Foundations are the part of a house nobody will see again. Each step below has one thing to check before moving on.
Step by Step
| Step | Key check |
|---|---|
| 1. Setting out | Centre lines, squareness, setbacks |
| 2. Excavation | Depth and size per drawing; sides safe |
| 3. Founding soil | Matches the soil test; no soft spots, water or fill |
| 4. PCC bed | Level, correct thickness, cured |
| 5. Footing steel | Bar size, spacing, 50 mm cover, starter bars positioned |
| 6. Footing concrete | Grade, slump, vibration, cubes taken |
| 7. Column necks | Plumb, correct size, steel and ties |
| 8. Curing | Full period |
| 9. Anti-termite treatment | Trenches and backfill treated |
| 10. Backfilling | Compacted in 150–200 mm layers |
Excavation Safety
Deep trenches can collapse, especially in loose soil or after rain. Slope or shore the sides, keep spoil heaps back from the edge, and pump out water. In Hyderabad, rock close to the surface may need breaking; on black cotton soil, excavation may go deeper than expected.
Materials for This Stage
- Cement for PCC, footings and necks — often 80–100 bags for a 1,000 sq ft house.
- Steel for footing mesh and starter bars, mostly 10–16 mm.
- Sand and aggregate for PCC and footing concrete.
The Short Version
Set out, dig, check the soil, PCC, steel, concrete, necks, cure, treat, backfill — with the engineer looking at the founding soil and the steel before anything is covered.
