The foundation of a building is the most important part of its structure. Not only does it hold your home or business up, it also keeps out moisture, resists the movement of the earth and keeps out the cold. In order to do all these things properly, a foundation needs to be built by a professional concrete contractor.
Erecting the foundation of a building involves more than just digging a hole in the ground and pouring cement into forms. When your foundation is built in a way that’s suited to the location, it’s not unreasonable to expect it to last up to a century.
A PROPER FOUNDATION STARTS WITH A SITE AND SOIL STUDY
Factors like the humidity or dryness of the environment, the type of soil in the area, and the typical temperature fluctuations in the region all need to be taken into consideration. As such, the first step a concrete professional will take when building a foundation is to perform a site and soil study. If a study is not completed prior to pouring the cement, there’s a risk for the following types of damage:
Due to the fluctuations of moisture in the soil mentioned above, foundations are designed to make small adjustments when the soil expands or contracts. Not knowing how the land acts before digging and building a foundation means these adjustments can’t be made. This can lead to premature cracking. Once there are cracks in your foundation, water will be let in, which will cause the cracks to expand. This will continue until the concrete is repaired.
A properly poured foundation should block air from getting in or out of the building. A bad foundation, on the other hand, can create gaps in entrance points and in window frames. This will permit cold air to permeate your building in the winter and keep it out in the summer, thereby leading to an increase in your energy bills.
Even with a site study and proper building techniques your foundation can be damaged. Concrete is an incredibly durable material, but it isn’t infallible. It’s essential to repair any minor damage as soon as possible in order to avoid more costly and intensive foundation work. If a crack is more than half a centimetre thick, call a professional concrete contractor. Not only will they fix the crack, they’ll also let you know what caused the damage in the first place.
HIRE CONTRACTORS WHO WILL DIG YOUR FOUNDATION PROPERLY
Drilling and pouring your foundation properly can help avoid costly repairs down the road. If you’re looking for concrete contractors in the Ottawa Valley, look no further than Reitano Concrete. Call us today for foundation repairs or to build a new foundation for your Ottawa home or business.