Launceston Foundation Contractor
If you work with a foundation contractor in Launceston, you will find it surprising that there are many types of foundations. The most common that we know is the footing type. Today, we will show you several types of foundations.
It would be wise to know the basic types of foundations so you could keep up with what the engineers say. Not that you will be a decision-maker on this issue, but it makes sense that you understand why the engineer is doing what he is doing.
Shallow Foundations
This is a kind of foundation where we spread the footing. In the industry, a foundation contractor in Launceston calls it spread footings. In this kind of foundation, the first thing we do is to dig and then fill the bottom of that excavation with the footing itself.
This footing s what takes the load of the posts or columns. The load gets spread out in a large area on the soil. However, we have to make sure that the total load of the building does not exceed the capacity of the soil.
A shallow foundation is common for houses. However, we need to protect the foundation from freezing. If the area experiences extreme temperatures, frozen water in the soil will damage the foundation.
Individual Footings
An individual footing is a simple kind of foundation. It is also common. In this approach, the load of the building is passed on to the posts. Each footing has a post that helps with the load.
For this one, each footing is nothing more than a square or rectangular pad of concrete. The metal rebar is embedded in the concrete. This re-bar will then be reinforced with concrete to make up the entire column or post.
The engineer has to make the right calculations for this to work. Each post has its own load, so there has to be an adequate number of posts that should be able to bear the weight of the building. The safe bearing capacity of the soil must also be accounted for.
Raft Foundation
The last one that we will discuss is a mat foundation. It is similar to an individual footing, but bigger. Here, the slab of concrete pad is continuous, and it rests on the soil where the entire building sits.
Its purpose is to bear the entire weight of the building and then pass that weight to the soil. We use a raft foundation if the soil is weak. What this does is that the entirety of the covered soil will carry the weight. In a typical foundation, only portions of the soil carry the load of the building.
A foundation contractor in Launceston uses this type of foundation to reduce the stress on the soil. Stress is simply a mathematical result of dividing the building’s weight over an area.
For example, let us say that the building covers an area of 5×5 meters (25 square meters). If the building’s weight is 50 tons, then the stress to the soil is 50 / 25 = 2 tons per square meter.
Summary: Foundation Contractor in Launceston
The engineer will tell you the best type of foundation he will use for your building. This comes after they check the kind of soil. Whatever it is that they use, know that this is what is best for your situation.
If you need this service, you can give us a call so we can start helping you out. You also have the option to use our contact form. Put all the details of your project in the form and we will respond to you shortly. Better yet, let us schedule a meeting so we can discuss your project properly.