What are some good concrete and foundation books?

  • Working with Concrete by Rick Arnold (considered to be the best option from what I’ve found)
  • Foundations & Concrete Work (For Pros by Pros) (seems to be missing a lot of info)

Which concrete is good for foundation?

GRADE: C25 CONCRETE
C25 is often used as a foundation concrete mix when pouring foundations (footings). It is also the ideal concrete for domestic slab foundations for house and bungalow floors.

What is the most common foundation material?





concrete masonry

The most common residential foundation materials are concrete masonry (i.e., concrete block) and cast-in-place concrete. Preservative-treated wood, precast concrete, and other methods may also be used.

What is the most common foundation type?

Concrete Slab Foundation

1. Concrete Slab Foundation. A concrete slab is one of the most common types of house foundations, requiring the least amount of lot prep to begin building.

What are the 5 types of concrete?





5 Types Of Concrete You Should Know About

  • Reinforced Concrete.
  • Lightweight Concrete.
  • High-Strength Concrete.
  • High-Performance Concrete.
  • Precast Concrete.

What are the 3 types of foundations?

Foundation types vary, but likely your house or home’s addition does or will have one of these three foundations: full or daylight basement, crawlspace, or concrete slab-on-grade.

What is the cheapest house foundation?

concrete slab



If you’re building a home, a concrete slab makes sense because of its low cost. It’s the cheapest option available, and, comparatively speaking, it’s the quickest solution. The right crew can lay a concrete slab foundation in a short period of time, and the drying process doesn’t take much longer.

How deep should footings be?

Depth of Footings
Footings should extend to a minimum depth of 12 inches below previously undisturbed soil. Footings also must extend at least 12 inches below the frost line (the depth to which the ground freezes in winter) or must be frost-protected.

What is the strongest type of concrete?

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a cementitious, concrete material that has a minimum specified compressive strength of 17,000 pounds per square inch (120 MPa) with specified durability, tensile ductility and toughness requirements; fibers are generally included in the mixture to achieve specified requirements

How do I choose concrete?



3 Tips for Choosing the Right Concrete Mixture

  1. 3 Tips for Choosing the Right Concrete Mixture. …
  2. Know the difference between concrete and cement. …
  3. Determine the temperature and surface area of the space in which your concrete will be poured. …
  4. Understanding the types of mixes.

What is the best type of concrete?

High-Strength Concrete Mix: When durability is key, high-strength concrete makes a great choice. This is ideal for foundations, footers and heavy equipment bases.

Which stone is best for foundation?

Granite, quartzite stones are used in foundations of building in places with the high groundwater level. Marble, slate, sandstone and granite stones are used for floor pavings.

Which cement is best for footings?



OPC 53 Grade cement

OPC 53 Grade cement is recommended in all RCC structures like footing, column, beam and slabs, where ever initial and ultimate strength is the major structural requirement.

What makes a strong house foundation?

The components of a strong foundation are: Strong, flood-damage- resistant, and decay-resistant materials (reinforced concrete or preservative treated wood). Elements sized for appropriate structure loads and local soil conditions.

What is good ground for foundations?

Dry, compact gravel or gravel and sand subsoils are usually adequate for strip foundations. Generally a depth of 700mm is acceptable, as long as the ground has adequate bearing capacity.

What are the 4 types of foundation?



There are four examples of shallow foundations that we’ll cover mat, individual footing, combined footing and stem wall. Each has a unique structure and various use cases.

Is clay or sand better for foundations?

Sand and Gravel
Retaining less water means less risk for the building to shift around and form structural and non-structural cracks. Compacted sand and gravel offer even more stability and are a great option to build a foundation on.

How deep should concrete foundations be?

For both types of foundation, depth (d) should be at least 1m. Increased depths may be required to account for local conditions such as drains, poor ground, wells, water tanks and trees etc.

Is rebar required in footings?

Including rebar in a concrete footing means that you can reduce the risk of the concrete being pushed and pulled apart – cracking – from ground force pressures. Knowing this, it is generally a good idea to use rebar in footings for any structure. However, it is not required in many cases.

Is sandy soil good for foundation?

Because of their stability and good load-bearing qualities, sandy soils are less likely to shift and settle, so they rarely cause foundation problems.