FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION PLANS
The methods and materials use in constructing foundations vary greatly in
different parts of the country and are continually changing. The basic principles of
foundation construction are the same regardless of the application.
Every structure needs a foundation. The function of a foundation is to provide
a level and uniformly distributed support for the structure.

WHAT IS A FOUNDATION
- It is the lowest support on which the building rest. Foundation must be strong
enough to support and distribute the load of the structure, and sufficiently level to
prevent the walls from cracking and the doors and windows from sticking

FOUNDATION MEMBERS
- The structural members of the foundation vary according to the design and size
of the foundation.

FOOTING

- The footing or footer distribute the weight of the house over a large area.

TYPES OF FOOTING
FOUNDATION WALLS
- The function of the foundation wall is to support the load of the building above
the ground line and to transmit the weight of the house to the footing.

- Foundation walls are normally made of concrete, stone, brick, or concrete block.

- A foundation wall can also be a basement wall.

PIER & COLUMN
- Pier and Columns are vertical members usually made of concrete, brick steel or
wood.
They are used to support the floor systems. Piers or columns maybe used as the sole
support of the structure. They also maybe used in conjunction with the foundation
wall and provide only the intermediate support between girders or beams.

ANCHOR BOLTS

- Anchor bolts are embedded on the top of the foundation walls or piers. The
exposed part of the bolt is threaded so that first horizontal wood member (the sill) can
be bolted onto the top of the foundation wall.
SILLS

Sills are wood members that are fastened with anchor bolts to the foundation
wall

POSTS
Posts are wood members that support the weight of girders or beams and
transmit the weight to
the footings.

CRIPPLES
Cripples are used to raise the floor level without the use of a higher
foundation wall

GIRDERS
Girders are major horizontal support members upon which the floor system is
laid. They are supported by posts and piers and are secured to the foundation wall

STEEL BEAMS
Steel beams perform the same function as wood girders. However, steel
beams can span larger than can wood girders of equivalent size.

JOISTS
Joists are the part of the floor system that is placed on the girders. Joists span
either from girder to girder or from girder to the foundation wall.
PILASTERS

Pilasters are reinforcements in a wall designed to provide more rigidity without

increasing the width of the wall over the entire length.

TYPES OF FOUNDATION

T-FOUNDATION
-Consists of a trench footer upon which is placed a concrete wall or a concrete
block wall.

SLAB FOUNDATION
- Is a poured solid slab of concrete. The slab is poured directly on the
ground, with footers placed where extra support is needed.

PIER AND COLUMN FOUNDATION

- It consists of individual footers upon which columns are placed. Fewer
materials and less labor are needed for the pier and column foundation.