I'm a Prof builder since 1979 and also move houses. Mason first trade Now a G.C.

My area gets wet a lot and cold -0 at times ground moves a lot. Gets over 100 in the summer at times.

Hey, thanks to both of you! The book GBR referred me to combined with 21boat's response makes it all clear. Now I just have to go look under my house and hope I have concrete footings!