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While it is true to say that a building’s foundation is not always visible once the concrete structure has been fully erected, it is still considered to be one of the most important elements of any construction project. By getting the foundation right from the start, structural issues that could arise in the future can be easily avoided.
So, what is a concrete foundation? The foundation refers to the part of the building that forms the basis of the structure. It helps evenly distribute the structure’s weight while ensuring that it is on a firm footing.
The Anatomy of a Concrete Foundation
Concrete foundations are mainly either shallow or deep. Shallow foundations are designed for small-scale projects, such as houses and smaller buildings. Meanwhile, deep foundations are suitable for taller commercial and residential buildings. They are also strongly recommended for structures built on fragile ground as they can help transfer the building’s load to the stronger and more stable soil or rock below.
Shallow and deep foundations can be further divided into the following sub-types.
- Individual or isolated footing
An individual or isolated footing foundation mainly supports a single column. Also referred to as “spread footing” or “pad foundation”, it can be square, circular or rectangular in shape. Individual footing foundations generally have the same thickness and are built to carry and distribute concentrated loads. - Combined footing
Often rectangular in shape, combined footing foundations support multiple columns. These columns should be close enough to each other so their footings will overlap. - Strip foundation
A strip foundation supports load-bearing walls, such as footings for extensions and conservatories, or a row of closely spaced columns. This type of concrete foundation features a broader base, which distributes the weight of the structure over a wider area for improved stability. - Raft/mat foundation
A mat or raft foundation is a large concrete slab designed to support and stabilise multiple columns and walls. It is spread across the entire structure and is generally used when a building is being built on soil with low pressure. It can also support walls and columns that are placed so closely together that individual footings would not be a suitable or cost-effective option.
- Pile
Pile foundations are ideal for structures built on surfaces unsuitable for heavy loads. Using a special type of equipment, piles are driven into the ground and filled with concrete. Then, a ground beam is installed on the surface where the structure will be built. - Drilled shafts
As the name suggests, drilled shafts are a type of foundation that is cast in-situ. They are made by drilling a column to the required depth. Then, reinforced steel is lowered into the column before the hole is filled with concrete. Drilled shafts are also sometimes called “caissons”.
Building Concrete Foundations
As mentioned earlier, the structural integrity of your project will mainly depend on the foundation it is built upon. Therefore, it is crucial that you get the foundation right as this will help prevent major problems in the future. If you are unsure as to which type of foundation to use, we would recommend that you seek expert advice to avoid making costly mistakes. Moreover, to reduce your project time, labour and overall costs, it is imperative that you source the most appropriate foundation formwork systems, such as the ones we offer here at MEVA.
Once you have made a final decision, it is time to lay your building’s foundation. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you on your way.
Ensure that the construction site is ready
Once you have secured all the necessary permissions, the next thing you need to do is prepare the ground on which you will construct the building. No matter how big or small your project, it is crucial that you always prepare the site carefully to avoid simple mistakes that could lead to serious consequences.
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Mark the area
Start by marking the location where the concrete is going to be poured. You can use wooden pegs and string for this task. When marking the area, make sure you leave enough space for the formwork which will hold the concrete in place until it solidifies in its final shape. -
Dig your foundations
The next step is to dig the required depth for your foundation. Here, you need to consider the type of foundation you are going to lay. Strip footings are generally built on undisturbed and solid ground. Meanwhile, individual footing and floor slabs require enough depth to accommodate the sub-base, damp-proof membrane (DPM) and the concrete itself. - Add the sub-base
After making the necessary excavations, the next step is to add the sub-base. For most domestic concrete foundations, 100mm of base aggregates should suffice. Then, lay a DPM. Make sure the edges are turned up so they form a tray. Also, check the joints to see that they overlap and are taped to protect the concrete from rising damp or chemicals in the ground. - Install the formwork
Bear in mind that foundation formwork plays a vital role in the construction of your concrete foundation. For this reason, you must ensure that it is as deep as the concrete slab will be to keep the concrete in place until it sets in its final form.
Prepare the concrete
Once the site is ready, you can begin your preparations for pouring the concrete. However, similar to the type of foundation you want to lay, it is vital that you are careful when choosing the type of concrete you intend to pour. For instance, soil that contains sulphates can cause concrete to expand and weaken over time. An excellent way of remedying this issue is to use concrete with design chemical classes to ensure long-term stability and durability.
Pour the concrete
Always keep in mind that concrete usually starts to harden within two hours of being mixed and poured. The type of concrete used and the temperature on the worksite can also affect how fast it will set. For example, if you are pouring concrete in cold weather, it can take twice as long for it to harden. By contrast, concrete can set 30 minutes faster when poured in hot weather.
Prepare the necessary tools
Because you only have a short amount of time before the concrete begins to set, you should unload and level it as quickly as you can. Preparing the required tools beforehand will certainly be useful in this regard.
Leave enough room for the delivery truck
You must ensure that there will be enough space on the worksite for the delivery truck to manoeuvre freely. Otherwise, it could impede the pouring of the concrete, which could lead to project delays. Typically, trucks that deliver concrete are 9.5m long, 3m wide and 4m high. Meanwhile, trucks carrying ready-mixed concrete are often equipped with extension ramps that can be 3–4m high. Unless the concrete can be unloaded at any position on-site, you should consider using a concrete pump to expedite the pouring.
Pay attention to the weather
Before pouring the concrete, pay attention to the weather forecast as laying concrete in adverse conditions can have a negative effect on the finished product. However, if this is unavoidable, bear in mind the following advice to ensure you achieve excellent results:
- When pouring concrete, ensure that the air temperature is at least 3°C to prevent ice from forming within the mix. Otherwise, it could weaken the concrete.
- Never lay concrete on top of ice or frost. If the temperature begins to fall, you can use insulating blankets to protect the sub-base. Alternatively, you can thaw the site with heaters before pouring the concrete.
- If it is raining, you must make sure that the ground drains well. Once the concrete has been poured, you should cover it with a tarp or plastic sheeting while it dries to prevent heavy rain from damaging its surface.
Level the concrete
After it has been poured, the concrete will be reasonably wet so you can use a rake or shovel to roughly level it. Then, make sure you tamp down the concrete to remove any air pockets. Meanwhile, it is advisable to use high-quality concrete foundation forms, such as the ones we offer at MEVA. With our formwork systems, you will be able to save on time and labour costs while ensuring that the concrete will have a smooth finish.
Let the concrete set
Make sure the concrete doesn’t come out too quickly as it sets. Otherwise, the surface could be weak or dusty when it hardens. To avoid this, cover the concrete slab with plastic sheeting to keep it damp. You should try to ensure that the edges are appropriately sealed to prevent wind or frost from penetrating the sheeting. In addition, make sure you leave the foundation formwork on for 72 hours before laying bricks or blocks. This will prevent any potential damage to the edges of the foundation.
MEVA’s Dependable Solutions for All Your Foundation Formwork Needs
With MEVA’s products, there is no need to plan how to build a concrete form from scratch. We offer an extensive range of reliable and superior-quality formwork systems to help you lay concrete foundations with maximum convenience and ease. With our formwork solutions, you can significantly reduce your overall project duration and costs while ensuring the safety and efficiency of your team on the ground.
Wall Formwork Systems
Our industry-leading wall formwork systems are not just designed for building concrete walls and columns. They can also be quite useful when forming foundation walls for a wide range of concrete structures. You can choose between steel or aluminium formwork, and no matter what your preference, you can expect an outstanding performance and exceptional results.
Our range of wall formwork systems include:
- AluFix
- MonoFix
- EcoFix
- EcoAs
- AluStar
- StarTec
- StarTec XT
- Mammut 350
- Mammut XT
Explore their unique features and specifications by visiting our wall formwork page.
Slab Formwork Systems
Besides our wall formwork solutions, our slab formwork systems can also be used as foundation formwork. They feature an intelligent design so that building concrete slab foundations is a more straightforward task. Manufactured using only top-quality materials and in line with the highest industry standards, our formwork systems are more than capable of helping you save on time, costs and labour. We also have props and shoring systems guaranteed to provide another level of safety, stability and efficiency to your slab and foundation developments.
MEVA’s slab formwork systems:
- MevaDec
- MonoDec
- MevaFlex
Visit our slab formwork page for more information about our product offerings.
We’re Always Happy to Hear From You
At MEVA, our goal is to provide our clients with formwork systems that are reliable, flexible, and easy to use and deploy. If you’re in the market for revolutionary and trustworthy formwork systems that meet your project’s requirements and the industry’s most rigorous standards, look no further than what we offer here at MEVA.
Do you have questions or enquiries about our products? Please get in touch with us at MEVA today by filling out the form below.
Let MEVA Help You Make the Best Choice
Choosing a reliable and high-quality formwork system for your slab projects can go a long way towards reducing your overall construction duration, labour and costs. To help you select the ideal formwork system so you can achieve the best possible results, MEVA’s team of formwork experts will always be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us at any time … we will be happy to hear from you!
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