Strip Foundation calcs

wastewater

Im soon to start building and awaiting structural engineer's foundation detail and like nearly every self builder have been googling myself to death. it seems looking at other peoples builds that strip footings are 3 times the wall width high and 1 times the wall width deep with a393 mesh, however according to strip foundation calcs tables smaller widths can be specified. Do engineers ever specify smaller width of foundations other than the rule of thumb 3x width and 1 x depth.

BryanF

Sorry we can’t offer structural advice. Just hang on for your drawings

wastewater

I should had made it clear that I was not looking for structural advice (nor looking for recommended engineers) , instead I was inquiring had anyone any experience of an engineer who would using their training and experience to go against rule of thumb and specify a smaller and cheaper foundation that would be sufficient. It is very hard to hire an engineer without recommendation and unlike architects or trades it is usually difficult to see how good their work is.

Metric Tensor

It's possible in some circumstances but all foundations are dependent on the ground conditions in question. Your engineer may decide you need a much bigger one based on your site conditions.

The foundations are absolutely not a place to scrimp and save. The can never be fixed correctly if done badly and problems may not show up for many years!

If you have to spend 2k more on concrete than you planned take it off the cost of the kitchen or the flat screen telly instead. You can replace them at any point in future.

Bonzo Delaney

Metric Tensor wrote: »

It's possible in some circumstances but all foundations are dependent on the ground conditions in question. Your engineer may decide you need a much bigger one based on your site conditions.

The foundations are absolutely not a place to scrimp and save. The can never be fixed correctly if done badly and problems may not show up for many years!

If you have to spend 2k more on concrete than you planned take it off the cost of the kitchen or the flat screen telly instead. You can replace them at any point in future.

Tbh most if not all founds are dug to what ever closest next size up bucket the excavator driver has. Can never have enough, whats on the drawings is the minium amount required.
Not directing that directly at you metric
Just making a gen observation

tabby aspreme

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Tbh most if not all founds are dug to what ever closest next size up bucket the excavator driver has. Can never have enough, whats on the drawings is the minium amount required.
Not directing that directly at you metric
Just making a gen observation

Very true,

domrush

Depends entirely on the build and site conditions. As mentioned above not an area to save on, subsistence or creep can cause incredibly expensive repairs in the future.

Any savings the engineer could make would be minimal as well. Good advice from Metric Tensor above.

Metric Tensor

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Tbh most if not all founds are dug to what ever closest next size up bucket the excavator driver has. Can never have enough, whats on the drawings is the minium amount required.
Not directing that directly at you metric
Just making a gen observation

Yup. I've never seen a strip footing yet that wasn't wider than the one I specified - that's almost never a problem.

tradesman

Don't even think of trying to skimp on your foundations. End of conversation!