Foundations are a crucial element of any construction project and ensuring these are designed and installed correctly is paramount to the success of the overall build. Brick walls are an increasingly popular choice for foundations due to their adaptability to different soil conditions and, when designed and installed correctly, can provide long-lasting support for a structure. Thus having the correct brick wall foundation is a must.
In this blog article, we’ll explore the essential considerations when designing a brick wall foundation, offering advice to civil engineers on the importance of thorough planning, expert design and good soil analysis.
Weathering is one of the most important elements to consider when designing a brick wall foundation. Different types of bricks will weather differently, so it’s important to carefully select materials that are appropriate for the environment in which they’ll be installed. In addition, the type of mortar used can also affect how well a brick wall withstands weathering.
It’s also important to consider the load-bearing capacity of a brick wall when designing a foundation. The thickness of the wall, the type of bricks used and the way the bricks are laid all play a role in how much weight the wall can support. When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and use stronger, thicker materials to ensure a solid foundation.
Finally, the drainage system around a brick wall foundation is vital to its long-term success. Proper drainage ensures that water doesn’t build up around the foundation, which can lead to cracking and other damage. When planning the drainage system, it’s important to consider both the initial rainfall and the potential for future water sources, such as a nearby river or lake.
By taking all of these factors into consideration, civil engineers can create brick wall foundations that are strong, durable and built to last.
Rubble foundations
Rubble foundations are a way to build using rubble, rocks and boulders as the foundation. Rubble foundations were common in Texas, Oklahoma and other locations before concrete became available. The size of the rocks used were typically no more than 12″ wide and 8″ high. There are two popular methods for building a rubble foundation. One method is to build a form made from lumber or logs and then fill it with rocks, dirt and gravel. The other method, known as “dry laid” has no forms.
Rocks are laid directly on top of the ground surface with spaces filled with smaller rocks or dirt. Both methods will have similar results, though the dry laid method makes it easier to remove the stones at a later time if necessary. For those looking for an alternative to cement block walls this could be an attractive option since there is no mortar required in most cases, only some initial grading of the footer area to provide proper drainage (if in an area that has standing water).
Concrete Beams
Concrete beams can be constructed as the brick wall foundation. They are stronger and more durable when compared to the rubble foundations. Rubles deteriorate with the time; however, concrete does not so. Concrete beams can be constructed on the ground or can be rested on the columns that are supported on the concrete pad footings or similar type of foundation.
Concrete beam will be a reinforced concrete mostly and will be constructed along the brick walls. There are many advantages of the concrete beam using as foundation in small structures. Due to the strength and the durability and ability to resist the settlements, the deterioration, cracking of brick walls, etc. will be low.
Strip Foundations
When the width of the brick walls is higher than the conventional wall and there would low bearing capacity in the soil, strip foundation will be more appropriate. Reinforced concrete slab will be placed on the ground along the brick wall. Having adequate width is very important when the bearing capacity of the soil is low.
Correct estimation of the soil bearing capacity and calculation of the width of the strip required to safely transfer the applied loads is very important.
