A strong foundation will ensure that the structure of the house will last for many years. A smart foundation will ensure that the house stays cool during the day and minimizes heat release at night.
Pic 1a and 1b: Excavation begins to prepare the ground for the foundation.
Pic 2a - 2d: Steel rebars are bent into shape by hand to construct the reinforced steel framework for the new pillar footings.
Pic 3a and 3b: The completed reinforced steel framework for the pillar footings.
Pic 4: Positioning of the wooden formworks. Note the house's exposed cornerstone pillar that needs to be reinforced as well.
Pic 5: Close-up photo of the cornerstone pillar. Note the thin footing base of approx. 6 inches deep only.
Pic 6: Using a mechanical agitator to remove any air bubles trapped in the concrete mix.
Pic 7: The concrete footings in various stages of setting. Note the mechanical agitator in the foreground.
Pic 8: Levelling the ground and setting up the wooden formworks for the ground beams.
Pic 1a and 1b: Excavation begins to prepare the ground for the foundation.
Pic 2a - 2d: Steel rebars are bent into shape by hand to construct the reinforced steel framework for the new pillar footings.
Pic 3a and 3b: The completed reinforced steel framework for the pillar footings.
Pic 4: Positioning of the wooden formworks. Note the house's exposed cornerstone pillar that needs to be reinforced as well.
Pic 5: Close-up photo of the cornerstone pillar. Note the thin footing base of approx. 6 inches deep only.
Pic 6: Using a mechanical agitator to remove any air bubles trapped in the concrete mix.
Pic 7: The concrete footings in various stages of setting. Note the mechanical agitator in the foreground.
Pic 8: Levelling the ground and setting up the wooden formworks for the ground beams.
Pic 9: Carefully arranging the recycled tyres within the marked space. Three layers of tyres will be used for the internal floors.
Pic 10: Three layers of recycled tyres completely filling up the foundation with provisions for the ground beams.
Pic 11: Straping the tyres in place using a steel strap tensioner. Note the reinforced wire mesh (BRC) encasing the tyres.
Pic 12: White corrugated plastic sheets are used to form gullys for the ground beams as well as to encase the tyres prior to pouring concrete.
Pic 13: After more than 10 days of hard work, it was finally time to pour the concrete. And it had to be completed in a single pouring even if it meant working overtime.
Pic 14: Finally, it is done!...and now to move on to another section of the house to repeat the whole process...
What is a smart foundation?
ReplyDeleteA smart foundation here refers to a floor that is able to passively reduce heat withouth additional energy. Here I will be using recycled rubber tyres - a patented system licensed by Lukas Works Sdn. Bhd. Stay tuned for more...
ReplyDeleteAnd yet provide irrigation for the garden? That's interesting. I tot I'd find out more but no result on Lukas Works on Google though..
ReplyDeleteThe following 4 links provide more info:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theedgemalaysia.com/property/582-putting-a-cool-home-to-test.html
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/4/7/lifefocus/3626139&sec=lifefocus
http://starproperty.my/PropertyGuide/Gadgets/1241/0/0
http://www.smartandcoolhomes.com/
read the link. does it mean that u'll replace the foundation in the house with smart foundation?
ReplyDeleteNot necessary. Since the entire house will be surrounded by heat absorbing material, heat from the main building floor will be dissipated outward. Think about a hot milk bottle in a tub of cool water.
ReplyDelete