ABSTRACT
For houses and small structures on level sites, building foundations can normally be simple; concrete pads and strip footings are frequently the cheapest and preferred solution. For larger buildings, especially if they have basements, more complex conditions have to be satisfied and foundations are frequently designed for a range of functions. Pile foundations, which minimize subsidence and avoid surcharging adjoining ground, are often used where ground is poor or loads are heavy; such piles can be in steel. Steel may also be used in foundations in the form of grillages, supporting more widely spread vertical loads closer to the surface.
