6 Most Important Foundation Construction Components

Foundation construction is extremely important for the safety of your whole building. The foundations are what your house is built on. There are lots of important components which will make your foundation as strong and as long lasting as possible. Learning about these foundation construction components in advance will help you to find out how to build your home.

There are quite a few different materials which can be used to make a strong foundation which any house can be built on regardless of the size.

Concrete

Concrete is one of the most fabulous building materials around. Concrete can be used for virtually every building project that you can think of. Concrete and foundations mix very well together. A concrete slab can be poured and concrete is typically also used for the underground walls which make up the rest of your basement. Foundation walls made out of concrete are very fixed and also fairly easy to construct.

When working with concrete a wooden frame must first be constructed. This frame will have the concrete poured into it and will be left until the concrete hardens. Once the concrete hardens the frame can be removed and the concrete walls and foundations should support themselves.

Metal

When working with concrete, metal reinforcements are normally added. The metal will be fixed into the concrete as it dries, creating extra strength and rigidity. Metal is a very important component of your foundation.

Concrete Block

Concrete blocks are large brick like materials which are made from concrete. These are bigger than a regular brick which makes laying them much easier and quicker. Concrete blocks are also known as breeze blocks as they are much lighter than you might imagine. It's important to choose heavy duty concrete blocks when building foundation walls because light walls simply won't be up to the job.

External grade concrete blocks are frost resistant which means the blocks won't be destroyed if water gets inside and it freezes. Concrete blocks can be used in the same way as bricks, but much quicker.

Bricks or Stones

Some older houses have brick or stone built foundation walls. These are just as strong as concrete, but more susceptible to water damage due to the gaps between the stones.

Wood

When most people think of a foundation they think of something made only out of concrete. However, working with wood can be a great way to create a sturdy base for your house. Pressure treated wood can be used, which is impregnated with lots of chemicals. This will prevent the wood from rotting or being eaten by termites and other pests.

Weatherproofing Materials

Almost all basements can suffer from water damage because they are built underground. This means that some form of waterproofing material must be used if you want to use the room. There are many different types of waterproofing treatment for foundation walls, these include vapor barriers and drylok paint.

Checking the Condition

Whichever materials you use to build your foundations with, it's essential that you check the condition of the foundations on a regular basis. If you see any large cracks developing then you must seek a professional opinion.