Footings are the concrete support platform at the bottom of your piers or basement walls. There are a few different types of footing: pad footings (t-shaped), stepped footings, and sloped footings. Piers are the concrete columns or piles that rest on top of the footings, usually connected using steel rebar.
What Is a Footing? The bottom part of a foundation is called the footing. Footings in construction are critical, as the footing distributes the weight of the building evenly across the entire structure so that it doesn't sink into the ground.
The most common type of footing is the shallow footing, which is typically used for small structures such as sheds or decks. Deep footings are used for taller structures such as buildings or bridges, and pile footings are used to support very heavy loads.
Unlike footings, which spread the load horizontally, piers carry the load vertically.
In summary, footings are considered more durable and long-lasting solution for a deck foundation, but pier blocks can be a suitable solution for decks that are relatively low to the ground and don't have many levels or heavy loads.
Precast piers are long, tapered foundation supports designed to extend below the frost line, so they can be several feet long. They're convenient to use because you don't have to pour a footing (but you still have to dig the footing holes).
The general rule of thumb for determining the size of foundation piers is “1 inch per foot of span.” That means that if your foundation is 20 feet wide, your piers need to be 20 inches in diameter.
The depth is determined by the depth of stable soil or bedrock, while the width is calculated based on the load-bearing capacity of the soil. Our standard spread footings typically measure 4'x4'x1'-6” up to 8'x8'x1'-6” thick with columns measuring 24”x24”x4' up to 8' tall.
Piers can be square, rectangular, or circular, and diameter of piers is usually 6, 8, 10, or 16 inches. The depth of pier foundation is below the freezing depth, usually around five to six feet. A pier foundation has several advantages, including: Necessary materials are easily available.
Both spot and continuous footings are regularly used in the commercial foundation industry. These footings are designed to spread out and distribute the load to a wider area as it enters the ground. Having a wider area at the bottom greatly increases the carrying capacity. This provides more stability to the structure.
Precast cement blocks are probably the cheapest and easiest footings to install. Each block is buried right beneath the ground's surface.
Unlike traditional foundations, a floating slab includes a concrete footer, but the exterior walls are built directly on top of the footer. The slab floor is poured afterward, meaning it rests on the footing rather than supporting the entire structure.
Pile foundations are used for structures that require a higher load capacity, while pier foundations are used for structures that require a lower load capacity. Pile foundations are deeper, more expensive, and require more maintenance, while pier foundations are shallower, less expensive, and require less maintenance.
A minimum of 12”inches deep for all footings and the width will be determined by the amount of stories, 12” inches for a single story, 15” inches for a two story and 23” inches for a three story. This is based on a soil bearing capacity of 1500(psf).
pier, in building construction, vertical loadbearing member, such as an intermediate support for adjacent ends of two bridge spans. In foundations for large buildings, piers are usually cylindrical concrete shafts, cast in prepared holes, but in bridges they take the form of caissons, which are sunk into position.
Footings are structural supports that are used in addition to a foundation. They help transfer the load's weight from the foundation into the soil. Footers are typically in direct contact with the ground, while the foundation is in contact with the footing.
Yes, a pier and beam foundation is considered a permanent foundation. The piers used in this type of foundation are typically made from concrete, while the beams are made from durable lumber or steel that will not degrade over time.
A post and pier foundation—also sometimes called a pier and beam foundation—is one of two major types of home foundations. The other type is known as a slab foundation or slab-on-grade foundation.
Pier and beam foundations can last around 75 years with proper care and maintenance. Varying circumstances can affect the system's lifespan, driving it higher or lower. For example, if you live in an area where the soil expands and contracts from season to season, the foundation might not last as long.
For every 2 feet of adjustment to the width of the house, add or subtract 2 inches of footing width and 1 inch of footing thickness (but not less than 6 inches thick).
Correct on footing depth being at frost line. For 10" that actually would mean 12 inches depth IIRC. I believe 12 inches is the minimum footing depth.
First off: Why you need accurate footings calculations
If you make your foundations too shallow or too deep, there is a risk to the integrity of the build, and a danger that any reinforcement, be it mesh panels or rebar rods, is positioned incorrectly, leading to reduced tensile strength and load-bearing capacity.
On that job, our helical piers comfortably sustained an ultimate load of 400,000lbs per pier. They could have easily gone even higher, but 400,000lbs was the specified capacity and so the test stopped there.
While a 4-6ft deep hole is enough for sandy bottoms, boat lift pilings need a 6-8ft hole.
The one-of-a- kind Sonotube Builders Tube concrete form is designed for below ground-line concrete placement, but can be used up to 3 feet above ground-line for extra support. Minimal bracing is required above 2 feet of ground-line.