What Makes Up the Foundation of a Commercial Building
December 3, 2017by TBI ContractingConstructionExcavationFoundations
Commercial building construction begins with the basics: its foundation. Without a strong foundation, the building just doesn’t have enough support for its weight. The foundation layer is what keeps the structure separate from the ground below, and the heavier your building, the larger the foundation you’ll need. This makes the foundation one of the most significant parts of a commercial project, even if it’ll never be seen. Let’s have a look at what goes into making the commercial foundation.
Commercial Excavating
Every construction project starts with excavating and land grading in order to prime the existing ground. A foundation cannot be based on uneven land, since this is difficult to work with and can also cause issues with the drainage. Therefore, the first step to the job is excavating the land in order to clear space for the building construction project. Excavation removes the excess rocks and soil from the site of construction. It’s an intensive step, and will necessitate the use of experienced and skilled construction workers, excavation expertise and large equipment.
Foundation footer
Footings are most often made of concrete and include rebar reinforcement. An important part of the construction of the foundation, they are poured into the trench once it has been excavated. The concrete may be poured directly into the trench, or in wood forms place inside in order to create the footing. The foundation footer will then support the foundation and prevent any troublesome settling. If the soil you are building on is loose or troublesome, foundation footers will allow for more stability.
Footers are constructed after a lengthy assessment of the soil conditions, as well as an analysis of the right width and depth for the footings and their placement. The footing’s dimensions will also depend on the type and size of its structural component. Without proper placement of foundation footers, the foundation will not have the support it requires, and ultimately, neither will the building structure. Once the footings have been installed, they need to be sealed to protect them from moisture. For this, you require a high quality sealer.
It is important to use a professional and quality minded contractor when doing a large-scale pour. In fact, considering the trickiness of the project, it is best to use professional services no matter what the size of the project. After all, as the introduction mentions, foundations are extremely important to get right.
