Concrete Foundation – the support that matters
Any good construction involves a strong foundation, which supports the structure. Since the foundation is the first thing to be constructed, the quality and material used in the foundation must be at a superior level. Concrete contractors and construction engineers are best equipped to construct concrete foundations and make them strong and secure for the building structure that will be developed over it. This could range from a single storied house to several miles of roadways or even high-rise buildings and dams.
Types of concrete foundation
There are mainly two types of concrete foundations. They are concrete block foundations and poured concrete foundations. Concrete block foundations consist of foam blocks stacked into place and filled with concrete while poured concrete foundations involve the use of wooden or aluminum forms that are set up in place before concrete is poured into them. It is also advisable to use reinforcing material such as steel to strengthen the foundation structure as it increases the overall strength of both types of a concrete foundation.
Problems that occur in a concrete foundation
The major problem faced by both homeowners and construction and concrete contractors is the occurrence of cracks in the concrete foundation. It is generally observed that concrete foundations tend to crack within a year of installation. This could be due to reasons such as shrinkage or settling of the concrete foundation. Waterproofing plays a major role in preventing damage from cracks. Protection is of utmost importance because a concrete foundation can only be worked upon at the start of the construction and cannot be redone later. Sealers can also provide protection from wetness and sagging.
Curing for a poured concrete foundation
Any type of concrete foundation requires up to seven days of curing time. However it may take up to sixty days for the concrete foundation to reach its full strength. The lesser the moisture around the foundation, the faster is the curing process. Hence all possibilities of waterproofing and removing water that can collect around the foundation must be looked into and acted upon as quickly as possible. It is better to avoid any kind of concrete pouring during heavy rain.
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