Looking to start a building project? You might need some information as to what to be aware of like building plans, architecture, budget, and types of builing foundations.

Not to worry, this article will shed some light on basic types of foundation you need to be aware of and which is most suitable for your structure and type of building you are planning to erect.

Foundations provide support for structures, transferring their loads to layers of soil or rock that have sufficient bearing capacity and suitable settlement characteristics. Basically, a foundation is like a framework where your building are constructed on. Constructing the right foundation is an integra part to your sucess as a builder or commercial real estate investors. A foundation is the integral structural element of a building, bridge and other similar engineering structures that primarily transfers the loads of the structure to the soil or strata underneath it. The foundation provides stability as they serve as the point of connection between the structure and the soil or strata bearing the load. There are different types of foundation depending on the type/ complexity of structure and the strata directly beneath it.
As a beginner in the real estate investment sector, its importnant to understand the different types of builing foundations and which types fits a specifi type of building or soil. Foundations can be categorised as shallow foundations or deep foundations. Shallow foundations are mostly used for bungalows or simple structures with low bearing capacity. Deep foundations are necessary where the bearing capacity of the surface soils is not strong enough to support the loads imposed by a structure and so they need to be transferred to deeper layers with higher bearing capacity. In some something areas of nigeria with weak or swampy soil, deep foundations are neccesary to maintain the strenght of the building



Why are knowledge of types building foundations important

Think of building foundations as the roots of a tree. while the fruits seem important to be the edible part of the tree. However, without the roots to feed it and draw nutrients from the soil, the tree wouldn’t exist in the first place. in light of that, having a very strong foundation is paramount to every building project. The foundation is also one of the areas of your home that needs to be done right the first time because if something goes wrong during the construction, it’s not always easy to fix.

Some of the reasons to have the proper knowledge of building foundations include

SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE
Reverting to the example before on roots and fruits. Among the many benefits that a root provides, support stands at the top of the list. Just like a root, building foundations provide immense support to the building. Foundation is constructed below the soil and they hold up the weight of the building and without it, a building will collapse. It’s important to match foundations with the Right structures to prevent either being overweight on foundation or underweight. This can lead to a collapse of the building or wasting of money respectively


PREVENTS INFILTRATION
Having a home without a building foundation is like having a house without a door. one of the many disadvantages is that it leaves you very exposed to pests, insects, and even predators. the soil is home to many creatures and having a solid building foundation helps to prevent the infiltration of these creatures into your home


RESIST MOVEMENT
the earth is in constant flux which brings about changes such as DAY and night, changes in temperatures, weather seasons etc. these changes also bring along with it motion which sometimes without a foundation can cause serious damages to your home. Your foundation acts as an anchor to keep your building rooted in one location to reduce movements. This helps to save costs and lives which might have been lost due to building collapses



The most common types of building foundations you might come across are:
Strip foundation
Raft or Mat foundation:
Pile foundation
pad foundation

Strip foundation

Strip foundations are most suitable for soil which are of fairly good bearing capacity. They are mostly used for light structural loadings such as those found in many low-rise or medium-rise domestic buildings – where mass concrete strip foundations can be used. In other situations, reinforced concrete may be required. In simple terms, strip foundations are used in light weight constructions like bungalows and is not advised to be used for story buildings and high rises. Older buildings may have brick strip foundations.

Strip foundation is commonly used:

For bungalow construction.
When the soil is fairly of good bearing capacity.
When light weight construction is to be done.
Very broadly, the size and position of strip foundations are typically related to the wall’s overall width. The depth of a traditional strip foundation is generally equal to or greater than the overall wall width, and the foundation width is generally three times the width of the supported wall. This results in the load being transmitted at 45º from the wall base to the soil. In Eastern part of nigeria where the soils are hard and compact also accepts the use of strip foundation. strip foundation are generally cheap compared to raft and more popular in the eastern part of nigeria as an acceptable type of builing foundation for low rise builings.

Soil recommended for strip foundations are:

Rocky soil
Uniform firm and stiff clay Soil recommended for Raft foundations are:
Soft clay
Peat

Raft foundation

A raft foundation, also called a mat foundation, is a continuous slab resting on the soil that extends over the entire footprint of the building, thereby supporting the building and transferring its weight to the ground

A raft foundation is a type of builing foundation often used when the soil is weak or has a low bearing capacity, as it distributes the weight of the building over the entire area of the soil, and not over smaller zones (like individual footings) or at individual points (like pile foundations). This reduces the stress on the soil. consider a location like ibeju lekki part of lagos or ogunstate, where the soils are relatively waterlogged. A raft foundation is need for any type of construction even in fencing. A raft foundation is more expensive when comapred to a strip or pad foundation. A popular type of Raft foundations is Beam and Slab raft foundation. This foundation type can also be called mat foundation consists of a wide area of interconnected reinforced concrete ground floor and beams spreading over the entire footprint of the building. they are built on a soil with a low bearing capacity. Majority of buildings in the fast developing marshy areas of Lagos have a rafted foundation.

Raft foundation is commonly used when:

A building is to be erected on a marshy soil or water logged soil.
the soil can be sand filled.


Pile Foundation

A Pile foundation is usually a deep foundation with a slender column or long cylinder made of materials including concrete or steel, used to support structures transferring the load at the desired depth and could be by end bearing or skin friction. Pile foundation is mostly used when heavy loads from superstructure are imposed. A Pile foundation is usually a deep foundation with a slender column or long cylinder made of materials including reinforced concrete or steel, used to support structures transferring the load at a predetermined depth.

Pile foundation is commonly used when:

A bridge or building is to be constructed over a water body
heavy loads from superstructure are imposed.
When the groundwater table is high
heavy and un-uniformed loads from superstructure are imposed.
when soil excavation is not possible up to the desired depth due to poor spoil.
Soil recommended for Pile foundations are:

Soft clay
Foundations depending on the type can cost up to 20 to 40 percent of the building’s total construction cost. It is one of the most important component of a building, hence its construction must be managed and supervised by relevant and experienced construction professionals such as Builders and Civil Engineers.

Pad foundation

This type of building foundation is formed by a rectangular, square and sometimes circular spread of reinforced concrete footing. Loads from upper floors and roof are transferred to the beams while the beams transfer them to the columns and then to the pad footing and ultimately to the soil at a predetermined depth that has a suitable bearing capacity.

Pad foundation is used when:
Constructing a storey or high-rise building.
The bearing capacity of the soil beneath it is high
A popular type of Pad foundation is combined footing. Combined footings are constructed for two or more columns when they are close to each other and their foundations overlap.
Soil recommended for Pad foundations are:

Soft clay

Uniform firm and stiff clay

Conclusion

These are the basic and most common types of foundations we will be discussing, foundations types are not limited to these, they are still a few others that could be advised by your engineer depending on the nature of the building project. Now that you have a basic knowledge of foundations and soils they are suitable for, you will have a better understanding when discussing with engineers and professionals as to what’s to be done on your project. you can also contact us for your next building project as we have a team of construction experts that will bring your project to live. If you are new to the real estate world, before diving deep into investment and construction, you might want to check out our article on guide to real estate investment for beginners

“To be a successful business owner and investor, you have to be emotionally neutral to winning and losing Winning and losing are just part of the game.” Robert Kiyosaki

“Sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make.” Donald Trump

.......

“Never test the depth of the river with both of your feet.” Warren Buffet

“If you want to be truly successful, invest in yourself to get the knowledge you need to find your unique factor. When you find it and focus on it and persevere your success will blossom.” Sydney Madwed

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

People should take failure as a badge of honor. It’s a crucible that burns things down to their essence and shows us what we’re really made from. If the path to success was clear, then everyone would be one it and success would lose all meaning.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin

Nin was no stranger to the creative act. As a writer, she had to take pen to paper or her stories would remain phantoms in her mind. It is safer to keep these ideas to oneself. There’s no rejection or criticism that way, but there’s also no way to hone one’s skills and produce something of value.

“Never test the depth of the river with both of your feet.” Warren Buffet

“The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.” – Barack Obama

The president knows a lot about failure and success. The Affordable Healthcare Act was more than once dead in the water, but the president didn’t give up. He compromised, he convinced and he labored, but not once did he allow himself to become embittered.

“You only have to do a few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.” – Warren Buffett

The idea of right and wrong is a construct, of course, and it might feel overly simplistic to suggest that making the right choices will smooth the path forward. But the famous investor is merely noting with this business quote that avoiding a wrong decision is as important as making the right one. Avoiding bad decisions is aided, of course, with careful planning.

Don’t wait to buy real estate, buy real estate and wait. – T. Harv Eker

Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth. – Theodore Roosevelt

"Most people think buying is investing, but they're wrong, it doesn't make you an investor any more than buying groceries makes you a chef"- Gary Keller