Things You Should Know Before Pouring a Concrete Foundation: Insights from a Concrete Foundation Installer in Forest Park, Illinois

The foundation of any structure is extremely important. While there are several ways in which a foundation can be damaged, most of them can be avoided with proper pouring.

When pouring a foundation, it is generally recommended that you hire a professional concrete foundation installer in Forest Park, Illinois. Below are a few things to know when installing a foundation.

Different types of foundation

There are three different types of foundations. It is important to pick the one that would best sustain your Forest Park home.

• The most well-known is the full basement. This involves digging down deep and erecting footings as well as eight ft. walls that enclose a solid slab of concrete on the ground.
• Crawl space foundations are comparable to full basement foundations, with the exception that there are no high walls and only enough space for humans to crawl around.
• Slab-on-grade foundations are popular in areas with high water tables. When building this type of foundation, it is important to first lay down a concrete slab on top of a graded area, followed by a shallow footing.

Soil inspection

When it comes to laying a foundation, the soil is critical to the success of the project. For example, if your foundation building site is on soft clay, many typical foundations will settle, and cracks will appear in the brickwork and walls as a result. Speaking with a professional concrete foundation installer in Forest Park, Illinois after conducting a soil inspection will help you identify which type of foundation is best suited for your soil.

Foundations depth

Digging into the soil is the first and most important phase in the method of building foundations. The depth to which you must dig is usually governed by the type of soil you are working with. For example:

• You can build shallow foundations if your soil contains a high concentration of rock such as limestone, granite, sandstone, or hard chalk. This rock material will underpin your structure and allow you to build shallow foundations.
• If the soil is very soft and contains chalk or damp clay, it may be necessary to excavate all this material until you reach the stronger ground under the surface.
• If the soil contains a significant amount of gravel or sand, this may have an impact on the solidity of the foundation. However, it must be properly compacted to prevent the foundations from collapsing.
• Because peat soil is either too thin or too sandy to sustain much weight, it is not a good choice for building foundations. You will almost certainly need to build a substantial raft base to prevent sinking.

If you are digging down more than six feet, your concrete foundation installer in Forest Park, Illinois may recommend adding additional support to the foundation structure to prevent the trenches from collapsing.

Correct reinforcement

Concrete reinforcing mesh will help reinforce your foundation. A professional concrete foundation installer will install mesh before pouring the concrete.

Concrete mix

It is also important to select the appropriate concrete mix for your foundations. Although lower strength concrete is generally more affordable, it is important to choose the best mix that will offer the necessary strength to support the structure above it. Although a C25 mix is considered good for minor foundations, strong mixes might be necessary for your project due to the increased compressive strength required. A knowledgeable concrete foundation installer in Forest Park, Illinois will help you decide on the best mix. 

Looking for a Concrete Foundation Installer in Forest Park, Illinois?

Are you ready to install a new concrete foundation? If so, and if you’re looking for the best concrete foundation installer in Forest Park, Illinois, Via Galante Cement Contractors is here to help. We have over three decades of experience delivering concrete services to residents in the Forest Park area and beyond. Contact us today at (773) 589-9893 to get started.