10% OFF* Foundations
Building Foundations
Every building needs a solid foundation! Earth Stick & Stone specializes in foundations and block & concrete foundations for residential and commercial buildings.
We are experts in building both shallow and deep masonry foundations. Shallow foundations are used for small, light buildings, while deep foundations are for large, heavy buildings.
PROFESSIONAL TIP: Where it’s impossible to build below frost line, protection by insulation is required. This is done by transferring heat from the building to the foundation, which will prevent freezing.
Foundation Types
Shallow Foundations
Shallow foundations (4’ to 12’) are supported by spread footings. During the winter, shallow foundations must guard against freezing, because water in the soil around the foundation can freeze then expand causing damage to the foundation.
Our shallow footing services include:
- Individual footings
- Strip footings
- Raft foundations
- Grade Beams
- Decks and Patios
NOTE: In the very early stages of work, the entire footing can be seen with the eye, thus the construction terminology “Open Foundation”.
Open footings foundations
Open footings foundations⎯a kind of shallow footing⎯are based on the premise that the foundations are built by excavating all the earth until reaching a load bearing capacity (virgin soil) before constructing the footing. The concept is that each footing takes the concentrated load of the column and spreads it out over a large area. With this in place the actual weight on the soil does not exceed the safe bearing capacity of the soil.
Deep Pile Foundations
Earth Stick & Stone are experts in deep foundations, also referred to as pile foundations. A pile is a long cylinder of strong material such as concrete or steel, that is pushed into the ground so that structures can be supported. As a result, pile foundations can support heavier loads than spread footings. They are used regularly in high rise structures and commercial buildings.
We use Pile foundations in the following situations:
- When the surface has a layer of weak soil.
- A weak layer of soil cannot support the weight of the building.
- The loads of the building bypass a weak layer and rest
on stronger soil or rock below.
Often a landscaping company is utilized to finish the property to provide the best possible exterior result from foundation work.
