Tips for Building Strong House Foundation

House foundation is important to building a durable house as it is the base where your house stands. A strong house foundation creates a safe, durable structure. Building a sound house foundation can be simple or it can be quite complex. Depending on the type of home you are building, it can vary from a simple slab to a full basement. Regardless of whether you build your own house or hire someone else to do it for you, this article contains important information about how to build house foundations that are sturdy, safe and durable.

 

Consider Soil Type

Before you start laying the foundation , it is important to understand the soil type. The way that your house foundation is made will depend on what kind of soil is under the slab. Soil types include sand, clay and gravel or decomposed stone, with each having various pros and cons for building house foundations. Sand is easy to dig and refines well. Sand also can be compacted tight enough to hold a foundation together. However, it erodes easily and may need reinforcement. Clay, on the other hand, does not erode as easily as sand but compacts tightly only if it’s wet. This means that clay foundations are often built up with a layer of sand. Gravel and decomposed stone are good for drainage, but they can shift easily so will require extra reinforcement against erosion.

 

Layout of the Foundation

The foundation of your house should be in equal length and size so that it can take the weight of the house properly. If you are planning to build a rectangular home, your foundation will also be in the shape of a rectangle. House foundations need to be level so that they can evenly distribute weight across their surface. Any place that isn’t level can create unnecessary pressure, especially on the joints between blocks of concrete. Fixing unlevel places in your foundation is easier to fix before you build the walls of your house around it, so take care to ensure that your foundation is as flat as possible.

 

There Should be No Water in the Concrete

For concrete foundation, It is important to ensure that there are no presence of water bubbles in the concrete of your house foundation. Bubbles will weaken the foundation, so take care to spread it out quickly and smoothly before any bubbles have a chance to form.

 

Crawl Space Makes Foundation Stronger

If you want to make your house foundation stronger, consider building it over a crawl space. Crawl spaces are usually built between the bottom of the first floor and the ground beneath, so they can create extra space for moisture to be drained. If your crawl space is properly contained with concrete , you will prevent contact between soil moisture and wood in your home. This will keep your house foundation strong and dry, helping to avoid warping and rot that can cause serious damage to your home structure.

 

Using Weather-proof Materials

Using weather-proofing materials of your foundation is also important for durability. Weather conditions like rain can cause problems for any house foundation, but it is even more of a risk if the water has no where to drain. A house with a strong foundation will have proper drainage so that all water is diverted away from the wall closest to the surface of the ground, creating enough space to efficiently evaporate.

 

In conclusion, it is important to have a sturdy foundation for your house to be safe and durable. Be sure to consider the type of soil under the foundation before building so that you can create an appropriate shape and design for your house foundation. Have a strong foundation by using this article’s tips while building your house. If you are unhappy with the way your house foundation is looking, it may make more sense to hire professional help rather than to keep trying on your own.