Legaspi, Mark Gerald P.

CE 501

What are the type of footings? When and where to use them?
1. Continuous Wall Footing - Strip footings are commonly used as foundations of load-
bearing walls. The footing usually has twice the width as the load bearing wall, sometimes
it is even wider. The width as well as the type of reinforcement are depending on the
bearing capacity of the foundation soil.
2. Isolated Footing – It is defined as the footing, which is provided beneath the column to
distribute the loads safely to the bed soil. This kind of footing is used to support single-
columns and when the columns are arranged relatively at long distance.
3. Combined Footing - Combined footings are constructed for two or more columns when
they are close to each other and their foundations overlap. A combined footing is also
provided when the property line is so close to one column that a spread footing would be
eccentrically loaded when kept entirely within the property line.
4. Strip Footing - It is a continuous strip of concrete that serves to spread the weight of a
load-bearing wall across an area of soil. It is the component of a shallow foundation. Strip
footings can be used for both traditional timber and concrete floors.
5. Strap Footing - It is a type of combined footing, consisting of two or more
column footings connected by a concrete beam. A strap footing is often used in
conjunction with columns that are located along a building's property or lot line.
6. Raft Footing - It is a thick concrete slab reinforced with steel which covers the entire
contact area of the structure like a thick floor. Raft foundations are constructed for shallow
depths hence, it requires less excavation.
7. Pile Footing - Pile foundation, a kind of deep foundation, is actually a slender column or
long cylinder made of materials such as concrete or steel which are used to support the
structure and transfer the load at desired depth either by end bearing or skin friction.
8. Stepped Footing – It is a footing in which the desired width is secured by a series of steps
in about the proportion of one unit of horizontal dimension to two units of vertical
dimension.
9. Slope Footing - Sloped footings are trapezoidal footings. They are done with great care to
see that the top slope of 45 degree is maintained from all sides.
10. Mat Footing - Mat footings are used when the building load is so high, that spread or strip
footings could not bear the weight or their employment would be inefficient. Mat footings
are helping to reduce the varying settlements caused by construction on non-homogenous
soils or uneven load distribution on the footing.