Did you know that your home has a foundation? Well, it’s true. Without a stable earth to support your house, it would simply collapse. And when you build a home, the foundation is one of the most important aspects of the construction process. Without a strong foundation, your house may not stand firm against the various adversities life brings your way. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that your foundation is functioning at its optimum level. Without further ado, let’s take you through how to build a house foundation step by step so that you can make sure that it’s done right from the start.
What is a house foundation?
A house foundation is the bedrock that holds your house together. Without it, your house will certainly fall apart. In fact, a good portion of the structure of a house is formed by its foundation. What’s more, sub-floors are supported by the foundation. Hence, a strong foundation is essential to a healthy and safe house. A house foundation can be made out of a variety of materials. The most common materials are concrete, wood, masonry and so on. However, there are, however, other types of foundations that are made of different types of materials.
For example, a stonework-based foundation can be used to build a house with a single storey plan. However, a stonework foundation would be too heavy for a two-storey house. A stonework-based foundation would also be too expensive for a modest house. Instead, a lightweight masonry foundation can be used to build a two-storey house. Unlike a stonework-based foundation, a masonry-based foundation is more affordable and can be used for a variety of house types.
Build a strong base
A house foundation is made up of reinforcing concrete slabs and tie-beam grids. These are attached to the foundations walls and support floors and roof assemblies. To make a strong foundation, you should make sure that the ground is firm and level. In order to achieve this, you can either dig a hole in the ground or use a leveling kit.
A leveling kit consists of a base that can be screwed to the ground, tie-beam grids to support the slab and a metal plate that can be screwed to the side of the house. This metal plate can be used to support the roof or prevent the slab from falling into the ground in case of a mis-step.
Addressing problems at the foundation
When building a house, every effort is made to ensure that the foundation is strong. Some of the major problems that can occur at the foundation include: sagging walls, unstable foundation, water infiltration and foundation damage. In the event that one of these problems occurs, the home will not stand firm against the various adversities life brings your way. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to ensure that your foundation is functioning at its optimum level. Make sure that the ground is firm and level. A hard ground means that your foundation will be strong.
A soft ground, however, would mean that your foundation would be too flexible. This would make your house vulnerable to damage caused by water infiltration, sagging walls and other everyday occurrences. Mistress the ground. In order to avoid sagging walls, dig a trench parallel to the foundation. If the trench deepens beyond a certain point, it will start to affect the stability of the foundation. Make sure that the depth of the trench is reasonable. Use a leveling kit. A leveling kit is a special tool that helps you to ensure that the base is even and level. It works by using a mechanical device to level the slab. A leveling kit can be bought at a building supply store or online.
Use the right materials
Concrete is the most commonly used material for a house foundation. However, there are various types of concrete. Some of the common types used for house foundations include:
Portland cement, sand and water-based cement. While each of these has its own benefits, the most important thing to remember is that the type of concrete you use must be able to sustain the weight of the house. Make sure that the concrete is the right weight for the job.
You don’t want to overbuild your house foundation. A strong house foundation is necessary but excessive weakening of the base can lead to sagging walls and even total collapse of the house. A good rule of thumb is to use a 50% stronger mix for a two-storey house and a three-storey house.
Check, Check, Check Stones are one of the most commonly used materials for a house foundation. However, there are numerous types of stones that can be used for various projects. The most common types of stones for foundations include: Portlandgreen, black and white limestone. However, there are many other types of stones that have specific benefits for certain types of construction.
Make sure that the stone is rigid enough to support the weight of the house. If it’s too soft or flexible, it could literally roll off the foundation and into the ground. Check the colour. Most stone is painted or coated in some way. While stone is naturally white, some colours like white, grey and black are used for aesthetic reasons.
Conclusion
A house foundation is the bedrock that holds your house together. Without it, your house will certainly fall apart. In fact, a good portion of the structure of a house is formed by its foundation. What’s more, sub-floors are supported by the foundation. Hence, a strong foundation is essential to a healthy and safe house. Knowing how to build a house foundation step by step can help you make sure that your foundation is done right from the start.