When you are creating a home foundation in Boulder and Jefferson County, you know that it must be strong as any weakness could compromise the entire home. The same is true no matter what you are building, even if you are constructing a small backyard shed. There are several steps you want to take during this process to ensure that it is done correctly. As long as you do it right, you can be confident that any structure built on this foundation will last for years to come.
Choose the Right Site
Not all ground is ideal to build a foundation on in Boulder County. You want to look at the soil first and foremost. If the soil in a particular area is not strong, you might need to take special precautions during the building process, or stick to certain types of foundations to make it work. You should talk to a contractor in the area or someone else who is familiar with local soil conditions. They will be able to provide the information you need to ensure that you are properly placing the foundation to support the structure you plan to build.
Get the Property Surveyed
You need to have the property surveyed so that you know the exact boundaries in Boulder County. A professional surveyor is usually who does this work and they will give you an official report on their findings. Once you have this information, it is time to start planning for the location of the foundation on your property. You will mark this area off after choosing the right dimensions.
Excavate the Foundation Area
Once you have the area determined, you have to excavate it and the depth of the excavation will depend on the type of foundation you are laying. For example, if the structure you are building will have a basement, you will have to dig deep enough to accommodate the basement and the foundation below it. You will have to have solid measurements for this process and will have to consider space below and on the sides of the excavated area.
Get the Footings Installed
The footings are generally constructed of concrete and wood. You first create the structure of the footings using a high-quality wood. It is a good idea to prepare the wood to protect it against moisture before you start this process. To create the footings, you put the wood into the trenches. From here, you will pour the concrete. You must do this very carefully to ensure that it is done correctly. This is the first part of the foundation, so it must be done with expert precision in Boulder and Jefferson County.
Seal the Footings
You have treated the wood already as an extra precaution before you installed the footings, but you should seal the footings after they are finished too. The sealer you use should be made for sealing footings. This will help to further stop moisture from penetrating and compromising the integrity of your footings.
Create the Stem Walls
You have to make sure that the concrete you used in the footings is fully cured before moving onto this step. If you are putting a basement in your structure, the stem walls are the concrete blocks that create it. You should have extensive masonry experience for this or hire a professional mason. The walls must be level and plumb. All walls must be exact in their measurements or you will experience problems down the line during the remainder of the building process.
Treat the Foundation Walls
With the foundation walls in place, it is time to treat them so that they do not succumb to the problems that moisture can cause. Right after you finish the concrete work, you can apply a sealer that has an acrylic base. This will seal the concrete and work to help cure the concrete so that it sets faster and more deeply in Boulder County.
You can see that preparing a foundation is a process and one that requires multiple steps. It is important that no steps are skipped or else you risk the foundation having a weakness. If you are new to preparing and laying foundations, it is a good idea to have the right professionals take care of it so that it is done correctly.