Footings

Switch the foundation on and every load bearing wall of the lowest storey gets a strip footing, mitred at the corners, and every structural column a pad. Place a pad on its own under a post, or type a size over what was derived.

Add footings

Every property, and what it does

Select a footing and these are its rows: what it is under and its size first, then the building's own foundation numbers.

Footing

What the pad carries and how big it is.

FieldWhat it doesValues
UnderThe column or post the pad carries.Read from the plan
Size, as derivedThe size the foundation worked out for it.Read from the load
WidthTyped to override what the foundation derived; cleared to derive again.Millimetres
LengthTyped to override what the foundation derived; cleared to derive again.Millimetres
DepthHow thick the pad is poured. Typed to override, cleared to derive again.Millimetres
DropHow far the top of the pad sits below the datum. Zero puts it directly under the pour.Millimetres; default 0
No footingLeaves this column unfounded. Nothing is poured under it and nothing is billed for it.On or off

The building's own

The numbers the whole foundation is sized from.

FieldWhat it doesValues
Soil bearing, assumedThe ground bearing pressure the footings are sized for.kPa
Strip widthThe width of the strip footings under the walls.Millimetres

How footings work

  1. Switch the foundation on

    In Settings, open Structure and turn the foundation on. Strips and pads are derived from the walls and columns.

  2. Or place a pad

    Open Foundation and choose Pad footing, or type PADFOOTING (PAD), and click under a post or a pier.

  3. Override a size

    Type a width, length or depth over what was derived; clear it to derive again.

  4. See it in section

    The footings sit below the ground floor's pour, so a section through the building shows the trench.

Footing questions, answered.

Do I draw every footing?

No. With the foundation on, strips are derived under the load bearing walls and pads under the structural columns. A pad placed by hand stands on its own.

How are footings sized?

From the load they carry and the assumed soil bearing pressure. Any size can be typed over and cleared to derive again.

Why can I not see them in 3D?

They are underground, below the ground floor's pour. A section shows the trench, and the X-ray and storey views look down into it.

Read on