Bedrock is the firmest material for your foundation.
There is no better foundation for a building than bedrock, which is simply the solid rock that makes up the earth's crust. It is typically found under other materials such as sediment, soil and vegetation, or seen exposed on hilltops. Although it is not as common for building directly upon as soil, bedrock is relatively simple to build on safely, and will no doubt hold up better and longer than materials more vulnerable to time and the elements. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Sweep away any loose sediment over the entire area to be enclosed and covered by the foundation, and plot out the shape of the foundation on the bedrock with the measuring tape and permanent marker. Make marks every 1 to 2 feet with the marker along the perimeter. These will be for the steel rods to go into the bedrock
2. Drill about 3 feet into the marks on the bedrock, and use the air compressor to clear the holes of dust and debris. This will allow for a better bond between the rods and the cement.
3. Place the ICFs along the entire perimeter. Use the utility knife to cut the foam to fit along the shapes of the bedrock surface. Use the level to make sure the ICFs are cut correctly. Move the ICFs temporarily back off the perimeter so you can set the rods into the bedrock.
4. Set the 6-foot rods into the 3-foot holes and fill the areas around the rods with the anchoring cement. Place the ICFs back over the perimeter so that the rods stick up between the foam walls.
5. Tie the rods securely with twine to the reinforcement framework within the ICFs. Tie them so that they lift up just a little in the holes to help create a solid bond all the way around them in the holes. This will also help to keep them in place while the concrete is being poured.
6. Fill any gaps between the bedrock and the ICFs with the quick setting expanding foam. Once the anchoring concrete and expanding foam are dry, you are ready for concrete to be poured into the ICFs and over your foundation.
Tags: rods into, cement Place, cement Place ICFs, expanding foam, into bedrock
