Unlike a traditional building, fabric building foundations can be set on multiple types of foundations. This allows you to make the most out of the space used.
These are the foundation options that we most commonly work with here at Keystone Building Solutions
Grade Beam
Grade beams or grade beam footing foundations allow for a reinforced concrete beam to take the weight of the structure onto spaced foundations such as pile caps or caissons. This makes it a great idea for a permanent foundation in a concrete fabric shelter. The grade beam foundation is built by using a 3 step process.
First, the foundations are built by excavating the area that will house the footing. Second, the concrete form is inserted into the new foundation space. Lastly, the concrete is then poured into the newly placed forms. When considering these foundations it is important to remember they are permanent solutions and will require a considerable amount of resources and workers to install the fabric building foundation.
Ballast Blocks
Ballast blocks offer an easy-to-install foundation for concrete fabric structures. These foundations best serve those looking to have a foundation suitable for industrial and commercial-style fabric building. This style of foundation is usually easier to be signed off by your local zoning engineer.
This foundation style leaves no footprint and offers the ability to be completely relocated. Though the ballast block foundation requires heavy equipment for installation, they are one of the most versatile and cost-effective foundations that are available for a larger building.
Shipping Containers
Are you wanting to have a versatile foundation for your concrete fabric shelter? A shipping container foundation may be what you want for added storage in the same footprint. This kind of structure is for buildings that do not exceed 62’ in width. Truss base plates are attached to two shipping containers to provide an extra 8’-9’ of height for a raised foundation. The use of a shipping container foundation allows for the building to be fully enclosed or with open ends. Shipping containers will require heavy equipment to install but are a cost-effective and versatile foundation for your small to medium fabric building.
Wood Posts
For a structure that is 62’ wide or less, wood posts are often a great way to give your building a foundation. The wooden post foundation is ideal for agricultural structures such as calving barns, hay shelters, or smaller riding arenas (think first-time riders or ponies). The most common post sizes that are used are 8” x 8” treated posts that are installed 4’-6’ in the ground and stand 4’- 6’ above grade.
The majority of installers have found that the best way to place these posts is by tamping them in using pea gravel and cement powder. Wood post foundations can be installed with relative ease utilizing minimal manpower and resources as well as overall cost, making them a great option for your fabric building foundation.
Poured Piers
Poured-in-place concrete piers are a great way to give your medium to large building a foundation. The poured-in-place concrete piers are created by excavating shafts at each truss footing. Once this is done, concrete forms are poured. Truss base plates are then fixed in the newly poured piers. By using this kind of foundation it allows the building to be built at ground level or placed and mounted on grade. A pier foundation does require a large number of resources and manpower to be installed for fabric building foundations.
Poured in Place
A completely poured-in-place foundation is created through the process of pouring concrete into a form that is reinforced with steel. Additionally, a poured-in-place foundation can feature knee walls (otherwise known as pony walls) which are concrete-formed walls that your fabric building can be mounted on top of. A massive benefit to the poured-in-place foundation is that the floor is solid and considered a permanent foundation. Having said that, they will require a lot of resources and workers for installation and are best for medium to large fabric buildings.
As you can see an abundance of options are available to make your project just what you need. From a concrete fabric shelter all the way up to a poured foundation, your project will receive the utmost attention from what you can’t see in the foundations to the beautiful structure that everyone else will notice.