What Are Concrete Footings in Los Angeles?

Ever wonder what’s underneath your house holding it up? Everyone has heard of foundations underneath their homes, but there’s an even more important structure located underneath that. And those are the concrete footings.

Footings are the things that actually hold up your foundation, and therefore, your entire house. They’re usually made from concrete with rebar reinforcement.   

Why are concrete footings so important?

Underneath every home or building is a foundation. This is what holds the building up. But, what holds the foundation up? Concrete footings. 

Most homes have a 16- or 20-inch wide footing that can handle the weight of an ordinary house with normal soils. The dimensions of footings also depend on the size and type of structure that will be built. Placement of footings is crucial to provide the proper support for the foundation and ultimately the structure.

However, if your home is built on soft clay soil or if there’s a soft spot under part of your foundation, you want to make sure you have the right concrete footings for your situation. If not, you could have trouble.

What kind of trouble? Every home or building settles a little. Most of the time that settlement is slow and even, which is no big deal. However, if you have the wrong concrete footings for your type of soil or a soft spot under your foundation, the settlement could be uneven. That could lead to damage causing cracks in your tile, plaster or masonry.

How can I make sure I have the right concrete footings in Los Angeles?

At the end of the day, this is a job best left to the professionals. Proper placement of concrete footings and an understanding of the type of soil underneath your home or other structure is crucial. Let the pros assess the soil conditions and figure out the proper depth and width for the footings as well as the proper placement.

Still have more questions? Call us! The pros at Concrete Decor Contractor can help you determine how to design concrete footings that will keep your home on its feet. Call 1-818-722-8124 for an estimate.