The foundation is crucial in building construction as it supports the entire weight of the structure. When constructing a foundation, you should consider a proper concrete mix formula and the type of foundation required.
Determining a proper foundation type can prevent a building from collapsing due to several conditions, such as natural disasters. Therefore, explore the following article on building foundation types to help you select the one that best suits your needs!
Types of Building Foundations
In general, building foundations are divided into two types: shallow foundations and deep foundations. From these two types, each category includes several subtypes that can be selected based on specific needs and conditions.
To determine a proper type of foundation, you need to assess the soil structure at the construction location. Then, you can select a foundation type from the following options:
1. Pile Foundation
A pile foundation is a type of deep foundation commonly used for small and big scale construction. This foundation features an anti-corrosion and weather-resistant framework which is great in durability.
Pile foundations are generally more expensive due to their study construction. However, their strength and durability are worth the cost. Various types of pile foundations to suit your needs, including steel, concrete, or wooden piles.
2. Chicken-Foot (Cakar Ayam) Foundation
The chicken-foot foundation is a foundation consisting of several reinforced concrete piles driven into the ground at a certain depth, typically more than 3 meters. The piles are then linked with reinforced concrete beams, creating a structure that resembles the shape of a chicken foot.
This foundation typically requires a strong and stable structure to support heavy loads, such as bridges, multi-story buildings, and structures built on unstable soil contours.
3. Foot Plat Foundation
A foot plat foundation is a type of shallow foundation that uses reinforced concrete with a minimum grade of K175. The function of this foundation is to support point loads, such as columns. Foot plat foundations are square or circular in shape, which is used for multi-story buildings.
4. Bore Pile Foundation
A bore pile is a type of deep foundation in the form of a long tube that is driven into the ground. This foundation is typically used in multi-story buildings or structures located on unstable soil, such as on mountain slopes.
The bore pile foundation has great stability and is not noisy during installation. Additionally, although it is used on unstable ground, the foundation structure remains secure and does not shift.
5. Piers Foundation
This type of deep foundation is used to transfer the load from the building structure. For the installation, you can excavate the ground and bury the foundation. Piers foundations generally use precast concrete and are designed based on the foundation’s level.
Read also: Concrete Rebate: Definition, Functions, and Advantages
6. Footing Foundation
A footing foundation is a long foundation used to maintain the stability of walls or building columns. Additionally, this foundation also supports the structure above it.
7. Pit Foundation
A pit foundation is a type of deep foundation that combines shallow foundations and pile foundations. To construct it, you need several wells tailored to the specific type of building construction.
Furthermore, these wells are filled with concrete piles to support the loads. This foundation is commonly used for various types of buildings in Indonesia because it is well-suited for locations with hard soil structures.
8. Basement Foundation
This foundation is used to construct a basement by maximizing the use of underground space. However, since the location is beneath the ground and supports the building above, the basement requires a strong and sturdy foundation.
In general, a basement foundation consists of three components: construction, dewatering, and retaining wall. Those three methods distribute and support the building effectively, resulting in a stable and strong building.
9. Spider-Web Foundation
This type of shallow foundation is constructed by forming the shape of a circular spider web. For the foundation, soil can be used to enhance the strength of the building structure.
10. Mat Foundation
This foundation is a large concrete foundation that spreads across the entire building area. This type of foundation is suitable for heavy-structured building on soil with types of soil with low bearing capacity. With this foundation, the lower part of the building can become more stable to support the upper structure.
Read also: Concrete Grade: Types and Classification Table
11. Strip Foundation
A strip foundation is a shallow type of foundation designed to support the load of a building. In general, this foundation is elongated and can have shapes such as square, trapezium, or rectangular. In constructing strip foundations, you can use materials like river stones, crushed stones, and unreinforced concrete.
12. Slab Foundation
A slab foundation is a shallow type of foundation with circle or square shapes. The function of this foundation is to support a point load of the building, particularly in areas with soft soil.
13. Raft Foundation
A raft foundation is a foundation that supports the entire area beneath the building and is suitable for soft soil conditions. Moreover, this foundation is ideal for a building with closely spaced columns, resulting in load supports that are well-spread. Furthermore, this foundation is perfect for locations with underground water flow or areas prone to erosion.
14. Isolated Foundation
This shallow foundation is used to support columns in multi-story buildings. The walls are then supported by beams or a binding sloof. This type of foundation is great for constructing the main structure in a multi-story building.
15. Rollag Foundation
A Rollag foundation is a type of foundation to support mild loads in the building, such as a house terrace. This foundation is considered simple because it distributes the building’s load and balances the ground position to prevent subsidence. There are two types of Rollag foundations: brick Rollag and concrete Rollag.
16. Caisson Foundation
This foundation is suitable for the buildings in areas with high groundwater levels or construction projects that require high stability. Caisson foundation is typically tubular or rectangular and is driven into the ground until it reaches a more stable soil layer.
17. Franki Pile Foundation
The last type of foundation is the Franki pile which resists vertical building loads. To construct it, you can drill the ground until you reach a firm soil layer, then fill the hole with rocks or gravel.
How to Choose the Proper Building Foundation
Now that you know the different types of foundations and their functions for buildings. Then, how to choose the right building foundation? Here are some tips for choosing the appropriate foundation for your building:
1. Analyzing the Soil Characteristics
The first aspect you have to do before selecting a foundation is to understand the soil characteristics of the construction site. If the soil is unstable, you can choose a type of foundation that can support the building’s stability, such as a caisson or pile foundation.
2. Considering Load and Design
In addition to soil contours, you also need to consider the building’s load and design, particularly if you are constructing a building with an earthquake-resistant structure. These large buildings generally use raft foundations or mat foundations as the building’s load can be evenly distributed.
3. Using a Flexible Foundation
The selected foundation must adapt to soil movements, so when soil shifts or an earthquake occurs, the buildings remain stable and do not easily crack, or even collapse.
4. Using Quality Materials
The last tip is to ensure you are using high-quality materials, such as durable cement. In this case, Semen Merah Putih can be an excellent solution in constructing your building foundation! Semen Merah Putih offers various kinds of cement and concrete products for your building material needs, including Semen Merah Putih Watershield.
Semen Merah Putih Watershield features Water-Repellent with Triple Protection, which safeguards the building from water seepage at three sources, from outside, inside, and from the ground. Moreover, Semen Merah Putih also provides innovative concrete products for various types of construction, including Precast Concrete, Ready-Mix Concrete, and Aggregates.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact us now to get more information!
Read also: Concrete Compressive Strength: Definition and Underlying Factors
