foundation-contractor-adelaide

Adelaide Foundation Contractor – The Best In the Business!

Foundation Contractor In Adelaide: What Do They Do? 

    What does our foundation contractor in Adelaide do? We all know that a foundation has something to do with digging, but is that all there is to it? Are there other things that foundation contractors do to make sure that the foundation is sturdy?  

    These are the questions that we will address today. We at Australian Construction want to make sure that before you use a service like ours that you understand what to expect. By the end of this simple tutorial, we hope that we have enlightened you on what to expect from our foundation contractor in Adelaide.  

    1. Surveying services

    Before anything else, a foundation contractor has to survey the area. This is to ensure that the demarcations of the property line are clear. This happens after the transfer of the title has been completed, and the position of the facility has already been decided upon.

    The surveying process also includes what type of soil is on the land, if there are boulders that may or may not be removed. The results of the survey will allow the contractor to determine how to do the foundation without violating building codes.  

    There are different types of codes per country and per city. This is because lands are located in different terrains. The surveyor will take a footprint of the location and then decide where the footings will be placed.

    This is the final step in the surveying process, but only if the land has been studied and if the surveyor has decided how deep the foundation should be.

    2. Excavation services

    Once the surveying process is completed, the next step is to do the excavation. The land will be levelled during this process, too. Trees may be removed if needed. However, most contractors and landscaping designers prefer to leave the trees if it can be helped. Trees take too long to grow and transferring old trees to a new location is an expensive ordeal.

    It is during the excavation process where you will see large and heavy equipment such as bulldozers, backhoes, and bulldozers. The contractor will dig in the right spots. The land that was dug out will be used later to backfill areas, or they will be moved to a quarry. This all depends on your agreement with the contractor.  

    We at Australian Construction also specialise in excavation projects. Our foundation contractor in Adelaide undertakes large-scale excavation for high-rise buildings, and we also do excavation for industrial projects like irrigation and piping systems.

    3. Footings services

    Footings are the stakes or flags that contractors put in designated places. These are indicators of the property line. They are also used so it is easy to find the places where footing forms will be placed.

    What is footing?

    A footing is a platform for the foundation of the walls. They are put there so the walls have something to hold on to and not collapse. Depending on the project type, some footings may require drainage. The forms will also be inspected to ensure that they are sitting on solid ground.

    If drainage tiles are used, their function is to equalise groundwater, which can seep through and damage the foundations. This is also the phase where we use reinforced steel. They are tied both horizontally and vertically to add strength to the wall foundations.

    4. Foundations services

    Now that the footing is put in place, the foundation contractor is ready to lay the foundation. There are many materials that we can use. The most common is concrete. We can also use insulated concrete forms or concrete blocks. Some engineers prefer pressure-treated wood.

    If the structure will use a concrete wall, wood is set-up as temporary support. These wooden frames can reach as high up as the basement walls.

    There are many other ways to lay foundation the correct way. Also, there are many considerations before we start with this process. Some examples are drainage systems, utility wires, and floor heating. It all comes down to the design of the facility.  

    5. Waterproofing services

    On some occasions, there is a need to waterproof the foundation. This is especially so for concrete ones because concrete is porous. It is like a sponge that absorbs water. And if concrete absorbs water, its integrity is compromised.

    There are different types of treatment used to waterproof a foundation. Most are based on petroleum products. Here, our foundation contractor in Adelaide will also take the time to apply the foam insulation.

    If the project requires a rubberised membrane, then we will do it at this phase. The end goal of this phase is to make sure that the foundation is waterproof.

    6. Backfilling services

    The last part of building a foundation is to backfill the area. Backfilling means we will put back the soil where it belongs, and then cover the foundation footings.

    It is in this phase of the project where you will see machines called compactors. These are heavy machines that punch the soil to make it compact. There should be no air pockets in the soil, as it will cause the building to collapse.

    The backfilling process depends on the style of the facility. Some large-scale projects we have completed came with landscaping designs. As such, we had to build man-made hills on the land to give the property a better look.

    Summary: Adelaide foundation contractor 

    As you can see, the job of a foundation contractor is not just about digging and putting in slabs of concrete. There is so much that goes into it.

    Australian Construction is the team you can trust as far as foundation contractor services are concerned. Our foundation contractor in Adelaide has been doing this for 20 years, and we can guarantee you that you will be happy with our work!

    We are a team of licensed engineers, and we offer a warranty on our services. This warranty is in the contract that we offer. Give us a call and we will discuss your project.

    One of our engineers will take a look at the blueprint and also visit the site. From there, our foundation contractor in Adelaide can determine how we can best approach the project. So give us a call today! 

      foundation-contractor-melbourne

      Your Local Foundation Contractor In Melbourne – For Solid Foundations

      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!