The foundation is a crucial element in every building construction due to its function in distributing structural load to soil safely. One of the most commonly used foundation types is footplate foundation.
This type of foundation is mostly used to prop up point load from individual columns, either for low or medium-level buildings. Let’s understand deeper about the types of footplate foundations with their pros and cons here.
What Is Footplate Foundation?
A footplate is one of the most basic and common foundation types in building construction. This element is responsible for distributing building load equally to the deeper soil layer.
A footplate is usually made in rectangular or square form which is then placed in the bottom of the building wall and column. This type of foundation aims to reduce the risk of significant structural shift and decline.
Footplate consists of two main types, i.e. continuous footplate and isolated footplate. Continuous footplate is stretched on the entire building walls, while isolated footplate is only installed at the bottom of certain columns.
Read also: Types of Building Foundations for Sturdy High-Rise Structures
Types of Footplate Foundations
Footplate is classified into several types, and each type has its characteristics and functions. Here is a further explanation:
1. Long Footplate
A long footplate is a foundation made in an elongated shape and is usually used to prop up several columns and stilts. With this type of footplate, the foundation can distribute loads from several columns to soil optimally.
2. Single Footplate
Single footplate is the simplest footplate type and is usually applied for a residential house. This type of foundation is made singly in every building structure’s columns and stilts.
This foundation type is suitable for building structures with regularly spaced parallel columns, making it common to be used on modern buildings.
3. Raft Footplate
Raft footplate is a foundation type with a large concrete slab that includes the whole building area or the majority of the surface.
This foundation is designed to endure loads from several columns or walls at the same time, which is definitely ideal for soil with low-bearing capacity.
4. Combined Footplate
Combined footplate is one of the foundation methods that is often applied to infrastructure and building construction. This technique combines footplates with pile foundations to give more optimal structural support.
In general, this foundation is suitable to be applied in a low-bearing capacity soil due to its capacity to distribute building loads to a broader area as well as increase overall stability and strength structures.
Besides that, this method is also effective in solving soft soil issues and uneven load distribution. By applying combined footplates, building structures will be more solid and stable. This way, you can increase the overall construction’s security and reliability level.
Read also: Bridge Construction Types and Foundation Varieties
Pros and Cons of Footplate Foundation
Even though it is acknowledged as one of the most basic foundations, footplate has several advantages compared with other types. Here are some of them:
- The application process is more likely easier because it does not require too deep excavation and the casting process can be done in solid pit.
- The cost is more affordable.
- Has a long-term bearing capacity.
- Suitable for stable soil application.
- Can be applied to various building types, from residential houses to low-level buildings.
Meanwhile, several disadvantages that are also important for the consideration material are:
- Not ideal for unstable soil, like peat and clay soil.
- Not recommended for too high-level buildings because the depth level of this foundation is limited.
- If there is a significant ground movement, this foundation has a higher crack risk.
- The required time for the drying process is quite long until it can be moved to the foundation hole position.
- Footplate might need more space at the bottom of buildings, especially for construction that bears large loads. Sometimes, this can limit the utilization of the bottom building area.
How to Build Footplate Foundations
Despite having a simple design, the footplate still requires thoughtful planning to ensure the building structure’s stability and safety. Here are some steps for building a footplate you can follow:
- Soil survey: The first step in building a footplate is to check the land location where the foundation will be built. It is important to ensure that soil type, soil water level, and bearing capacity.
- Building design making: After ensuring soil characteristics, you can make the building drawing design. This design should consider the supported load, as well as soil type and condition.
- Location preparation: The location where the foundation will be built needs to be cleaned from trash and any materials until its surface becomes flat.
- Digging and formwork making: If the location is clean enough, then continue digging the soil according to the building design. Then, formwork needs to be installed to form a foundation structure.
- Reinforcing bar placement: The reinforcement bar is placed in formwork according to the fixed design. This bar is there to give additional strength to foundations and accordingly increases bearing capacity and structure stability.
- Concrete filling: Formwork filling with high concrete is poured carefully to ensure the whole foundation area is filled properly.
- Compaction: If concrete has been poured, then continue the process with compaction and synchronization to remove air bubbles. In this process, you must ensure the foundation strength is optimal.
- Maintenance and monitoring: It is important to monitor the footplate regularly to ensure it is still in good condition.
Choosing the right foundation is the first step in ensuring long-term stability and durability for buildings. Footplate, with its advantages, is an efficient solution for various construction types, especially for low to medium-level buildings.
However, the foundation’s strength is not only determined by good design but also by the material quality used. For the best result, make sure you also use high-quality building materials, like Semen Merah Putih Watershield.
Water Repellent Technology on Semen Merah Putih gives Triple Protection for buildings, seep protection from 3 sources (inside, outside, and from the ground), making buildings stronger, more durable, and requiring less maintenance.
Semen Merah Putih Watershield is a multipurpose and super-premium cement that has a lot of advantages compared with regular ones. Very suitable for every building application including foundations, concrete slabs, castings, masonry, plastering, and coating.
Contact us now to get the best construction solutions for your project! We are ready to help you in achieving project success with our excellent cement products and services!
Read also: Foundation for a 2-Story House: Types & Key Influencing Factors
