We all know the story of the three little pigs. In case you’ve forgotten, here’s a quick recap:
It’s a fictitious tale about three little pigs who set out into the world to seek their fortune. They build houses for shelter — one made of straw, one made out of sticks and the last made of bricks.
The big bad wolf comes by and blows each house down to the ground, all except for the house made of bricks.
We all know instinctively that a good foundation is crucial to any building project. Indeed, it’s such common knowledge that it is used as a metaphor for stability in dozens of different scenarios. We talk about relationships needing a solid foundation of trust, for instance, or basic knowledge in a given subject acting as a foundation for further learning. Even our children’s early years of education is labelled as their foundational years.
Today, we’re talking about the original definition of the term and why it remains as important today as it ever did.
In the construction industry, there is one aim for every project and it’s a simple one: to construct a building that is strong and secure. When it comes to building construction, the strength of any building lies in its foundations, which is why it’s so important that you get the foundation right and understand why it is such a critical element.
The main purpose of a building’s foundation is to hold the structure above it and ensure that the building remains upright. When a foundation is poorly constructed, it can pose a serious risk to the inhabitants of the building and the neighbourhood as a whole. The larger the building, the more powerful the foundation must be. The proverbial roof over your head will cave in if the foundation is not solid. Therefore, it is essential that the foundations are always taken seriously when it comes to building construction.
To further illustrate its importance, here are some key benefits of having a solid foundation in your building:
Supports Your Home
The foundation is buried in the ground underneath your home. Its primary purpose is to hold your house up. Without it, your house would quickly sink into the ground unevenly, resulting in cracks and damage to your home. A properly built foundation will keep the home even and supported, even during a flood or earthquake. But building a good foundation requires more than just digging into the ground and pouring the concrete. It has to be properly tailored to the site. This involves taking into account the geology, soil conditions, water table, and even the backfill. The base also needs to be properly set, and compacted just right, while containing the proper materials to ensure that it can hold the weight of your home and support it, even when the ground below changes.
Prevents Overloading
A foundation distributes the weight of a building to the ground. Transferring a building’s load far into the ground offers stability to the building and helps to avoid any overloading on other parts of the structure. The foundation must be able to withstand the “dead” load and “live” loads. The dead load is the weight or the load of the basic structure itself. It is called ‘dead load’ because it remains constant. The ‘live load’, on the other hand, is the weight of the people and other objects that they bring with them. The foundation must be firm and must be able to channel the weight of the entire building to the ground. If the building is being constructed on sloping regions or moist ground, the foundation has to be customised and durable.
Resists Movement
Natural forces are always at work. Soil moisture levels frequently change, temperature fluctuations impact the soil conditions, tectonic plates move below, and water tables can be altered below your home at any time. If your home is not anchored to a foundation, it can crack, break apart or even be washed away by the natural forces at work. A sturdy foundation can resist any seasonal movement that happens below and around your home. It will transfer the structure’s load to the underlying soil or rock to prevent excess settlement or movement.
Flooding
In the event of a serious flood, having a solid foundation to your building may not be enough to save your possessions from water damage, but it will ensure that the property will still be standing, its structural integrity intact, once the waters have subsided.
Keeps Moisture Out
Your home can be damaged by various factors, but moisture is the one you really need to look out for. Moisture can quickly weaken and compromise your home’s structure. When water collects around your home from rain and snow, it saturates the soil. Tree and plant roots can also distribute water from above ground through the soil and towards your home. This can cause the soil to expand and shift, putting pressure on your foundation. A sturdy foundation and good drainage will keep the water out of your basement, keeping your home dry no matter the weather conditions. Damp proofing a foundation wall can also prevent moisture from passing through the concrete walls into the interior basement space. Keeping water and moisture out from your basement will keep your home free of any toxic mold and structural damage.
As is often true in life, a strong foundation is crucial for success. If there are any mistakes in your foundation, then problems are likely to arise from them. Even when you have the proper foundation in place, small cracks or signs of separation can indicate more significant problems that could threaten the safety of your home. Many people neglect and forget to inspect and repair their foundation, resulting in costly repairs down the road.
At Afriland Properties, we understand the importance of solid foundations and work with the highest-rated engineers to provide the best solutions for our developments.
For more enquiries on our Project Development services,
Contact us: sales@afrilandproperties.com
Or Call
Boye: 08038335722
Chika:08033199436
Gladys:08033634460
