One of the most important elements of a building project are the foundations. If these are installed incorrectly, catastrophic results can occur.
It is imperative to understand the different types of foundations and the correct methods of installation. Our workforce have the skills and knowledge to install all of the different types of foundation methods.
The most common type of foundation is the strip footing. This process is quite simply the excavation of a trench strip positioned centrally under load-being walls and poured with concrete. Strip foundations can be shallow, deep or wide depending on ground conditions and tree locations. Where soil is of a low load-bearing capacity and soil is soft wide foundations may be required. By widening them, the load is spread over a larger area. Steel reinforcement may be required to reduce the loading per m2. If foundations are required to go deep excavations are taken to a lower level to reach a soil with suitable bearing capacity. The foundations are then poured with concrete and masonry is built up to ground level.
An alternative to a deep strip foundations is the trench fill method. Excavations are taken to a depth where the sub-soil provides sufficient load-bearing capacity’s. The entire trench is then filled with concrete. If trees are in local proximity steel reinforcement may be required.
Raft foundations will be used where soils are very week such as peat or expansive such as clay. A raft is the pouring of one large reinforced concrete slab. They are used where soil requires a large load bearing area.
When all the above foundations become uneconomical, or ground conditions make them unsuitable piling may be the option. Piles will be used to bypass water or the soft layer of soil to spread the loads. They are also installed where a structure is so large it needs extra foundation support. Piles are deep foundations formed by long, slender, columnar elements typically made from steel, or reinforced concrete.
As foundation specialists we will provide you with our extensive expertise in the installation of your groundwork components.
Please call our office today to discuss your requirements.
