Types of Foundation
Updated: Oct 7
Why Choose JRH Engineering
Why Developers, Contractors & Property Owners Choose JRH
Most engineering firms talk about technical capability. We focus on what actually matters to your project: speed, cost, communication, and results.
Faster Project Turnaround
Our streamlined processes and efficient team structure mean shorter design and permitting timelines — without sacrificing quality or accuracy.
Clear & Responsive Communication
You work directly with engineers who keep you informed. No long delays or unanswered emails — just straightforward updates and quick responses.
Proven Results Across Three States
We have successfully delivered civil, structural, and land development projects for developers, contractors, and owners throughout Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.
Check out JRH's case studies.
Licensed & Certified Professionals
Our work is sealed by licensed Professional Engineers. JRH Engineering is also a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB / WBE) and HUB eligible.
What a Foundation Does
Every structure needs a foundation to carry its weight safely into the ground. A good foundation:
Spreads the load over enough soil
Limits uneven settlement
Resists sliding and uplift
Keeps the structure stable
The right type depends on the soil, the load and the site, so a geotechnical report (by others) usually comes first.
JRH Engineering is a Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
Shallow Foundations
Shallow foundations bear on soil near the surface.
Slab-on-grade: a concrete slab with thickened edges or grade beams, common for homes and light commercial buildings
Post-tension slab: steel tendons tensioned after the concrete cures, often used on expansive clays
Spread footings: individual pads under columns or walls
Mat foundation: one thick slab supporting the whole structure
Deep Foundations
Deep foundations reach stronger soil below weak or expansive layers.
Drilled piers: concrete shafts, sometimes with belled bases, common under metal buildings and grade beams
Helical piles: steel shafts screwed into the ground, useful where access or soils limit other options
Driven piles: timber, concrete or steel piles, often used in coastal flood zones
How Engineers Choose
Soil type, bearing capacity and swell potential from the geotechnical report
Building loads, including uplift and lateral loads from wind
Flood zone and elevation requirements
Cost and constructability on the site
Project: Helical Pile Foundation, Custom Home, Mt. Enterprise, TX
Single-family custom home in Mt. Enterprise, Rusk County
Permitting through the City of Mt. Enterprise
Read the full Mt. Enterprise case study
Challenges
Site soils were unsuitable for conventional spread footings or a slab foundation
Several consultants had separate scopes
Objectives
Design a deep foundation to support the full home load.
Keep clear scope boundaries across the design team.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Structural engineering design of a helical pile foundation
Helical piles sized for 25-kip capacity per pile at 20-foot length, verified by the installer in the field
Foundation and beam plans coordinated with the architectural drawings
Results:
Helical pile system engineered to the design requirements
PE-sealed plans submitted for City permits
Other Foundation Types JRH Has Designed
A post-tension slab for a custom home on Aledo, TX clay
Belled drilled piers under a 70 ft x 40 ft metal building foundation in Katy, TX
Foundations in Texas, North Carolina and Florida
Texas
Expansive clays often lead to post-tension slabs or pier-supported grade beams; see Post-and-Pier vs Post-Tension Foundations.
North Carolina
Sloped and mountain lots may need stepped footings; the NC Office of State Fire Marshal lists current codes.
Florida
In FEMA Zone V, FEMA guidance calls for open, deep pile foundations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of foundations?
Shallow foundations, such as slabs and spread footings, and deep foundations, such as drilled piers and piles.
When is a deep foundation needed?
When near-surface soils are weak or expansive, or loads and flood rules require it.
What foundation works on expansive clay?
Post-tension slabs or pier-supported grade beams are common choices.
What is a helical pile?
A steel shaft with helical plates screwed into the ground to reach load-bearing soil.
Who performs the soil testing?
A geotechnical engineer; JRH designs the foundation from their report.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
Want More Information on this Topic?
Call JRH Engineering at (800) 227-9635
Use the chatbot in the lower right-hand corner of this page
Submit a request through JRH Engineering's contact page
Find JRH Engineering on Google:
This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
Comments