Starting a new building comes with a lot of excitement and euphoria. In that phase, you want to capture many pictures, make memories and let your friends know what you are doing. Before starting, knowing that the foundation is the most important part of your building process is important. Interestingly, there are several types of foundations.

Choosing a foundation type is not a game of cards. It requires you to consider factors like the soil type, purpose of the building, load characteristics and your budget. Even if you will be outsourcing the construction, you need to know the foundation types, so you can effectively manage the construction procedure.

Common Foundation Types you should Know

Before building your Ibadan house, you need to be familiar with the soil type of your property. Nigerian soils range from sandy to loamy and clayey soil. These different soil types have varying peculiarities and require different types of foundation.

While it is easy to stare at the soil type and draw conclusions. it is safer to have experts conduct the analysis. Even though some soil types look plain, they have mixed textures and you may be unable to accurately highlight the soil's characteristics.

1. Spread Footing Foundation

Spread footing is one of the most popular foundations in Nigeria. It is commonly used to support and distribute the load of a building over a large area of soil. This foundation type is designed to transfer the weight of the structure of a building to the underlying soil in a manner that eliminates excessive settlement of the building.

Advantages of Spread Footing Foundation

1. The materials for spread footing foundations are readily available.
2. This foundation type does not need extensive skillsets to construct.
3. Spread footing is a cost-effective type of foundation.

Disadvantages of Spread Footing Foundation

1. It is not suitable for all soil types
2. Spread footing foundation is usually subject to settlement

2. Reinforced Concrete Strip Foundation

The reinforced concrete slab foundation is one of the most versatile types of foundation you can use for your Ibadan home. It is suitable for different soil types and offers solid resistance against settlement. 

Reinforced concrete strip foundation evenly distributes the building's load across the concrete strip. This foundation type is effective for grounds and buildings that are prone to ground movement and excessive vibrations. Usually, this foundation type is reinforced with steel bars. Consequently, this gives the building optimal strength and durability.

3. Raft Foundation

A raft foundation is a suitable choice for areas with poor soil bearing capacity and regions that are susceptible to flooding. In some circles, the raft foundation is also called the mat foundation. It spreads the building load across a large area. Hence, reducing the risk of differential settlement. 

Raft foundation gives your Ibadan home a robust and stable base. Hence, helping you maximize building in regions with high water tables.  There are different types of raft foundations. These include:

• Flat Plate Type Raft Foundation

A flat plate-type raft foundation is made up of a reinforced concrete slab with uniform thickness covering the bearing area of the foundation.  It is suitable when the columns have uniform spaces, carrying equal loads, between them. This foundation type is reinforced on both sides by steel mesh. The flat plate-type raft foundation has a maximum thickness of 300 mm.

• Thickened Flat Plate Type Raft Foundation

The thickened flat plate type raft foundation becomes necessary when the column loads to be used for the foundation are heavy. Heavy columns introduce negative bending moments and diagonal shear. Hence the need to thicken the flat plate slab. Alternatively, a pedestal can be introduced under the columns in place of increasing the thickness of the slab.

• Beam and Slab Type Raft Foundation

The beam and slab type of foundation is constructed by laying beams in perpendicular directions and connecting them by a raft slab. In this foundation type, the columns are located at the intersection of the beams of the raft foundation. The beam and slab raft foundation is best used when the columns are wide apart and carry unequal loads.

• Piled Raft Foundation

The piled raft foundation is used when the soil has high compressibility and high water tables. The raft slab in this foundation type is usually supported by piles in the soil. Piled raft foundation is ideal for high raft buildings. The piles under the raft reduce settlement while simultaneously increasing the buoyancy of the foundation. 

Advantages of the Raft Foundation

1. They are suitable for soils with low-bearing capacity
2. It effectively reduces the differential settlement of soil.
3. They are constructed for shallow depths and require less excavation.

Disadvantages of the Raft Foundation

1. It sometimes requires a lot of reinforcement which could lead to an increase in building cost.
2. When using Concentrated Loads, it is important to pay special attention to the raft foundation.

4. Pile Foundation

A pile foundation is best suited for buildings anticipating vibrations. It offers solid support to heavy structures in areas with weak or compressible soil layers. They are made up of concrete or steel columns driven deep into the ground until they reach the bedrock. The presence of concrete or steel columns in the bedrock transfers the building load to a deeper and more stable strata. Hence, eliminating the risks of settlement. 

Advantages of Pile Foundation

1. The pile foundation has a high load bearing capacity. This makes it one of the best foundation types when building heavy structures on lands that have challenging soil conditions.
2. Pile foundations have high versatility, they can be adapted to different soil types and they offer flexibility in building projects.
3. This foundation type has high settlement control. Hence, ensuring that the structure remains stable and has a maintained level over time.
4. Pile foundations are an effective solution when building in areas with weak and unstable upper soils. 

Disadvantages of Pile Foundation

1. Pile foundations tend to be more expensive than shallow foundations because of the cost of the materials used in the construction of the building.
2. Designing and installing a pile foundation requires a lot of expertise which not many contractors have.
3. Pile foundations are durable. However, the maintenance and repairs of this foundation type may be complex.

5. Pad Foundations

Pad foundations are also known as spread footings. They are made up of consists of reinforced concrete pads that distribute the building's load to the underlying soil. Pad foundations are cost-effective and easy to construct. Hence making it a common foundation type for smaller residential structures or extensions. 

Advantages of Pad Foundations

1. Pad foundations can be easily adapted to suit different soil conditions. One of the reasons for this is that the pad foundation rests on a large area and distributes the load evenly to prevent excessive settlement.
2. Pad foundations are easy and economical to construct. 
3. The size and shape of a pad foundation can be adjusted to suit different site conditions.

Disadvantages of Pad Foundation

1. Pad foundations are susceptible to damage from earth movements and landslides.
2. Pad foundations are not suitable for soft soils because the load is usually distributed over a large area. Hence, causing the foundation to sink into the soil.

6. Caisson Foundation

The Caisson foundation is ideal for supporting heavy structures on sites having deep or unstable soil layers. In simple terms, Caisson are cylindrical shafts that are filled with reinforced concrete and drilled into the ground to increase the load-bearing capacity of the foundation. Caisson foundations are commonly used in high-rise construction and industrial projects because of their exceptional strength. Additionally, they provide stability in challenging soil conditions. 

Advantages Of Caisson Foundation

1. Caisson foundations can be easily adaptable to suit different soil conditions.
2. Caisson foundations are very economical to build.
3. Caisson foundations often reduce vibration and have slightly less noise.

Disadvantages Of Caisson Foundation.

1. Not many professionals have expertise in building this type of foundation.
2. The construction process for placing Caissons is quite sensitive and not many construction managers are willing to put in the work.

7. Basement Foundation

The basement foundation is the most expensive foundation type. It is an additional floor that is built partially or totally under the ground. It is the deepest foundation type and this causes it to consume more resources than other types of foundation.

Advantages Of Basement Foundation

1. It provides you with extra living space beneath the house.
2. It increases the value of the building
3. It gives easier access to contractors to fix plumbing and wiring works.

Disadvantages Of Basement Foundation

1. It is more expensive than other foundation types
2. The basement of the apartment is usually subjected to molding and rotting which could compromise the overall integrity of the apartment.

Essential Reasons you should Pay Attention to your Choice of Foundation

Several people are more concerned about the aesthetics of a home than the foundation of the apartment. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make. In this section, we will be discussing the important reasons you should pay attention to the foundation of your home.

1. The Foundation Restricts Movement

Natural forces are always at work. Forces like Tectonic plates, soil moisture and temperature are constantly changing. Building on a weak foundation could subject the house to cracks, break or total collapse.

2. The Foundation Supports your Home

The foundation is buried beneath the home so that it will bear the house up. Without a foundation, the house will unevenly sink into the ground and this would lead to eventual crack and damage. Building a good foundation is much more than digging the ground and pouring concrete. You need to be clear about the type of building you are constructing before choosing a foundation type.

3. A Good Foundation Helps Locks Moisture Out

Excessive moisture is one of the factors that lead to the damage of a home. With a solid foundation, your building is protected from the accumulation of moisture. Hence, keeping your building safe and restricting the effect of moisture on the walls of your building.

Conclusion

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