A foundation is one of the most critical features of any house or apartment, as any mistake during this stage may affect the entire construction process.
In Kenya, most cases of building collapse have been attributed to poorly set up foundations and architectures that fail to examine the soil structures before drawing plans.
While most foundation issues emanate from soil conditions, poor drainage or extreme weather, the repercussions sometimes take years to manifest.
In other cases, poorly set-up foundations arise from architects who fail to stick to the approved designs by the National Construction Authority of Kenya.
Common Mistakes
Uneven slabs
Some builders fail to match the grade of the landscape, making the slab appear uneven and leading to the collapse of the whole structure. If contractors and other engineers involved in construction fail to level a slab, a house may suffer unpredicted settling over time.
Building on Loose Soil
In areas such as Machakos County, black cotton soil requires deep excavation before setting up a foundation. In Taita Taveta county, rocks beneath the ground require breaking before building a house.
However, some contractors use subpar construction techniques, while others construct foundations on poorly compacted soils.
Foundation built using sub-standard techniques may result in the sinking of or settling of the house.
Not allowing Water to Dry Up Completely
Some experts argue that it is essential to give a foundation time, almost a week, to dry up before continuing with the construction.
Water triggers a chemical reaction that causes the mixture to bond and strengthens the concrete. If the concrete slab is not kept adequately moist throughout the curing process, it dries up too quickly.
This makes the concrete too brittle to hold the weight of the entire house. As a result, your concrete may end up with cracks while still relatively new.
Unapproved Building Material
Some contractors end up using cheap and substandard materials in the construction process. Others even fail to mix concrete properly during the process.
In the long run, it results in the collapse of structures.
Incorrect Depth
Some contractors pour concrete before properly digging out the soil to save time and even money. However, the concrete fails to hold properly, leading to house collapse.
If the foundation is set on an uneven slab, one may notice that one side of a house is lower than the other or its centre is sinking.
Signs of a weak foundation include cracks, uneven floors, and gaps around window and door frames.
