The foundation is one of the most significant milestones during a new home build. A well-designed foundation supports the structure; it isolates the home from soil moisture, pests, and dangerous soil gases like radon. Building a strong and reliable foundation takes time and is best left to professionals. Local codes, geotechnical reports, and your builder’s expertise will help create a durable foundation for years.

Water Resistance

A well-designed foundation will keep water out of your home. It will protect your wood framing from moisture, which can lead to rot, termites, and other issues. It also keeps groundwater away from the foundation, which prevents flooding in basements and lower levels of your house. A building’s foundation must withstand dead loads, which refer to the constant weight of a structure itself, and live loads, which include changing weights of occupants, contents, and snow in cold locations. The foundation should be continuous, with all four in-ground wall footings connected and rigid enough to transfer these loads safely into the underlying soil. A good foundation design Vancouver BC includes drainage and grading to minimize moisture around the foundation. It should also be built below the frost depth to avoid freezing and thawing, which can cause settlement. It should also be sufficiently stiff to minimize differential settlement when unevenly distributed superimposed loads. The foundation should also be constructed from a material that resists expansion caused by high moisture levels, such as gravel or crushed stone.

Structural Strength

A building foundation is the starting point for the rest of the construction. It should be strong enough to support and prevent the structure from shifting or collapsing during calamities like floods, earthquakes, etc. Engineering and construction experts agree that the foundation must resist the dead load (the constant weight of the building itself) and the live load (the changing weights of its inhabitants, furniture, and other items). The foundation should also be rigid enough to transfer its loads to the ground without excessive movement. Additionally, the foundation should be adequately constructed to withstand local soil conditions. For example, foundations in cold climate regions must be designed to withstand frost heave – the melting of the ground underneath the footing and its subsequent dislocation of the house. The foundation should also be constructed to keep moisture away from the wood framing of the house and prevent rot from occurring.

Energy Efficiency

Building professionals must know the site conditions and soil type to choose an appropriate foundation for a structure. For example, pile foundations are well suited for soft soil areas, while slab foundations are typically used in complex geological conditions. The foundation must also be able to channel the dead and live loads of the house superstructure built on it. The “dead” load is the constant weight of the building itself, while the “live” load includes the changing weights of furniture and other contents and snow on roofs in cold locations. The foundation must also provide good drainage to avoid flooding. If puddles or water lines appear on your property, consult a local building professional to determine the cause. They may be able to install draining measures to prevent groundwater from damaging the building and its occupants. They should also be able to suggest the best waterproofing solutions for your home or business.

Durability

A foundation must bear the “dead” load, which is the constant weight of the structure itself, and the “live” load imposed by changing weights of occupants and contents. It must also be rigid enough to minimize differential settlement, especially in cold regions where snow is a significant live load. In addition, it must be deep enough to avoid the detrimental effects of ground movements that might overturn or slide the foundation structure. This is why a thorough soil test is essential before construction. This includes a Standard Penetration Test or SPT, which determines the load-bearing capacity of your soil. It is then analyzed for moisture content and other factors to help you plan for drainage and waterproofing your foundation, which can be done before concrete is troweled. This will reduce the chance of water erosion over time and prevent rebar from pulling in moisture which can cause rust. It can also reduce the likelihood of frost heave, an expansion, and contraction of the soil under the foundation.