There are so many different types of foundational approaches available on the market that it can be difficult to know which one is considered to be most suitable for the needs of your property. From shallow to deep foundations, both varieties come with their own set of pros and cons that you should always apply to the specifications of your project whilst making the very best attempt to ignore outside influences. Here at Rhino Piling, we’ve decided to go all the way back to basics and explain what a building foundation is and its purpose within construction. Read on to find out more…
The foundation of a building is the part typically located under the ground and out of sight, however this doesn’t mean that it is any less important than the aspects that you can see. If anything, the foundation is the most crucial part of an entire structure! This is because it shifts and reinforces the weight of the building into the ground where it can be stabilized and secured for, ideally, a lifetime.
There are actually two different types of building foundations: shallow and deep. The former involves using materials to a depth of 3ft or less whereas the latter makes use of large-scale machinery to drive the materials deep into the ground at 60-200ft. A few examples of shallow foundations include individual footing, strip footing and raft rooting, whereas deep foundational solutions include piling, mini-piling, underpinning and groundworks.
Many people fall into the trap of believing that a foundation is an optional extra when it comes to construction, however it is a detail that you really shouldn’t skimp on. In layman’s terms, a foundation keeps a building where it’s supposed to be and prevents subsidence, gradual movement or sinking, from wreaking havoc later on down the line.
It is safe to say that the foundation is perhaps the most important aspect of an entire structure as it is how a building obtains its structural integrity, stability and longevity. Without a high-quality foundation, it is highly likely that a building will show signs of deterioration or subsidence as the years progress. To speak to the best piling Manchester has to offer about the process of installing a deep foundation, get in contact with a member of the Rhino Piling team today!
