Types of Foundations

The foundation is the most significant part of the structure. It refers to that portion of the construction over which a large quantity of weight is transferred in a controlled way such that the soil’s ultimate bearing capacity and settlement are not exceeded while maintaining an acceptable limit on overall weight. The part of a structure on which it stands is known as its foundation. A foundation bed is a solid ground upon which it stands. This writing will discuss the most common types of foundations and their uses.

Shallow Foundation

It is a foundation that transfers building loads to the earth very close to the surface rather than deeper soil layers or bedrock. A shallow foundation is usually less than 15 feet deep and is used when soils near the ground’s surface can support the structure’s weight without settlement or upheaval. The three most common types of shallow foundations are spread footing foundations, mat-slab foundations, and slab-on-grade foundations.

Pile Foundation 

A Pile foundation is a deep foundation that transfers a structure load down through the soil layers to a deeper, more stable layer. The piles are usually made of concrete, steel, or timber. Pile foundations are most commonly used in areas where the ground is too soft or unstable to support a structure, such as in marshy or swampy areas.

Raft Foundation 

Rafts or mats are used where deeper or pile foundations are not feasible. It’s also a good idea in areas with poor soil bearing capacity, where weight has to be distributed over a large area or when shocks and jolts occur frequently.

A reinforced concrete slab or T-beam slab is used to construct the Raft foundation. In this case, the total weight of the structure is distributed uniformly over the entire area of the design. 

Caisson Foundation 

A caisson foundation is a waterproof retaining structure that may be used as a bridge pier, dam construction, etc. It’s typically utilized in buildings requiring a foundation below a river or similar water bodies. The caisson can be floated to the desired location and then sunk into place because it is capable of swimming.

A caisson foundation is a hollow cylinder sunk into the ground to the desired height, filling it with concrete and becoming a foundation. It’s mostly utilized as bridge piers. Caissons are difficult to build because of their complexity.

Combined Footing

When the footing property of a column extends beyond the line, it is known as an offset. It’s also good when two columns are closely positioned, and the soil beneath them has low bearing capacity. It may be trapezoidal or rectangular.

Combined foundations are economical when:

• The columns are now closer together.
• The queue deviates or crosses the boundary when it is near the property line.
• The length of each aspect foot is limited to a certain value.

Conclusion

Before choosing a foundation for your project, you should consider its advantages and disadvantages. Soil quality is the most important factor in building a foundation. With these points in mind, you can choose the best foundation for your project.

Need to speak with a foundation expert? Contact J Bond Construction today to discuss your next project!