How To Build A House Foundation Step By Step

Just as humans depend on legs and feet for support, houses require a foundation to sustain their structure. The overall durability of a building, especially when planning a house extension with an architect, is contingent on the strength of its foundation. Without a solid foundation, the structural integrity of a home is at risk.

Various materials, including blocks and stones, are used to prepare the building’s foundation, although reinforced concrete is the commonly preferred choice. The foundation is built first whenever a building’s construction process starts. Only when the foundation is robust and firm is the house’s frame prepared. If you want a professional to build a home with advanced features and a powerful foundation, search for Fittra Construction Company near me.

Steps To Build A Foundation For Your House

The construction of any project begins with preparing a foundation for it. Here are the steps that are involved in building a foundation for your house:

• Focus on the type of soil: 

It is critical to investigate the sort of soil on which you will build your house’s foundation. The type of soil determines the material you will choose to create your foundation. Using the same material on all kinds of soil reduces the resilience and durability of your home. Identify the soil type before starting the construction process. The rebar is also laid out as per the soil type.

• Ensure to place the rebar at a certain distance from the ground: 

Rebars are generally laid down inside the concrete blocks. When installing rebar at the base, ensure the concrete block is no less than four inches above the ground. To prevent the steel bars from rusting over time, some gaps must be created between them and the ground. And if the bottom of the rebar rusts, it will make its way to all of the steel bars, compromising your house’s foundation.

TMT rebars are popular among builders because they are malleable, durable, and anti-corrosionic. Aside from that, TMT bars can tolerate extremely high temperatures. So, in case a fire breaks out in your property, its foundation will not get damaged. You can choose from the different sizes of TMT bars available depending on your requirements.

• Preparing the layout of your foundation: 

Usually, people hire experienced architects to prepare the layout of their home’s foundation. The foundation’s size and length should be equivalent to ensure that it can support the weight of the structure on it. In addition, the contractor must pay close attention to the arrangement of the concrete blocks. They must be placed strategically to build a robust foundation.

• The excavation begins: 

After the architect has prepared and approved the layout for the foundation, the builders can start the excavation. The excavation process is different for different construction methods. If you have chosen the load-bearing-wall construction, then the trenches are dug out along the walls of your building. Whereas if you choose a column-beam-frame construction system, then the trenches are made at the bottom of every column. Remember to follow the instructions and the layout provided by your architect to build a sturdy foundation.

• Protecting the foundation from termite attack: 

The next step involves protecting your home and its foundation from the tiny insects called termites that can damage your property. Ensure that the soil on which you are laying the foundation is treated with anti-termite chemicals. Hire a pest management business to handle this specific job because they are familiar with such scenarios. Once the anti-termite solution is applied to the foundation, the likelihood of pests destroying your home is reduced.

• Constructing the foundation of your house: 

In the next stage, the construction work will begin. The foundation construction process varies according to the type of construction method you have chosen. The excavated soil is now compacted, and a top layer is prepared to lay down the foundation. After that, the bricks are placed strategically on the soil’s top layer. The bricks are then covered with a thin layer of concrete from all sides. This step is crucial as it decides how firm your home’s foundation will be.

• Wooden planks and rebar work: 

In this step, you will focus on setting up the wooden formwork and steel bars in your foundation. The wooden planks are made depending on the footing’s size. They must be rigid enough to not move from their place when you start the rebar and concrete work. The wooden formwork should have no gaps to avoid slurry loss from the concrete.

After setting up the wooden planks is time for the rebar work. Remember to cut and bend the steel bars in such a way that you won’t end up wasting a lot of material. Place the rebars properly and fix them using an adequate amount of concrete. Ensure that the rebars don’t get displaced when you pour the concrete to fix them.

• Curing of the foundation: 

Generally, the curing process begins the day after pouring the concrete. It is done not less than twice and preferably three times per day to guarantee that there are no fractures in the foundation. If the curing process is not followed correctly, your home will have a shaky foundation. During the curing phase, enough water is applied to the foundation to enable the chemical reaction that contributes to the foundation’s strength to occur.

To Sum Up

The foundation of a building impacts its lifespan. As an outcome, you must use extreme caution while laying down a foundation for your home. It should be robust enough to bear the weight of your property. There are several steps involved in preparing a firm foundation. Take the help of professional architects and contractors to build a foundation with high strength for your dream house.