Ask An Architect 101 -- Tips & Techniques

Footings and the Cold

You lucky folks in the warmer climates don't necessarily need to consider the cold weather when thinking about foundations. But, for those of us in areas where the temperature can consistently stay below freezing, the placement of our footings for a structure becomes oh so important. Because the soil where we place footings contains moisture, that moisture can freeze. And when the soil freezes, it expands. This could cause brittle materials such as concrete, brick, and plaster to crack and shift. Any movement in the ground will also move the footings, which hold up the building. Obviously, this isn't good. It then becomes so important to place the footing deep enough into the soil where, historicaly, the soil doesn't freeze. This is generically termed the frost line. Although we've discovered that this frost line varies from area to area, it's below this frost line that the soil doesn't freeze. Therefore, your footings should hold!

Let's make sure we take every precaution "not to lose our footing."

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