Foundations

The foundation is the basis for any building structure. In this two-part examination of foundations, This lesson reviews the common types used to support homes. In Part 1, you will learn about the impact of soils on the foundation and become familiar with the most common residential foundation types. In Part 2, you will learn the basics of structural dynamics (how structures behave under load) for foundations and begin to evaluate foundation problems.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand the purpose of a footing
• Identify the soil characteristics that determine the size of foundation footings
• Distinguish between a conventional and a post-tensioned slab foundation
• Explain why foundations need reinforcement
• Describe how water-cement ratios affect residential concrete
• Understand the principles of foundation drainage
• Identify common foundation defects

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