Foundation Construction
The best type of foundations depend on the surrounding conditions. As trusted foundation contractors, we provide the ideal solution.
What are Foundations?
Foundations are an integral part of a project, requiring a high level of precision.
As established foundation construction specialists, 4SP Group are on hand to carry out effective foundation construction as advised by the professional design team.
The requirements of each project vary, depending on numerous factors which include the type of soil and levels of moisture.
We will liaise directly with the environmental consultant and professional design team so we are ready to hit the ground running with the requirements for your project, establishing the best type of method for foundation wall construction.
The team at 4SP Group have over 35 years of experience dealing with foundation construction for a wide variety of projects, making us a highly skilled company.
We are used to being proactive and are on hand to help problem solve should the need arise, being able to provide the ideal solution for your project.
Contact us today to speak to one of our team for expert advice and a speedy no-obligation quote for your foundation construction.
Ground Beams
Ground beams offer an alternative to other types of foundation construction and are typically built from reinforced concrete which is constructed at foundation level.
Their primary purpose is to support walls where the soil below is weak. Typically ground beams are often quick to implement which can speed up the construction process whilst providing an effective solution during the construction stage.
Pile Caps
A pile cap is used to distribute the weight of a building, creating stable foundations where the ground below is soft or unbalanced.
Pile caps consist of a large concrete mat that will sit above the piles to carry the load of the structure being built above.
Types of Foundations
Strip Foundations
This form of foundation construction is the most popular and consists of a continuous strip of concrete supporting load-bearing walls. There are typically two kinds of strip foundations:
- Deep strip foundations
Deep strip foundations are used where the building foundations need to be at a lower level. The process consists of digging a deep trench to reach the soil which can then be used to undertake deep strip foundations. After this, the strip foundations are dug and poured before a wall is built up to ground level. - Wide strip foundations
If the soil is soft or cannot bear a heavy load, wide strip foundations will be recommended. The wide strip foundations spread the load over a larger area and are reinforced with steel to reduce the loading per m².
Raft Foundations
Raft foundations are suitable for weak soils but also expensive soils including peat and clays. They hold the weight of a building above the soil, avoiding the risk of expensive foundation repairs in the future.
Wide strip foundations wouldn’t work in this scenario as they would not spread far enough and the soil would not be able to withhold the foundations. This option is also much more cost-effective than having to pour and reinforce a concrete slab.
Trench Fill Foundations
This type of foundation wall construction is becoming increasingly popular compared to deep strip foundations due to the high labour cost entailed. Requiring a smaller trench to be dug as building masonry below ground level is not needed, it can save time and cost due to less concrete and manpower being required.
Typically, the trench fill foundation process requires a trench to be dug until the soil can provide sufficient load-bearing capacity. At this point, it can be filled with concrete and sometimes steel reinforcement, dependant on the individual property conditions.