Concrete Foundation Construction

Concrete foundation construction is one of the first and most important parts of the construction process. The concrete foundation serves as the base of the entire building and must be strong and capable of withholding a substantial load. If the foundation fails, the entire project is at risk.

There are three types of concrete foundation construction methods currently in use. The first kind of concrete foundation construction is the T-shaped foundation, which is designed to support a building constructed in an area where the ground frequently freezes. A footing is placed below the frost line, then the walls are placed above it. The footing is wider than the wall, which gives extra support at the base of the foundation. Once the foundation is cured and the walls constructed, the slab is poured between the walls.

Another one of the concrete foundation construction methods in common use is the slab on grade method. Probably the most commonly used method, the slab is simply a thick single layer of concrete. The slab is thicker at the edges to help form a footing and reinforcing rods are put in to add additional strength. In order to improve drainage, the slab is placed on a flattened, packed piece of land with gravel below it. Many slab on grade constructions have a wire mesh in the concrete that cuts down the chances of the slab cracking.

The frost method of foundation construction is used much less frequently. A sheet of rigid insulation is placed under the concrete at the base of the wall, with another on the outside of the foundation wall. The insulation holds the heat from the house and prevents the foundation's edges from freezing, which could cause the walls to crack and fail.

In order for concrete foundation construction to be successful, the slab must be properly and evenly poured, then allowed to cure. It may take as long as 60 days for a concrete foundation to properly cure to the point where it can hold the load of the remainder of construction. If this is not done, the foundation may be proper but fail anyway.

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