The building foundations are the most important aspect of any construction project. They\’re crucial to a building\’s long-term viability, and if done incorrectly, they can compromise the structure\’s strength and resistance once it\’s finished. Here are some key reasons why building foundations are essential to a construction project and what the different types of foundations are.
What are building foundations?
A foundation is simply put the base of a building that the rest of the structure rests on. The actual nature of a foundation can change dramatically depending on what kind of building is being constructed on it.
Generally speaking, a foundation is to distribute weight and ensure the structural integrity of the building by creating a firm base. However, they can also anchor the building to the ground, which can mean that the depth will be affected by the height of the building it needs to secure, and they serve the purpose of protecting the building from moisture and preventing dampness.
Often if you wish to create underground spaces you will need a foundation to build into, as foundations provide a surrounding structure to safely build around.
What are the different types of foundations materials?
Foundations are generally made with concrete due to the malleable nature of the substance and its strength under pressure. Usually, you will make a wooden frame with ‘slabs’ that you will remove once the concrete has been poured and set.
You do not have to make your foundation out of concrete necessarily. Here is a brief list of some of the most common types of foundations material:
Earth
Earth and soil are, as is fairly evident, pretty abundant. Soil is low cost and easy to access. Earth should only really be used in very dry environments where moisture damage will not be a factor. Many early human settlements used earth and soil as their primary building material, and even now in the right environment it can be a great way to build a foundation, particularly when reinforced with stone, but water levels and moisture should be taken into consideration.
Bricks
Bricks can be a great way to build a strong and sturdy foundation, but it very much depends on what kind of bricks you are using. Many cheaper bricks suffer from the same problems of using earth as your foundation, that being that moisture can enter it very easily and over time damage the integrity of the building. Also, very high-quality bricks can be used for a foundation in a more moist environment, but these can be far more expensive.
Stones
While stones are great and often a very available building material, they have their drawbacks. As with the previous entries they have the problem that when used as a foundation they are highly susceptible to dampness and moisture. Stones will often have large cracks and holes that can also be easily accessed by pests and vermin that can also affect the structural integrity of your building, particularly if they are wood-eating insects.
Concrete
As mentioned above, concrete is the most common way to build your foundation, but there are a number of ways to go about using concrete in your construction. The most common is using poured concrete, which has the advantage of being watertight, fairly straightforward to do, strong and durable and due to its liquid nature, it is easy to manipulate its shape. The only significant disadvantage is that the type of concrete required for this method is fairly expensive.
The other main method of using concrete is to use concrete blocks. These are cut and placed similar to bricks but are much larger and made from concrete. This method is cheaper than poured concrete but has the disadvantage of not being as airtight and therefore somewhat more vulnerable to moisture.
Types of foundations depending on their purpose
There are two main types of foundations that serve different purposes and may be used depending on circumstances.
Shallow foundations
Shallow foundations are used in cases where the ground is solid and labour and cost are being kept to a minimum, as naturally having a shallower foundation means less work is required. Usually, they are one to three meters deep and while they are functional they may not be ideal as poor quality ground and taller, heavier buildings will need to be deeper.
Deep foundations
These are far deeper foundations (as the name makes clear) than shallow ones, generally being built to reach the subsoil for taller and heavier structures. They are also required if the ground is weak and the building needs to be secured more safely than a shallow foundation can provide.
The value of foundations
It should be fairly clear that foundations are not only necessary but are essential to the construction of any building of size.
We at Dart & Co provide a wide variety of services related to the construction of foundations, including but not limited to: Pilling, underpinning, concrete finishing, earth anchoring, piling equipment renting and engineering design.
Our years of experience and understanding of the key factors mean that we are ideally suited to helping you achieve your construction goals. Take a look at our available piling contractor services and contact us today if you need help with your foundations.