Melbourne Foundation Contractor: Different Types Of Foundations

We at Australian Construction have been digging and building foundations for many years. After servicing dozens and dozens of clients, our foundation contractor in Melbourne has access to advanced technology and techniques. Today, we want to share with you several types of foundations that we do.

These are:

• Crawlspace and basement
• Slab-on-grade with stem wall
• Monolithic slab
• Piles and Piers

At the end of this simple article, you should have an idea of what kind of foundation best suits your facility. You can then give us a call so we can discuss your large-scale project further.

Crawlspace and basement

This kind of foundation is used with what is called a perimeter foundation. This perimeter foundation has a wall that creates a space under the floor. This space is not habitable. It is not like a basement. The interior of this crawlspace has an elevation. It is up to you if you want this elevation to be below the exterior of the finish grade or nor.

If it is below the exterior grade, then it may classify as a basement. It could be a storage space, or you can also live in it.   

Basements are different. The foundations are deeper, and you could use the basement as a place where there are also foundations around it, or you can treat as just another floor. Despite these differences, a basement will definitely have walls that will sit flush against the earth.

Different elevations will have different types of foundations—the materials will also have variations, and it all depends on the purpose of the building and its height.

Slab-on-grade with stem wall

This type of foundation is a stem wall that is independent of the rest of the building. This support system is made of concrete, and it gets the support it needs from the soil. The purpose of the wall is to support the load of the building.

What happens then is that the load goes to the stem wall, and then this load gets transferred to the soil. on some occasions, there is a footing that supports this load.

Stem walls are relatively short. They only measure up to a few feet, and some of them are the height of a crawl space. Most houses use stem walls as a foundation, and the owner has the option to choose between ventilated and unventilated stem walls.

Monolithic slab

A monolithic slab is often confused with stem walls. A monolithic slab is a type of ground-supported slab. This is put on a grade with footing that has structural integrity. Usually, this kind of foundation is used in warm areas where there is no frost underground. It can also be used in areas where there is little frost under the earth.

Monolithic foundations are sometimes called mono-slabs. It is called slab because concrete is poured, and there is a strong emphasis on the thickness of some sections, specifically those that will support structural walls.

Piles and piers 

The last types of foundation structures that are commonly used are piles and piers. A pile foundation is one that transfers the load to the soil. However, it is not as simple as that. The layer must be strong enough to bear the load, and then it can transfer the weight to the soil.

There are many factors considered here such as the total load of the large-scale project the water level, and the noise and vibrations of the area, and the overall soil condition.

A pile foundation is typically cylindrical. They can also be slabs of square “poles” that are made of concrete and steel. They are distributed in strategic places, much like you would if you use footings for a deck.        

A pier foundation, on the other hand, is like a pile foundation. However, it also uses a cap. A pier foundation is a group of cylindrical columns. On top of the is a load-bearing pile cap or platform. On top of the pile cap is the pier or the single cylindrical foundation, and then another cap where the floor is going to sit.

Pier foundation is affordable, and it requires less work. They are often used if the budget is limited and if the construction is a type where extensive excavation is not an option. It also does not cause a lot of disruption to the environment of the soil.  

What kind of foundation should you use? 

There is no single answer to this. The kind of foundation used always depends on the design of the building. Once an architect makes a building or infrastructure design, it is the engineer who will decide what kind of foundation to use.

This is why it is imperative to deal with your local licensed and qualified foundation contractor in Melbourne. The engineer must have passed the requirement of the government, as this ensures that he is qualified to tackle large-scale projects like this.

Only hire licensed contractors like us. We at Australian Construction follow the building codes of Australia. We have been in business for a long while, and the great work that we have accomplished has allowed us to expand.

Today, we do not just take on projects in Melbourne. We also have projects in other cities like Sydney, Townsville, Adelaide, and many more. Also, we specialize in many other contractor services that can augment or complement the things we do as we build your structure’s foundation.

Summary: Melbourne foundation contractor

The foundation of a building is the most critical aspect of a construction project. Give us a call at Australian Construction and let us talk about the most reliable and most practical solution for your business.

We have over 20 years of experience to back up our credibility. Our reputation precedes us, and we know that the clients we have served in the past will attest to this.

If you give us a call, our licensed engineers will be more than happy to speak with you. We can take a look at the site and your project blueprint, and then we can discuss the budget and the project time-lines from there. Our foundation contractor in Melbourne is waiting to provide the support your buildings foundation needs!