Foundations:
Structural
Basics
by Paul Hanke
A firm foundation is essential to a
building's longevity and stability. To
succeed structurally, a foundation must
perform several functions at once. It
must transmit vertical loads to bearing
soil; distribute those loads over a large
enough area; resist lateral forces, cracks,
and leaks; and anchor the building
against uplift.
building over a large enough area of soil
to prevent settling. It keeps a building
from sinking in soft soil in the same way
that a snowshoe holds you up in soft
snow.
Carrying the Load
Transmitting both live and dead
loads downward is a foundation's first
job. To do this, a foundation wall or
column must be plumb and have
enough compressive (crushing) strength
to resist the