Foundations, Basements and External Works

This book is primarily about those parts of buildings in direct contact with the ground, including foundations and basements, and external works outside the building footprint but inside the site boundary. In principle, all types of existing buildings are included. It is inevitable that the nature of the

construction becomes very sophisticated in some building types such as those which are very tall or very deep below ground, and these installations rarely lend themselves to simple guidance. However, many aspects of all below-ground construction, and certainly most of the relatively simple construction used in domestic buildings, provides adequate potential for avoiding and correcting faults and defects.

Included in the book is information relating to:

? wind and rainfall

? the various types of ground which might be encountered

? the characteristics of foundations which need to be used, including concrete strip and pile

? structural and waterproofing aspects of basements

? wastewater and surface water drains

? supply of utilities, including gas, electricity and cabled services

? footpaths and access for vehicles, including car parks and hard standings

? freestanding walls, and security and other kinds of fencing

? hard and soft landscaping