Commercial foundations, like their residential counterparts, tend to vary in their application which is based on factors such as soil conditions, the size of the building or even budget. However, what really distinguishes them from the residential varieties is their massive load-bearing capability and their invulnerability to changes in temperature. Due to the fact that commercial structures usually span over more square footage than residential structures, they need to be in a good position of retaining their structural integrity across a much wider area. Generally speaking, the foundations of commercial buildings are the most critical components of such structures. As such, they are the most essential part of the equation which determines the overall stability and safety of such buildings. Depending on your needs and preferences, a professional Foundation Repair Wichita KS contractor might be able to recommend the ideal commercial foundation for your building. Here then are some of the most common commercial foundations currently to be had in the market.
Pile foundations
Pile foundations happen to be a variety of deep foundations that efficiently transfer weighty loads from a commercial building to a hard rock stratum, very deep within the ground. Depending on the structural load in question, commercial foundation plans may require either single or multiple piles to be utilized. These given piles are, for the most part, constructed with concrete. Nevertheless, other materials which can be made use of to make pile foundations are steel or wood. Pile caps might be further supported by columns or even grade beams.
Spot footing foundations
Otherwise known as continuous footing, spot footing foundations are normally employed to effectually support single points of contact in-between the soil beneath the ground and the foundation. These sorts of footings are designed to transfer the loads from columns that they then spread over a wide surface area. This state of affairs always goes a long way in boosting the capacity of the soil to support weighty loads. Also, apart from enhancing load-bearing capabilities, spot footing foundations assist the structure constructed on them to retain its stability in multiple points of contact with the ground. Other beneficial attributes of these commercial foundations include the ability to build foundations which are reinforced with concrete and rebar along with the capability to be applied to piers and posts.
Mat foundations
Also referred to as raft foundations, mat foundations are akin to the slab-on-grade foundation as both support structures that are built on one slab. Yet, as opposed to the latter solution, which only upholds the weight of the lower parts of a structure, a mat foundation upholds the total weight of the entire structure built on it. To this end, columns are generally installed to transfer the commercial building’s upper levels weight directly to the slab. In essence, these kinds of commercial foundations are usually made use of in situations where the soil under the foundation has a decreased load-bearing ability. This is simply because the slab can distribute the load of a structure across a wider surface area evenly.
T-shaped foundations
A t-shaped foundation is constructed with concrete footings which are driven deep beneath the frost line and walls are installed on top of them extending towards the ground surface. A t-shaped foundation is usually recommended for the construction of tall buildings or in circumstances where the soil below has a higher likelihood of freezing. Frozen topsoil can exert a lot of pressure on the slab, but the t-shaped foundation comes into play by distributing this pressure evenly.
Slab-on-grade foundations
A slab-on-grade foundation happens to be one of the most commonly utilized varieties of commercial foundations since it is a very economical solution. These types of foundations’ installation involve laying a thick concrete slab directly on the soil and the end result is a sturdy base to support the structure built above it. Slab-on-grade foundations are well suited for smaller commercial buildings or regions characterized with a warm climate where there is little likelihood of the ground freezing.
Floating slab foundations
These varieties of commercial foundations are variants of slab-on-grade foundations. In this scenario, the slab won’t be in direct contact with the ground. Instead, it is effectively secured by concrete layers positioned a couple of millimeters above the slab. The reinforcements of floating slab foundations are situated either at the bottom or beneath the steel columns. These sorts of commercial foundations are mostly utilized in the construction of manufacturing workshops or even sheds and are a pocket-friendly solution.
Spread footings Typically, spread footings happen to be secure bases for commercial foundations and come complete with a wide bottom. This given commercial foundation design allows the whole weight of the structure built on top of it to be distributed over a big surface area. Spread footings tend to be crafted with concrete and rebar. They are as well noted for having a very decreased risk for failure and can vary in size depending on the exact application they are employed.
