Foundations: Forever Steady Feet of our Buildings
We all depend on our steady feet for a lot of activities. Similar to our feet are the foundations of buildings, especially our homes that matter the most for us to lead a happy life. Builders understand this and keep foundations very strong. Foundations are important because they safeguard the building and withstand any kind of atmospheric stress. Architects and builders thoroughly analyse the land and create a solid foundation first before kind of establishment is built upon it.
It is more than just concrete because what binds a high building and keeps it together is the groundwork done below. There are many kinds of foundations that work for various buildings and establishments. The right foundation is a result of soil investigation, digging and land check up, moisture analysis, sealing concrete properly, etc. Let us learn about 2 main building foundations.
Types of Building Foundations:
1. Shallow Building Foundation
Foundations are constructed by making footings. The shallow building foundation as the name suggests is single layer of concrete footing, which carries all the load of the building. Here the depth is shallow below the earth and the building is supported by making a foundation by excavating the land of the building. Therefore a strong foundation is built. This foundation is useful for small buildings and is very cost-effective too.
2. Deep Building Foundation
Here the footing of the foundation is very deep and the concrete base is used to transfer the load of a high building to the surface of earth below. This deep rooted foundation is costly to build and is best for big buildings with multiple storeys.
How Mughal builders built a Wonder of the World on a River?
Technical Expertise to Build Strong Foundations
The most curious case of a building foundation is the Taj Mahal. Built on the banks of Yamuna it has the ever flowing Yamuna river as its base. The heavy structured building stands today because of the technical expertise of Mughal builders who figured out a solution to built strong foundations on sand and river water. To do this, wells under the site of the Taj Mahal were sunk and sealed with timber, mortar, iron and rubber. This sealing made sure the site of the Taj had a strong foundation while the Taj Mahal was being built.
Focus on Foundation when you invest in Property
Often people investing in property or buying a new home, forget to check on the foundation of the building. The impression of a building should not be on what you see on the inside or outside, but what it stands on.
Like our feet, a foundation needs to be investigated properly when on the road to investing on any building or property. Best builders focus on building a strong foundation, thereby keeping your family and your investment safe. If it is a small building a shallow foundation is fine, but in a multi-storey building you must have a proper footing deep foundation. The lessons from the Taj Mahal are iconic in itself and the home of your dreams is no less than a wonder of your beautiful world.
