Concrete is a versatile, durable building material that has been used in one form or another for centuries. However, installing concrete correctly requires experience, equipment, and training for successful results. It is true that most homeowners can follow the directions on a bag of concrete mix purchased at a local hardware store to install a flagpole or mailbox post successfully. When it comes to commercial concrete foundations, though, their installation requires the services of a highly experienced, well-equipped, and skilled professional.
What Are Commercial Concrete Foundations?
Technically, the term could be applied to anything installed by a Houston concrete foundations company that is intended to support a structure on a commercial property. By this definition, guard shacks, stone fences, and small storage buildings on commercial properties could be considered as Houston concrete foundations. However, most concrete foundations companies reserve the term for installations that will support an enclosed building. That is, the structure will have walls, typically with doors and windows, and a roof. The structure could be a single-story retail operation, a medium-sized workshop, a multistory office building, a small manufacturing facility, or almost anything else. The key is that the concrete foundations company knows that a structure built on the foundation will be used for commercial purposes.Are All Commercial Concrete Foundations the Same?
No, concrete foundations in Houston can vary widely. Concrete foundation contractors must know the weight of the structure that will be built, including its empty and loaded weight. This allows the company providing the concrete foundations services to calculate the appropriate thickness of the concrete. It also allows the Houston concrete foundations company to determine whether it will be necessary to install reinforcing mesh or rebar as well as where to place it. Perhaps most importantly, it allows companies installing concrete foundations in Houston to determine the best type of foundation to recommend.What Are the Different Types of Houston Concrete Foundations?
Concrete foundations companies in Houston typically choose either a slab-on-grade or T-shaped foundation for commercial projects.- A slab-on-grade foundation consists of several inches of concrete that is installed in a single pour. Typically, a Houston concrete foundations company installs the slab over an aggregate base, usually crushed gravel, to enhance drainage. In many cases, concrete foundations companies make the edges of the concrete slightly thicker, and reinforcing rods may be used to give the edges more strength. Houston concrete foundations installers usually recommend placing reinforcing mesh throughout the slab to help deter cracking. Slab-on-grade foundations are extremely common in climates where the ground does not freeze. However, these foundations can also be insulated for extra protection against frost heaves. These are the most common type of concrete foundations services provided by a concrete foundations company in Houston.
- T-shaped foundations are another type of concrete foundations in Houston. Although more common in areas that normally experience extremely cold winters, a local concrete foundations company may recommend them for other reasons. T-shaped foundations get their name from their resemblance to an upside-down letter T. First, contractors install concrete footings at the appropriate depth. Walls are built that extend from the concrete footings to the surface, and concrete is poured into the voids. The slab is poured, and anchor bolts are usually placed to connect the slab and the concrete walls. The main reason that a Houston concrete foundations company might recommend a T-shaped foundation is its strength and stability. They can support load-bearing walls better, and they provide enhanced structural integrity.
