FOOTINGS and foundations are to homes what feet and legs are to the human body: Footings anchor the home to the ground and support the foundation, which in turn carries the weight of the home. Although foundations have been made from a number of materials — stone, block and even treated wood — reinforced concrete is used in the vast majority of new homes. The contractor erects wood¬en forms, instals steel reinforcing bars (rebar) between the form faces, then fills the forms with poured concrete. After the concrete sets, the forms are removed.
Why houses need a strong foundation?
The foundation of a house is built to transform its weight or load to the earth to generate a higher level of stability and firmness.
Therefore, it must be able to hold its weight and provide a levelled, flat base on which construction can take place!
1. Keep in mind the soil type
The type of soil you are constructing upon plays a huge role in the construction process. You cannot hope to use the same material on every soil type as the house will not be of the same durability either. You need to choose foun¬dation material according to the type of soil.
2. The layout of the foundation and slab is important
The foundation should be of equal length and size in order to take the weight of the house. You should ensure that the concrete blocks that make the foundation are square and layed out strategically.
3. Make sure there is no water in the concrete
When you build the foundation, you need to make sure the water evaporates completely from the cement before you progress construction further. If you start constructing on moist cement, the water will get trapped inside and the foundation will remain weak. You need to keep checking the condition of the foundation regularly in order to maintain its strength, even until after years of its construction.
4. The bolts in the foundation are very important
The bolts that are fixed into the slab of the foundation play an important role in strengthening the foundation. They ensure that the frame sets perfectly and evenly on the foundation. If you fix bolts just for the sake of it, without paying attention to the position and making them flat, it can mess up the frame of your house.
5. Use weather proof material
Foundation can wither over time due to water exposure, weather changes, etc. because they are built inside the ground. You should apply waterproof mate¬rial over the foundation walls to protect it from such conditions.
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