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Concrete Foundations:
From Ancient Times to Modern Construction

  • Concrete has been used since ancient times, but modern concrete foundations didn’t start until the early 1900s.
  • Poured concrete foundations became popular after being featured in catalogs like Gustav Stickley’s More Craftsman Homes in 1912.
  • The widespread use of concrete slab foundations began after World War II.  During this time builders needed fast, affordable options for new homes.
  • Today, concrete foundations are reinforced with steel for strength. Advanced techniques include aluminum forms for precision and durability.

 

Concrete has been a crucial building material for thousands of years, but when did it start being used for home foundations? The history of the use of concrete in structures shows how it evolved to become the base for the residential and commercial construction we rely upon today.

Ancient Beginnings of Concrete

 

Concrete has been used since 6500 B.C. Notably, early builders like the Nabataeans and Romans utilized it for structures. Although these civilizations relied on concrete for major projects, they mainly used concrete to build underground cisterns, aqueducts, bridges, harbors, and public baths.

 

Ancient civilizations used concrete in some of their structures on the outside but not in their foundations.

The Rise of Poured Concrete Foundations in the 20th Century

Poured concrete foundations became popular in the early 1900s. In fact, builders began using this method after encountering it in catalogs like Gustav Stickley’s More Craftsman Homes in 1912. This innovative technique, as a result, allowed for strong, one-piece walls that provided superior support for homes. For this reason, homeowners in Salt Lake City, UT, should consider hiring a skilled residential concrete contractor to ensure their home has a durable foundation that lasts for generations.

The Post-WWII Building Boom and Concrete Slab Foundations

After World War II, there was a huge demand for new homes in cities like Salt Lake City. Builders found that concrete foundation contractors could quickly and affordably pour concrete slabs. The slabs were faster and cheaper than wood-framed floors. These monolithic slabs, poured in one go, made construction more efficient. They soon became the standard for residential concrete construction.

Concrete Foundations Today

 

Modern residential concrete foundations are reinforced with steel bars and mesh, providing additional strength against soil shifts and other natural forces. In Salt Lake City, factors like frost heaving can still cause cracks and damage. Innovations like aluminum forms, which are widely used by concrete contractors, ensure precise, uniform pours for the strongest possible foundations.

A concrete contractor is pouring concrete into aluminum forms to make a custom residential home foundation in Lehi, UT, which is a suburb near me of Salt Lake City, UT.

Contact the team at Jeff Dumas Concrete Construction at (801) 938-4001 for a FREE quote on your upcoming project.

We serve all of Utah and parts of Southern Idaho.

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