Footing’s and foundations perform two functions.

If they are built right they will perform these functions with no movement.

1) Transfer the live and dead loads of the building to the soil over a large enough area so that neither the soil nor the building will move.

2) In areas where frost occurs, to prevent frost from moving the building.

Dead loads are the weight of the building materials and the soil surrounding the foundations.  Live loads are the weight of people, furniture, snow, rain and wind.  Wind may be a vertical force downward, horizontal or an uplift force.  A live load may also be exerted by water in the soil around the foundation.  Wet soil exerts more force than dry soil.  Frozen soil exerts much more force than wet soil.

Armstrong Masonry Repair, Inc. specializes in residential and commercial foundations and footings.