Basement Walls in Buildings - Report Example

Title: Basement walls in buildings Dated: April 15, 2011 Common forms of basement walls constructed in Melbourne: Basement in Melbourne are constructed with the selection of a specific type of wall for the completion of the house for ensuring its durability, strength and protection from the environmental and other hazardous factors. The selection of a specific type of basement wall depends upon the type of soil, depth of the basement, availability of the material for the construction of wall and moisture content as present in the soil and in the environment. Poured concrete walls, concrete walls, block walls with or without internal gaps, stone walls and clay tile walls are the most common types of walls which are constructed in the basements in Melbourne. Most common forms of basement walls as selected for building construction are gravity walls, embedded walls, reinforced soil walls and hybrid system walls as reinforcement walls. Poured concrete walls often leaks at the joints between the floor and the wall of the basement. In such types of walls exterior footing drain clogs and the hydrostatic pressure against the basement, the water will force its entry into home through the path of least resistance. Floor-wall joints in such type of basement are the critical structures and therefore need special attention for their designing, construction and maintenance for the promotion of physical strength of the basement walls and the basements. The Poured Concrete walls in the basements are by far the most popular types in the basement construction as these walls are easy to design, construct and to be maintained during the life of building. One of the basic precautionary measures for the stability of the basement along with its poured concrete walls is the stability of the soil as selected for the construction of the building. Concrete walls in the basement are constructed for enhancing the strength of the basements in the urban centers of Melbourne. The design strength of the concrete, concrete blocks as applied for the construction of the building, and the mortars are significant factors for the construction of the basement. The thickness of the wall is also an important element with regard to the height of the building in the construction phase. This type of wall is reinforced or non- reinforced for the addition of extra force into the building. Concrete walls in the basements are designed in such an arrangement so as to take care of the two forces which act upon the walls of the building. These two which act primarily upon the foundation walls include downward force or gravity load created by the load placed upon the walls of the basement and the second force is a sideways or lateral force as caused by the backfill or earth which is placed against the wall of the basement. The strength of each wall in the basement is directly proportional to its cross sectional area and is a significant factor in the determination of size and width of the basement wall. Block walls with or without internal gaps are applied in some of the basements to construct warmer buildings through the use of blocks as unit components. Insulation of these blocks either from the interior side or from the exterior side will help in the achievement of the objective of a warmer building. The addition of vapor barrier to the concrete block walls will help in the construction of an insulated block wall as a structure in the basement. Stone walls and clay tile walls are the other two types of basement walls as are applied in the construction of basements in Melbourne. Different types of walls and their appropriation to different site conditions: Different types of walls are appropriate to different site conditions for the basements as the selection process for the construction of a wall requires the site conditions as a primary tool. Basements serve as the foundation for the superstructures for the buildings in which these are located provide usable living space to the users and the inhabitants. Selection of the materials for the construction of walls serves as an initial step for proper construction of the building, for the provision of resistance by the basement to the imposed loads from the surrounding ground, temperature fluctuations, moisture and to maintain suitable indoor air quality and contented conditions for the occupants. The selection of most appropriate materials for the construction of the basements and the buildings, the designers and the builders can avoid many of the problems associated with the basements. The selection of suitable material needs to consider the following factors: 1) The quality and location of soil for the construction of basement through its designing and construction, 2) The selection of suitable materials require the determination of the intended use and expected quality of the basement as in its final shape, 3) The basements with their intended use as living spaces require different materials than those only for storage and for mechanical equipment. Therefore, decision for the use of basement prior to its construction plays a significant role for the selection of the material as used in the construction process. Other materials like drainage pipes, electric wiring and allied installations are also identified in the early stages of the construction process for the basements. In addition, the nature of materials with respect to the fulfillment of their intended role as in the critical control of the structures is monitored for the selection of material. The compatibility of the materials with the site of the building along with basements and the nature of materials with reference to their relationship with the environment requires attention of the designers and the builders. Regulatory business environment along with building laws and codes contribute in the selection of materials for the basements in the jurisdiction of Melbourne. Factors that influence the decisions for the selection of materials: The selection of materials is influenced by preferences in the structural systems in relation to the geographical conditions of the city, local economics and availability of the materials in the market. The designers and the builders also have their likings and preferences for specific materials for the construction of buildings. In urban areas of the city, the availability of the materials, speed of placement at the site of the building and low cost of transportation support the administrators and owners of the buildings to take appropriate decision for the selection of materials as ingredients for the construction process. In rural communities, the transportation of the concrete blocks over longer distance assists in the selection of the materials. Lighter- weight system like permanent wood foundations has also been favored in some localities of the city and therefore influences the selection process for the materials. The construction methodologies like cast-in-place concrete, pre-fabricated concrete panels, concrete masonry foundation and permanent wood foundations have their unique influences in the decision making process for the selection of materials for the construction of basements. Advantages and disadvantages of various types of walls: Types of basement walls as indicated include Poured concrete walls, Concrete walls, block walls with or without internal gaps, Stone walls and Clay tile walls have their specific advantages and disadvantages which are as under: a) Poured concrete walls: Advantages: Poured concrete basement walls are stronger, more durable, drier, and can be constructed quickly as compared to that of block basements. These walls can be constructed throughout the year with sufficient materials. These walls are better suited to the marginal lands and with great variety of soil types with greater design flexibility; therefore, these walls are having greater acceptance level among the designers and the building constructors. Disadvantages: These walls do not incorporate joints in the wall and in case of the joint requirement, such type of structures do not offer any plausible solution. Quality may be compromised in case of such type of walls as there is less control over the quality of the materials as are used in the construction of poured concrete walls. These walls do not incorporate steel rods which give the buildings lower resistance to the resultant impacts on the buildings. b) Concrete walls : Advantages: Concrete walls provide a secure structure for the basement and to the building with a solid frame of the basement. The designers and the constructors have the option to modify the exterior with insulating materials. The builders have a choice in the selection of a method for the construction of basement through the application of concrete walls. These walls are energy efficient structures with an added layer of insulation in their structural arrangements. Disadvantages: One significant disadvantage of concrete walls is that all the structures will crack at some point. These Concrete walls can also crack as a result of shrinkage; therefore, cost of maintenance and repair can be increased, considerably. c) Block walls with or without internal gaps: Advantages: Block walls with or without gaps are easy to install, finish and repair with specific designs and geometry in the basements. The blocks provide inter-locking arrangements for the basements for the use of insulating materials. These blocks are easy to design, shifting and utilizations at the site of the buildings. Disadvantages: Extreme weather conditions have adverse impacts on the block walls through influences on the physical and chemical structures. The joints in the walls require repair and maintenance, therefore, additional expenditure on the cost of the buildings. d) Stone walls and Clay tile walls: Advantages: Stone and clay walls offer an alternative for their selection in the construction of walls for the basement. Stone walls have their advantages in the moist environment as these offer resistance to the adverse environmental factors. Clay walls are available in a variety of range including different sizes, colors and shapes with a variety of designs. These are the natural materials, hard and permanent, and elegant structures. Disadvantages: These walls offer little resistance to the extreme environmental and other hazardous like fire incidents in the buildings. Heavy stones in high rise buildings do many serious risks as these have not been fully standardized. Construction techniques: Basement wall construction is a complex and systematic and coherent process with a series of steps. These steps include calculating the cost for the construction of basement with an appropriate material and through the assistance of approved design as per standard building laws and regulations, reinforcement of walls of the basement, waterproofing, calculation of the window wells, and maintenance of the walls. The first and the foremost step in the construction of basements are to estimate the cost of the completion with all its details. These estimates will help in the selection of materials along with their mode of utilization at the site of the building. The construction of a new basement is a larger project and will require proper monitoring and evaluation mechanism for its timely completion with required standards. Excavation at the site will be the initial step for the construction of basement through hired equipment and labor. The location of the building and the type of soil will be the critical factors in the excavation process including the cost of the operation. In case of concrete wall, the next stage will be estimates for determining the amount of concrete that will be needed to complete the basement with required standards. Extra labor will be required for the construction of concrete walls of the basement under the supervision of qualified building supervisor for the completion of the structures. The construction of reinforced walls in the basement will help in holding up the whole building and to avoid extra pressure from the surroundings with a sound structure for the basements. The reinforcement walls are included in the plan to keep the walls of the basement strong through the inclusion of rebar reinforcement as to enhance the strength of the building. As basements are buried below the ground and this position make the structures susceptible to moisture and damp, therefore, waterproofing will help in the maintenance of the basement along with its walls and interior structures. Proper waterproofing materials will be required for the protection of walls from the seeping of water into the basement. The excess moisture can be regulated with the use of vapor barriers and dry locks to cope with the situation. The construction of window wells during the construction stage will help in the maintenance process for the basements in an adequate manner. Regular maintenance will help in the use of the building as in satisfactory manner and as per approved building regulations in Melbourne. References: 1. Blank, Alan; McEvoy, Michael; Plank, Roger (1993). Architecture and Construction in Steel. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0419176608. 2. D. Rowland - T.N. Howe: Vitruvius. Ten Books on Architecture. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1999, ISBN 0-521-00292-3 3. Françoise Choay, Alberti and Vitruvius, editor, Joseph Rykwert, Profile 21, Architectural Design, Vol 49 No 5-6 4. John Ruskin, The Seven Lamps of Architecture, G. Allen (1880), reprinted Dover, (1989) ISBN 0-486-26145-X 5. Heyman, Jacques (1998). Structural Analysis: A Historical Approach. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521622492. 6. Le Corbusier, Towards a New Architecture, Dover Publications(1985). ISBN 0-486-25023-7 7. Rondanini, Nunzia Architecture and Social Change Heresies II, Vol. 3, No. 3, New York, Neresies Collective Inc., 1981. 8. Building Regulations: Energy efficiency requirements for new dwellings - A forward look at what standards may be in 2010 and 2013. Department for Communities and Local Government. 23 July 2007. 07 HC 04748/F.. 9. Mitchell, James Kenneth (1993), Fundamentals of Soil Behavior (2nd ed.), John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0471856401  10. Shroff, Arvind V.; Shah, Dhananjay L. (2003), Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9058092356 Read More

The addition of vapor barrier to the concrete block walls will help in the construction of an insulated block wall as a structure in the basement. Stone walls and clay tile walls are the other two types of basement walls as are applied in the construction of basements in Melbourne. Different types of walls and their appropriation to different site conditions: Different types of walls are appropriate to different site conditions for the basements as the selection process for the construction of a wall requires the site conditions as a primary tool.

Basements serve as the foundation for the superstructures for the buildings in which these are located provide usable living space to the users and the inhabitants. Selection of the materials for the construction of walls serves as an initial step for proper construction of the building, for the provision of resistance by the basement to the imposed loads from the surrounding ground, temperature fluctuations, moisture and to maintain suitable indoor air quality and contented conditions for the occupants.

The selection of most appropriate materials for the construction of the basements and the buildings, the designers and the builders can avoid many of the problems associated with the basements. The selection of suitable material needs to consider the following factors: 1) The quality and location of soil for the construction of basement through its designing and construction, 2) The selection of suitable materials require the determination of the intended use and expected quality of the basement as in its final shape, 3) The basements with their intended use as living spaces require different materials than those only for storage and for mechanical equipment.

Therefore, decision for the use of basement prior to its construction plays a significant role for the selection of the material as used in the construction process. Other materials like drainage pipes, electric wiring and allied installations are also identified in the early stages of the construction process for the basements. In addition, the nature of materials with respect to the fulfillment of their intended role as in the critical control of the structures is monitored for the selection of material.

The compatibility of the materials with the site of the building along with basements and the nature of materials with reference to their relationship with the environment requires attention of the designers and the builders. Regulatory business environment along with building laws and codes contribute in the selection of materials for the basements in the jurisdiction of Melbourne. Factors that influence the decisions for the selection of materials: The selection of materials is influenced by preferences in the structural systems in relation to the geographical conditions of the city, local economics and availability of the materials in the market.

The designers and the builders also have their likings and preferences for specific materials for the construction of buildings. In urban areas of the city, the availability of the materials, speed of placement at the site of the building and low cost of transportation support the administrators and owners of the buildings to take appropriate decision for the selection of materials as ingredients for the construction process. In rural communities, the transportation of the concrete blocks over longer distance assists in the selection of the materials.

Lighter- weight system like permanent wood foundations has also been favored in some localities of the city and therefore influences the selection process for the materials. The construction methodologies like cast-in-place concrete, pre-fabricated concrete panels, concrete masonry foundation and permanent wood foundations have their unique influences in the decision making process for the selection of materials for the construction of basements. Advantages and disadvantages of various types of walls: Types of basement walls as indicated include Poured concrete walls, Concrete walls, block walls with or without internal gaps, Stone walls and Clay tile walls have their specific advantages and disadvantages which are as under: a) Poured concrete walls: Advantages: Poured concrete basement walls are stronger, more durable, drier, and can be constructed quickly as compared to that of block basements.

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