6

FOUNDATION FOOTINGS

FOUNDATION FOOTINGS
The purpose of the foundation footing is to receive the load from the walls and distribute
it over the ground. The size of the footing depends on the weight of the building, how
much weight the soil can support, and the type of material used.
For a load bearing wall footing, it is not
usually necessary to place the footing deep.
If the soil is the same type and is hard in all
places it is possible to dig the footing trench
as little as 20 cm deep. Of course, for soft
wet soil with no drainage, piles (pillars
pounded into the ground) will probably be
necessary.
Concrete Reinforced with Steel Footing
A reinforced concrete footing is good
especially in places with earthquakes.
Make sure that the steel rod used is free of
rust and is well covered with concrete: no
pieces should be near the surface or
sticking out (except the vertical rebar, which
will receive blocks).
Cyclopean Concrete Footing

Cyclopean concrete.

Cyclopean concrete is concrete that uses

large stones to minimize surface area and
economize on cement. It is not always
necessary to use steel in the footing. Steel
footings have a disadvantage; after many
years the steel may rust, expand and cause
the concrete to crack. Instead of a steel
reinforced footing, a nonreinforced
cyclopean concrete footing can be used.
A cyclopean concrete footing will save
both cement and steel. Because it is
nonreinforced it will be thicker (and possibly
wider) than a reinforced concrete footing.
Shown below are some examples of nonreinforced footings.
It is not possible to mix large stones in
concrete. The concrete and stones must
be placed in layers. The large stones should
not touch each other. You should select
extra-large stones that are as big as the
width of the footing to be placed every 60
cm: they will make the structure stable. Use
concrete 1:3:5 (cement:sand:stone, ratio by
weight). Use mixed stone sizes.

Pouring a cyclopean concrete footing. Notice the

large stones being added.

FOUNDATION FOOTINGS

EXAMPLES OF CYCLOPEAN CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS

If a reinforced concrete foundation is used, cast vertical
rebar in the footing.
If you use a non-reinforced foundation, use all channel
blocks in the first block layer and reinforce it with steel: this is
a ring-beam. Tie the vertical rebar to the horizontal rebar.
.25

(WATER PROOF PLASTER 3 BLOCKS HIGH )

(BLOCK)

.4 5

One-story building footing

for soft drained soil.

VERTICAL REBAR IS TIED TO RING BEAM*

SEE VERTICAL REBAR ANCHORING
RING BEAM*:
SMOOTH 9 MM REBAR

CHANNEL BLOCK
(CONCRETE FLOOR)

CYCLOPEAN CONCRETE
(PLASTIC FILM TO
PREVENT THE WALL
AND FLOOR FROM
SUCKING WATER)
(SAND FILL)
.0 9

CONCRETE 5 CM
SAND 5 CM
.2 5

One-story building footing for hard soil with drainage.

.39

*A RING BEAM IS HORIZONTAL REBAR LAID IN CHANNEL BLOCKS COMPLETELY AROUND THE BUILDING

.6 0

One-story building footing

for soft wet soil.

.22
.44

.52

.4 0

Two-story building footing

for hard soil with drainage.
Second floor is concrete.

.65

Two-story building footing

for soft soil with drainage.
Second floor is wood.

.8 5

Two-story building footing

for soft wet soil.
Second floor is wood.

VERTICAL REBAR

VERTICAL REBAR
VERTICAL REBAR PLACEMENT
Place vertical rebar at the sides of door
openings and at corners and intersections.

Set out the rebar positions accurately.

The rebar will be in line with the large
holes in the blocks.

Notice the rebar for

the buttress in the long
wall.

VERTICAL REBAR ANCHORING

A building without a reinforced steel footing will use

channel blocks as the first layer and tie in the
vertical rebar.

15 cm

Cut rebar as high as you can put a block on it. Or,

bend the steel over.

Weld

Bend and hook

Ways to extend rebar

Wire tie