When making a foundation, say for a house or driveway, is excavation or trenching needed?
Posted by admin | Filed under Maintenance & Repairs
Ro-Z asked:
I am typing up a report and was wondering if, when a person does a foundation of a house or garage, excavation or trenching is needed? Thanks for your help!!!
I meant driveway lol not garage, although I guess its no different.
I am typing up a report and was wondering if, when a person does a foundation of a house or garage, excavation or trenching is needed? Thanks for your help!!!
I meant driveway lol not garage, although I guess its no different.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:10 am
yes Buildings need a solid foundation in order for them to stand. Driveways need the top layer of sod and earth removed then a layer of rocks (#2’s are pop can sized) followed by #57’s typical limestone gravel.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
For a foundation….you need a footing and foundation and rebar which is bars of steel. The footing will be at least 6″ thick for one story houses and 8” with a 2 story house….same with the foundation walls……..6” thick when it’s a one story…..24” high……when it’s a two story they have to be 8″ thick min. with lots of rebar………code here is #4 bar 16″ on center both directions and hooked in the footing…..for driveways a min. thickness of 4 ” is required….but if you have a lot of heavy rigs coming in and out I would have a min of 5” of concrete………..If your making a report I would talk about water drainage around the perimeter of the building also, that includes “weep” pipe and gravel all the way around to the low spot of your property……..also if you can…..locate a foundation on the property so that the dirt slopes away from the building on all 4 sides…………hope it helps good luck One more thing…..footing size should be 16” wide min. and at least 18” into the soil…….or down to solid ground. But the depth also has to do with frost levels in your region….how cold does it get and how deep does it penetrate…..we have a min 18” rule here…….12” would be ok….but not good. Is excavation needed…..Yes……..unless you are really good with a shovel:)