A beautiful house is only as strong as the foundation pad that it is built on.

While the foundation is technically the main structural component holding up the house, residential foundation pads require as much, if not more attention than the actual foundation does.

Without a pad that has been correctly prepared by an experienced foundation pad contractor, any house could be at risk.

Pad preparation is the critical final step in the building site preparation process and the first step in readying the site for foundation construction.

The Importance of Residential Foundation Pad Preparation

Though it might seem like the natural thing to do, building a house on raw land that has not undergone correct site and foundation pad preparation could endanger the entire structure.

This is due to the varying soil consistencies in different geographical locations as well as what could be under the ground surface.

Tree roots, rocks, high levels of groundwater, and uncompressed air-filled soil can all cause foundation sinking if not eliminated before the installation of the home foundation.

To address this, foundation pad services must improve the building lot as a whole while paying particular attention to the spot where the home foundation will be installed, as this ground must be shored up and made weight-bearing to prevent foundation failure.

Preparing For The Foundation Pad

When preparing the land to construct a residential foundation pad on a building lot, contractors will analyze the building lot, paying particular attention to the spot where the structure will be built.

They will then work with site preparation crews to clear out that spot specifically so it can be stabilized for installing the foundation.

Drainage and utilities will be installed around the building lot and up to the foundation pad area, then the rest of the building lot will be excavated and leveled as required.

Constructing the Foundation Pad

Once the building pad area has been dug out, the foundation pad service will refill it with clean fill dirt, usually with higher sand content, to start building the construction base.

Fill dirt is added to the point where it is higher than the ground around the foundation pad location, as this will promote the drainage of surface water away from the home.

The foundation pad area is then compacted down, creating a base that is more stable than the loose soil and can safely bear the weight of the foundation and structure without sinking or eroding.

Once the pad is fully compressed, it will be assessed for stability by an engineer, after which the installation of the actual foundation will begin.

Foundation Pads Require Careful Attention For Structural Soundness

Things are not always as it seems when assessing raw building lots.

To prevent problems like erosion, groundwater problems, and sinking foundations, a foundation pad must be built first.

Considering the importance of a solid and stable residential foundation pad, homeowners building their new house must find an experienced contractor to handle this part of the process.

A reliable foundation pad service that is experienced in soil assessment and building a proper pad plays a critical role in upholding the structural soundness of the entire building!