Foundations on Black Cotton Soil in Kenya

Foundations on Black Cotton Soil in Kenya.

Areas such as Oloolua in Ngong have back cotton soils which require specialized foundation construction methods.

Some areas like in theabove picture are old stone quarries which have been refilled with soil to ground level. The soil is usually loose hence propert engineering design is required for the foundation.

If the solid rock depth is not so far, columns can be footed at the solid floor level then raised to ground level. A beam is erected at ground level, like 1 foot above the soil to prevent the expansion and contraction of the soil from affecting the ground floor slab. The ground floor slab is then reinforced same way with a suspended level slab then the house walling can commence at the ground floor slab level.

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau.

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