FOOTINGS, FOUNDATIONS, & CONCRETE

STAKING OUT HOUSE LOCATION

Stake out dimensions for the house are provided on the plot plan
Required instruments:
- measuring tape (100)
- contractors level
- transit
- plumb bob
- batter boards and stakes
- string
Staking steps:
1. ocate house corners from plot plan b! driving stakes at these spots (use the
"#1$#1% triangle to square the corners or a transit)
$. &lace batter boards ' feet off of the footing line (outside of footing)
(. Stretch string bet)een batter boards directl! above corner stakes. * line can
be painted on the ground belo) the string to outline the house. * plumb bob
is used to accuratel! locate the string over the corner stakes.
EXCAVATION
Removing the top soil is the first step in e+cavation. ,his material can be used for final
grading purposes after the footings and foundations are completed.
-+cavations for footing should e+tend either.
- at least /0 into undisturbed soil# no backfilling
- at least /0 belo) the average ma+imum frost penetration
- at least /0 into e+isting rock if the footing is sitting on bedrock
1Soil bearing conditions )ill determine the e+cavation depth and )idth
-+cavation must be )ide enough to allo) for )ork space to construct the forms
FOOTING SHAPES AND SPECIFICATIONS
2ootings increase the support capacit! of the foundation )all b! spreading the loads
over a )ider area
2ooting design ()idth and thickness) depend on the building loads and the soil bearing
capacit!
3eneral footing proportions

4t is important to take into consideration an! var!ing soil t!pes )ithin the footing area.
5ifferent soils (cla!. sand. organic. rock. etc.) respond differentl! to loading. 6ou dont
)ant differential settlement of var!ing degree occurring during construction.
ongitudinal reinforcement )ith $# 7/ bars
4n hill! terrain. stepped footings can be used as long as the height of the step is not
more than three#fourths ((8') the hori9ontal distance bet)een the steps. ,o :tie0 the
footing together. $# 7' bars should be used.
FOUNDATION WALLS
;onnects the footing to the slab or floor <oists or ma! be a basement )all
=aterials: poured concrete. concrete block. stone or brick. pressure#treated )ood
2our basic t!pes (2ig. $(.> ? ")
- ,# foundation
- Slab foundation
- &ier or post foundation
- &ermanent )ood foundation
@asement )alls must have adequate drainage at the footing to relieve h!drostatic
pressure
T-Foundation (2ig. $(.1')
=ost common t!pe.
2ootings and foundation )all are formed to be cast as a single unit
2W
W
W
Sa! "oundation (2ig. $(.$%)
4t is an e+tension of a slab floor.
,he slab and foundation are cast as one unit
*dvantages
- requires less time
- less e+pensive
- less labor time to construct
Slab foundation construction is used for interior bearing )all partitions
Pi#$ and %o&t "oundation& (2igs. $(.(0 ? (()
;ommonl! used in combination )ith ,#foundations as support for interior beams and
floor <oists.
*lso used )ith columns in a basement )here the distance is too great to span )ith floor
<oists.
* :lall!0 column is used in this situation
&ier vs. column
- ,he difference bet)een and pier and a column is the length.
- &ier are usuall! shorter and located under the house
- ;olumns are made of t)o pieces. a footing and a post (2ig. "#1A)
Wood "oundation& (2igs. $(.(" ? '0)
*B* permanent )ood foundation (&C2). all#)eather )ood foundation (*CC2). and
treated )ood foundation
* )ood foundation is a belo) grade. pressure#treated pl!)ood#sheathed stud )all.
;ommon in climates )here t!pical foundation )ork (concrete and masonr!) stops in
free9ing or )et )eather
2or cra)l space
- depth of e+cavation allo)s for $0 of sand or /0 of crushed rock that is placed
belo) the ma+imum average frost depth
- footing trench should be at least 1$0 deep and 100 to 1$0 )ide (check local
code)
- level sand and rock is essential to ensure a level floor
2or basement )alls
- bottom of footing e+cavation is covered )ith /0 to >0 of porous gravel and
leveled
- footing plates are either $+>. $+10. or $+1$ pressure#treated material
*ll fasteners (nails. brackets. etc.) must be made of silicon bron9e. copper. or hot#
dipped galvani9ed 9inc coated steel
Special caulking compounds are used to seal <oints
* pol!eth!lene film is placed on the gravel base to prevent moisture and a concrete slab
is placed on top of that
*ttention must be given to the connection of the floor <oists to the basement )alls to
correctl! transfer in)ard soil forces to the floor structure
1@ackfilling should not begin until the basement floor has cured and the first floor is
installed
CONCRETE AND 'ASONR( )ASE'ENT WALLS
Call thickness depends on lateral earth pressure (soil and h!dostatic pressure) and
vertical load (>0 minimum)
2actors influencing strength and stabilit!
- height and thickness
- mortar bond ((8>0)
- vertical load
- support from cross )alls. pilasters or )all stiffeners and support from the first
floor framing
Strong earth pressures require stiffening through.
- pilasters
- vertical and hori9ontal bar reinforcement through hollo) core block )ith
concrete
@asement )alls e+tend a minimum of >0 above finished grade (using )ood framing)
@asement )alls are slightl! shorter than first and secondar! stor! )alls
oad#bearing cross )alls are tied to e+terior )alls through metal tie bars (18'0 thick.
D0 )ide. and $>0 long)
2loor loads are distributed uniforml! along the basement )all top course of block using
- '0 solid block
- solid top block
- reinforced concrete masonr! bond beam
- cores in the top course filled )ith concrete or mortar
5amp proofing is essential# use a parge coat ($#18'0 mortar coats and hot tar or
equivalent material
Call drains and sump pumps
)EA'S AND GIRDERS
* beam or girder is used to support the floor <oists and prevent sagging.
&laced equidistant from e+terior )alls and under bearing )alls ()alls designed to
support part of the load)
@eams are either )ood or steel ()ood is t!pical for residential construction)
Cood beams are either built#up or solid
Steel beams are commonl! S#beams or C#beams ()ide flanged) 2ig. $/.10
;alculations to determine the beam si9e depends on the load the beam )ill support
Ceights are combinations of ive or 5ead loads
ive load ()# fi+ed or moving )eights not a structural part of the house
- furniture. people. sno). )ind. etc.
5ead load (5)# static or fi+ed )eights of the structure
- )eight of roof. )alls. floors. siding. <oists. foundation )alls. etc.
Simplified loads
2irst floor# E 5F %0 pounds per square foot (psf)
Second floor# E 5F %0 psf
;eiling# E 5F (0 psf
Calls# E 5F 10 psf
Roof# E 5F ,!picall! none since most load from the roof transfer directl! to the
e+terior )alls
Ceight ;alculations
See *ppendi+ @ for =athematical ;alculations for loads
,ributar! *rea# *rea supported b! a beam. girder or column and is equal to half the
span length in an! given direction
oads are based on kips (Gne kip is equal to 1000 pounds)
,ables for ma+imum allo)able loads are:
2ig. @.(>. *merican Standard 4#beams )ith lateral support (S#beams)
2ig. @#'$. *llo)able concentric loads for standard steel pipe columns
4f a span is too great. additional columns must be provided to reduce the span length
-+ample calc for beam
St$u*tu$a *o+%on#nt T$i!uta$, A$#a
-&".
Load&
-%&".
W#i/0t
-1i%&.
$nd floor %/0 %0 $>.0
1st floor %/0 %0 $>.0
1st ceiling %/0 (0 1/.>
$nd bearing )all (b)) ($0 10 (.$
1st b) ($0 10 (.$
,otal )eight on beam A".$
intels
intel# * hori9ontal structural member that supports the load over an opening such as a
door or )indo)
;onstructed of:
- precast concrete
- cast#in#place concrete
- lintel blocks
- steel angle iron
CONCRETE AND 'ASONR(
;oncrete is ordered b! the !ard ($A cubic feet F 1 !ard)
=inimum compressive strength of structural concrete is (000 pounds per square inch
(psi)
;uring time and temperature affect the curing of concrete
;oncrete reaches its ma+imum compressive strength at about $> da!s
4t must be kept moist for several da!s
,he process for placing concrete
- &our and vibrate
- Screed
- 2loat
- ,ro)el
- ;ontraction <oints
&our and Hibrate# ,he vibrating or tamping reduces the air pockets )hich reduce
strength
Screed# Ising a long straightedge. the concrete is )orked back and forth to smooth the
surface. bring e+cess )ater to the surface and settle aggregate
2loat# * short board )ith a handle and flat sides. 2loating embeds large aggregate.
removes slight imperfections. lumps and voids and consolidates mortar at the
surface
,ro)el# Rectangular and used in circular motion. ,ro)eling hardens the surface and
develops a ver! smooth surface
;ontraction <oints# ;ontrol the cracking of concrete from e+pansion and contraction due
to temperature. ,he! are placed in line )ith interior columns. at
changes in slab )idth. or at ma+imum spacing of $0 ft.
;oncrete slab floors should not be bonded to footings or columns. * 10 cushion of sand
should be provided )here the slab rests on the footing. @uilding paper (a sleeve of (
thicknesses) can be used to separate the column from the slab.
;oncrete @locks (2ig. $%.>)
Ised to form e+terior and sometimes interior )alls. ,!pical block si9e is an >0+>0+1/0.
but the actual dimensions are A %8>0 + A %8>0 + 1% %8>0. ,hese dimensions allo) for (8>0
mortar <oints.