ARCHITECT’S PLAN:
Usually a builder/home owner starts with a vision that is
represented by a drawing, a plan or an architect’s rendition of an
above the ground structure.
STRUCTURAL PLAN: Prior to issuing a
permit for installing the foundation of a new home or a sizeable
garage/shop, most cities and counties require a foundation plan that
has been certified by a credited, structural engineer. Depending on
the results of a soil sample and the structure of the house/garage
an engineer may dictate a significant support structure be installed
to support the foundation slab. At times the cost of this
sub-foundational reinforcement may equal and sometimes surpass the
cost of the slab itself.
Excavation vs Grading: When large
amounts of dirt need to be added or removed in order to obtain the
proper levels it is termed “excavation”. Often the ground needs to
be compacted after the excavation is done. Normally this is not
necessary when dealing with lots in a development since this
function has already been done by the developer. Grading is the
minor adjustment that needs to be made to obtain the correct flow of
water and gradient. This generally equates to less than a few inches
of correction. Excavation (if it is required) needs to be done
before the grading.
FORMS & FORM SURVEY: The wooden forms
are installed to mirror the outline of the foundation and are
positioned with the use of a “laser-transit”. Once this is done the
builder/home owner is responsible for obtaining a form survey. The
purpose of this survey is to approve the placement of the forms so
that they are not encroaching on a “right-of-way” or another’s
property line. This is not always needed with the installation of a
shop or garage.
PIERS & TRENCHING:
The piers (if
called for) are drilled next and the specified reinforcing steel is
installed. These piers may or may not be filled with concrete at the
same time as the rest of the slab. This depends on the local
ordinances. In almost all cases, it is necessary to obtain a “Green
Tag” of approval from the local inspector after the Piers have been
prepared. Following this “Green Tag” for the Piers, the support
beams are trenched or dug using a trenching machine. After this step
the builder/home owner installs any plumbing, electrical lines and
obtains the necessary “Green Tag” of approvals for them.
PREPARATION TO POUR THE SLAB:
Next the Steel as specified is installed in the slab. Usually a
polyethylene sheet is used as a moisture barrier between the ground
and the new foundation slab. Cushion sand is used as specified to
obtain the proper grade and level. Following this preparation a
“Green Tag” of approval is obtained from the local inspector.
INSTALLATION AND FINISH OF THE CONCRETE:
If the site is not accessible to a concrete truck (that is if a
truck is not able to get within a few feet of the site) then an
alternate method must be arrived at to transport the concrete.
Either an overhead concrete pump or a ground level pump must be used
and this cost will raise the price of the project. Once the concrete
slab is poured it is generally finished with a “Slick Finish”. This
smooth finish is obtained by using a “trolley” machine. There is a
waiting period before any frame work or the like can be started on
the new concrete.
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