The term “concrete foundations” is thrown around a lot in the construction industry but many people don’t know how the foundations of a building are created. There are different sizes and types of foundations created and they are all informed by the type of structure or building which they will be supporting. These concrete bases can be created not only for buildings but for smaller construction projects such as for a fountain, a patio or any outside industrial units which need support.

We’re going to go through the main stages of creating that lowest load bearing section of the foundations, part of the groundworks, which really sets a structure in the ground firmly.

1. Prepare Footings

This key aspect of foundations is the footing, and is wider than the narrow section which sits on top later to create a wall. To start this section you must dig a trench, the bigger the building, the bigger the trench needs to be. Small foundations should be no more than three feet across but if you’re building is bigger the foundations will obviously be wider.

Regardless of the size of the footing, you need to leave an additional two feet of space either side to allow for safe and easy working space. Once this area has been created you need to align boards to the size of your footing and into the shape of your proposed structure.

2. Get The Level Of The Boarding Right

Once you have the exact structure and dimensions it’s important to get the level of the boarding right. Square off the boarding all the way around the structure and apply wood laterally across to help pin the boards in place, this helps to keep the boards at your desired level and will also help the frame stand up to the weight of the concrete.

The concrete can be poured into this designated run once all areas are evened out, while the surface of the concrete itself also needs to be evened off to match that of the surrounding boards.

3. Maintain The Concrete

After around 24 hours or so you can remove the boards which have given the concrete form. At this point however, you need to keep the concrete wet for a few days to prevent any cracking. This would undo all your hard work and creates weakness in the foundations of any structure. If you think it will rain through the drying process then cover the formations up to avoid it having an adverse effect on your formations.

Now that the thickest parts – the footings – have been laid, you can proceed to build the foundation walls on top which follow the shape and dimension of the structure you’re building. The foundation walls will go deep into the ground and keep the building sturdy.

Here at UK Surfacings we can carry out groundworks for your extension, garden or any other structure. Our expert team complete the work to the highest standards so that your structure achieves the best results that you desire. Simply contact us today for more information about what we do or to arrange for your free estimate.