Without them, our properties wouldn’t stand a chance of survival. Foundations are the basis upon which all modern construction rests, offering a stable base for domestic, commercial and industrial properties and various structures. Not every set of foundations is the same, however. Soil type, building design and size, along with structural weight, must be considered before any form of groundworks and preparation can occur. At Cliden Construction (SE) Ltd, our builders know it’s essential to get the calculations for the foundations correct to avoid any structural issues going forward with your upcoming project in Chislehurst or any of the surrounding areas we cover.
As the preferred commercial and domestic builders in Bromley and reliable local builders in Bexley, we have a wealth of experience delivering the best solution for each project. Due to the many differentiating factors when planning a new build, house extension, garage conversion etc., there are several foundation styles to choose from, as explained below:
Often referred to as open footings, shallow foundations are positioned beneath the lowest part of a building’s framework. Easy to construct following excavation, they are the most popular form of foundation due to their cost-effectiveness. There are three common forms of shallow foundations our local builders use for projects in and around Chislehurst:
These are the most popular style of foundation used for buildings to spread their structural weight through columns positioned on top of individual footings.
Ideally suited for domestic and commercial buildings with basement areas, raft foundations are solid supports that spread a property's weight evenly across the entire area.
Typically used to support brickwork, strip foundations are long rows of concrete which are carefully calculated in advance to bear the weight of the wall above them.
Designed specifically for buildings which require considerable support beneath the surface, deep foundations are positioned much lower than shallow footings. It makes sense that larger structures will require substantial support and, similar to shallow footings, deep foundations come in different forms:
These are used where the weight transfer is passed through soft materials, such as topsoil, to a stronger and more substantial load-bearing substance, like hard rock or soil, which is denser further down. End-bearing piles are best suited for bridge construction, water towers and high-rise buildings.
Frequently used when it’s impossible to reach harder strata for various reasons, friction piles bear most of the load through skin resistance between the pile surface and the surrounding soil. Also called floating piles, they act like a wedge with the soil encasing the pile to hold it in place securely.
The commercial and domestic builders at Cliden Construction (SE) Ltd are accomplished at providing custom solutions for a range of building services. We are happy to advise you on the best foundations to create stable and long-lasting builds in Chislehurst and the surrounding areas.
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