Foundation Concrete Guide

Foundation Depth Requirements

UK building regulations require strip foundations to be at least 150mm wide and the depth of any concrete specified by the structural engineer. For typical domestic extensions: 450mm wide × 300mm deep in stable ground, deeper in clay or shrinkable soils. Always consult building control for foundations near trees.

Concrete Grade

Strip footings: GEN3 (equivalent to C20/25). Pad footings: RC28/35. Post holes: GEN1 or even just rapid-set postcrete. For reinforced concrete (RC) work, always use the specified grade — not general purpose bags.

When to Order Ready-Mix

For volumes over 0.5m³, ready-mixed concrete is usually more economical and gives better consistency. Minimum ready-mix orders are typically 0.5–1m³. Below this, bagged rapid-set concrete is more practical and avoids minimum load charges.

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