Just as roots are to a tree, a foundation is an essential part of a building as it offers support to the entire building. A foundation is the startup point of any given building project. Having a solid foundation ensures the durability of your home building even in tough conditions. How do you ensure you get it right? Well, below are ways to lay a strong foundation for your home.
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Locate an Ideal Site
Your site selection will determine the fidelity of the foundation you will have. You need to keep an eye on factors like the soil condition at the site. Yes, soil with good structure is usually the best to lay a more stable home foundation. As you select the site, you should also avoid going to areas prone to frequent waterlogging.
Tip: It is essential to consult professionals to help you select the best site to build a foundation.
Carry out the Required Surveys
Talking of seeking professional help, having your plot surveyed before laying the foundation is also essential. The foundation’s position and dimensions to property lines are plotted on the survey. This means that the survey will aid in determining and tracing the real foundation corners so that the entire foundation may be designed. Most city and county agencies, banks, and mortgage companies usually request these surveys and may require a licensed professional to certify that you are good to go.
Excavate
After obtaining the layout plan on the ground-based, excavation work is the next important step for building your home’s foundation. Excavation should always be carried out by an excavation contractor to accurately calculate the levels, shape, size, and alignment.
Waterproof your Basement
It may sound like a cliché, but prevention is better than cure. The basement is one of the most common places in a home that floods, making it essential to get your basement waterproofed. Think of basement waterproofing as more of a proactive measure than a reactive way to ensure that your basement will always be dry. Again, you should seek help from experts to guide you through the waterproofing process.
Do the Footing
In this step, unique timber treated under pressure is used to put up forms for the footings. To strengthen the concrete, steel rods are fitted within the fo/ms. The forms are then fixed into the ground before the concrete is poured in. The forms stay in place until the footing concrete has cured. You should ensure that the quality of the concrete is as per the approved design grade. Also, check the workability of the concrete throughout the concreting process. Ensure that the curing starts early and the concrete achieves the desired strength with no cracking.
Final remarks
Building a home is a dream for most people. However, it is not just about coming up with a good design. It would be best to build a substantial house that will withstand the test of time and tough weather seasons. Well, the foundation is the starting point. Ensure you get it right as you lay your home’s foundation.
