FOOTINGS- Used to support the foundation walls and all materials supported by the foundation walls

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms.
  Steel rebars may be imbedded for added strength.
  Width of footing is equal to TWICE the width of the foundation wall in even inches (16", 18", 20", 24" or 28").
  Height of footing is EQUAL to the width of the foundation wall (8", 9", 10", 12" or 14").

FOUNDATION WALLS - Used to support the exterior walls and may support the beams, trusses and roofing materials

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms.
  Steel rebars may be imbedded near the top and bottom for added strength.
  Width of foundation wall is equal to the width of the exterior wall in even inches (common sizes - 8", 9", 10", 12" or 14").
  Height of foundation wall is 2" to 6" above grade and extends below the frost line (36" in Illinois).
• Concrete Block - Ready made units layed up in courses with a cement based mortar; horizontal and vertical steel reinforcing may be imbedded at intervals for added strength; common modular sizes are 4", 6", 8", 10" and 12" widths by 8" high and 16" long.

GRADE BEAMS - Used in place of foundation walls to support non-load bearing exterior walls between pilasters

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms.
  Steel rebars are imbedded in the grade beam and extended into the pilasters to increase strength and reduce settling.
  Width of grade beam is equal to the width of the exterior wall in even inches (common sizes - 8", 9", 10", 12" or 14").
  Height of grade beam is 2" to 6" above grade and extends 2" to 6" below the finished grade).
  A 2" to 4" layer of gravel is usually placed under a gradebeam.

PADS- Used to support the pilasters and piers plus the materials the pilasters and piers support

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms.
  Width of pad is equal to TWICE the width of the pilaster in even inches (24", 28", 32", 36", 40" or 48").
  Height of pad is EQUAL to the width of the pilaster (12", 14", 16", 18", 20" or 24").
  Irregular spacing of columns usually requires pads of varying sizes.

PILASTERS - Used along the exterior foundation walls to support the columns, beams, trusses and roofing materials as well as any materials supported by or suspended from the roof

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms; steel rebars may be imbedded for added strength.
  Length and width of a pilaster is equal to TWICE the distance from the outside edge of the foundation wall to the center of the support column in even inches (12", 14", 16", 18", 20" or 24").
  Height of pilaster is EQUAL to the height of the foundation wall or may be recessed by the thickness of the floor slab.
  Irregular spacing of columns usually requires pilasters of varying sizes.

PIERS - Used within the center of the building to support the columns, beams, trusses and roofing materials as well as any materials supported by or suspended from the roof

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms; steel rebars may be imbedded for added strength.
  Width of footing is equal to TWICE the width of the foundation wall in even inches (16", 18", 20", 24" or 28").
  Height of footing is EQUAL to the width of the foundation wall (8", 9", 10", 12" or 14").
  Irregular spacing of columns usually requires piers of varying sizes.

PILINGS - Used to support pads or footings for tall buildings or when soil conditions are poor.

• Poured concrete - Holes are drilled into the soil (8" to 18") in diameter extending to solid soil (hard clay) or bedrock and spaced 24" to 36" apart. Steel rods or tubing may be inserted into the holes and then filled with concrete
• Treated Timbers- Similar to telephone poles; (8" to 16") in diameter and 40' to 50' long; and driven into the soil using a pile driver.

CONCRETE SLABS - Used to create a surface for flooring materials and may be aerated for roofs

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into wood or steel forms or between the foundation walls; welded wire mesh may be imbedded for added strength, to reduce cracking and settling.
  Height of slab is 4" for furniture and occupants and up to 6" for heavy machines or vehicles.
  Rigid insulation from 1" to 4" thick may be placed below the floor slab for warmer floors.
  A 6 mil. moisture barrier is placed under the floor slab or the rigid insulation to reduce dampness or water absorbsion.
  A 4" layer of pea gravel or sand is placed under the moisture barrier to allow ground water to move under the slab.

FLOOR REINFORCING - Used to support concrete block or brick interior walls

• Poured Concrete - A mixture of stone or gravel, sand, cement and water poured into trenches; steel rebars may be imbedded for added strength.
  Width of floor reinforcing is equal to TWICE the width of the interior wall in even inches (8", 12", 16" or 24") and tapers up to the bottom of the floor slab at 45°.
  Thickness of floor reinforcing is twice to the thickness of the floor slab (8", 9", 10" or 12").

REBARS - Used to add strength to foundation walls, footings, and grade beams plus reduce cracking and settling

• Steel rods - Common sizes include 3/8" and 1/2" diameters by 12' to 24' lengths.
  Spacing depends on weight to be supported and soil conditions.

WELDED WIRE MESH - Used to add strength to concrete slabs as well as reduce cracking and settling

• Steel wires welded at uniform spacings - Common size is 10/10 WWM 6x6 (2 - 10 gauge wires at 6" spacing).
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