Concrete is strong, relatively strong, easy to cast when wet, and is a cost-effective raw material for building construction. To make a concrete slab, all you need to do is prepare a wooden frame in the same shape that you would like the concrete to take. Then you dig a hole for the base and place your frame inside the hole. For concrete when it is still wet in this frame. The end result is a concrete slab. You can reinforce the slab with steel to make sure it is more robust and can withstand greater force or weight.
But although concrete is very strong, it does have some weaknesses. In humid conditions, such as prolonged wet weather, water can get into the concrete and cause it to crack. This means that the concrete needs to be checked periodically for signs of damage so that it can be repaired immediately and cracks can be stopped before they become too large and pose a risk to the stability of the building. When it comes to concrete foundations, there are several different types. But why is it important for one to know what the different types are? First, it could save you time and money in the short and long term. There are advantages and disadvantages to each and it all depends on how and where they are used.
The first type of concrete foundation is the T-shaped concrete foundation. This is one of the most widely used foundation types and is ideal when the objective is to support structures in areas where the ground is known to freeze. Under normal circumstances, frozen ground puts pressure on the foundation; But the unique design of the T-shaped base allows it to resist any potential damage from frozen ground. Typically you would place a flat base section below the expected frost line and then build the walls on top. The walls are not as wide as the footings, providing that extra level of support needed at the base of the building. It is the inverted T shape of the final structure when viewed in cross section that the building receives its name. The T-shaped base is famous not only for its resistance to the effects of icy ground but also for its overall stability.
The second type of concrete foundation is the above-grade slab foundation. While this type of concrete foundation is also widely used, it is often used in areas where the ground does not freeze and therefore there is no need for the T-shaped concrete foundation. In a slab foundation a level, the slab is made as a single layer of concrete several inches thick. You need to pour the thicker slab around the edges to provide a firmer base. Then use reinforcing rods to give the thickened edge extra strength. To improve drainage, the slab should rest on a bed of crushed gravel. You can also embed wire mesh into concrete, as this will reduce the chances of it cracking. Although the level slab is ideally designed for places where the ground does not freeze, it can still be reinforced with insulation to prevent frost damage.
The third type of concrete foundation is the frost-protected shallow foundation. As its name suggests, it is intended to counteract the effects that would otherwise be caused by frost. This type of foundation has insulation placed on the outside of the foundation and uses heat loss from the building itself, as well as the natural thermal energy of the earth. A frost protected shallow base (FPSF) can be twelve to sixteen inches below grade. This means that it can greatly reduce excavation costs, making it a good preventative and inexpensive alternative against freeze damage. While it is predominantly used in Scandinavian countries (there are over 1 million households in Sweden, Finland, and Norway with FPSF), there are around 5,000 buildings in the United States that have used FPSF successfully.
