What Are the Steps to Building a House Foundation?

Once you decide to build your own home, the next step is to start with the detailed planning and designing of the construction work. And one of the most vital steps of that plan is laying the foundation. Most of the construction work generally begins with building the foundation since it serves as the primary base and support for the above structures. It distributes the weight of your house to prevent the plot’s subsoil from spreading, which could lead to the house facing an uneven settlement, causing structural damage down the line. So, it makes sense for home builders to pay close attention to the details to make sure the house foundation remains dry and crack-free for as long as it has a structure to hold up. 

Here’s how you can ensure a solid foundation for your house:

A “good” foundation does a lot more than simply hold the structure above the ground. It provides stability and strength to the house, insulates against cold, keeps out moisture, and resists movement of the surrounding soil. And a proper foundation should practically last forever. Nevertheless, building a good foundation is not as simple as digging a hole and pouring concrete into forms. You need to consider soil conditions, water tables, and even the quality of the backfill to tailor or custom-suit it to the construction site. And for that, every detail must be perfect – the base compacted properly, formwork set up correctly, and concrete free of any voids. Neglect any of these house foundation steps, and even the most carefully poured foundation can fail. 

Let’s quickly discuss the house foundation construction steps to give you an in-depth understanding of the process. 

5 Steps to Building a House Foundation 

Laying the house foundation is a crucial construction step as this is the moment your future home starts to take shape. Typically, the foundation is constructed in five steps discussed below:

1. Prepare the Foundation Layout

The foundation layout drawing for excavation is prepared by the structural designer and approved by the architect. The contractor follows this layout plan, and the foundation marking is done on-site accordingly. After this, the architect cross-checks the dimensions to make sure there are no errors. 

2. Excavation Work

Once the architect approves the foundation layout marking, you can proceed with the excavation work. The excavation details depend on what construction method you have chosen: the load-bearing-wall system or the column-beam-frame structure system. If you have decided on the former, trenches will be excavated along the wall. In the case of a framed structure, excavation will be done below every column up to the footing base. Ensure that all excavation work is done, as per the foundation layout drawings and instructions given by the architect and structural designer. 

3. Anti-Termite Treatment 

Once the excavation work is completed for the foundation, ensure that the trenches and excavated areas have been given anti-termite treatment. The soil needs to be treated up to the plinth level with appropriate chemicals to protect your house against termites and other pests from underground in the future. 

4. Foundation Construction 

The next step is to begin the construction of your house foundation. Again, depending on the type of construction method you have opted for, the process will vary. 

In the case of a load-bearing structure foundation, a bed of concrete (PCC) is laid at the base of trenches. The brick or stone masonry is constructed over it as per the foundation details provided by the architect and structural designer.

On the other hand, in the case of the column-beam frame structure system, column footing is constructed in the trench. Once the architect and structural designer have approved the steel details and the quality of work, the concrete can be poured into the formwork. You can prepare the concrete on-site or choose ready mix concrete (RMC) if there are large footings and requirements of concrete. After the column is built up to the Plinth beam level, the plinth beam is erected for the walls of the house to rest on.

5. Curing of the House Foundation

Curing should always start the next day after the concrete has been poured and repeated twice or thrice a day. Immediate curing of concrete is essential as cracks can appear, and even the strength and life of the building components can be affected if curing is not done properly. It ensures that sufficient water is available for the chemical reaction that provides strength to concrete. 

So, these were the basic house foundation construction steps that you needed to know, but remember that the construction quality will only be as good as the materials used.

Choose the Best Quality Concrete for Your House Foundation

Dalmia Cement, a pioneer in cement manufacturing, offers Dalmia DSP Cement, a specialised and best-in-class cement formulated for concrete applications specifically. With a superior product composition, our cement is specially engineered to provide you with modern, fast-paced and high-strength construction for a solid house foundation. This has helped Dalmia DSP Cement earn a reputation as the “concrete expert.” 

You can also get on-site expert supervision with a Dalmia Cement RCF Advisor who will provide technical assistance at every stage of construction. They will also assist you in implementing the best construction practices for a strong and durable home for years to come. For more information, get in touch with us today at 1800 2020 or see Dalmia Products and let our technical service executives take care of your queries.