At Central Foundations Canterbury, we specialise in providing strong, reliable foundation and concrete floor installation tailored to your needs. From conventional concrete slabs to advanced RibRaft floors, our comprehensive services include earthworks, formwork, and the precise pouring and placement of foundations, ensuring stability and durability.
Our team of highly skilled professionals ensures that every foundation we lay is strong, durable, and secure. With years of experience, our skilled concrete foundation contractors know what it takes to build foundations that last.
Contact the concrete specialists at Central Foundations Canterbury for high-quality craftsmanship on your building project. We work with clients across the wider Christchurch area.
Choose innovative RibRaft foundations for your next build
RibRaft foundations provide an innovative alternative to traditional concrete slabs and are gaining popularity in New Zealand construction projects. The RibRaft system involves laying polystyrene pods, plastic spacers, and steel reinforcing rods before pouring a specially mixed concrete. This method allows the foundation to rest on top of the ground, rather than being embedded in it. Key advantages include:
- Faster installation: The modular design of RibRaft floors speeds up the installation process, potentially cutting down on construction time and labour expenses.
- Cleaner construction: Since RibRaft foundations are built above ground, less excavation is required, reducing waste and minimizing the need to remove soil.
- Enhanced thermal insulation: RibRaft floors offer superior insulation from the ground, helping to lower energy usage.
- Seismic resilience: RibRaft foundations are less affected by ground movements during earthquakes, as they sit on top of the soil rather than within it.
In addition to standard RibRaft floors, we offer TC2 RibRaft Floors, which are specifically engineered for sites where there is a risk of minor to moderate land damage due to liquefaction in future significant earthquakes.
Our team are capable of laying a range of foundation types including traditional concrete slabs
Our team is equipped to lay a range of foundation types and can advise on the best option for your terrain and building project. Foundation options include:- traditional concrete slab foundations which are poured directly onto the ground
- thickened edge foundations, which provide extra edge strength for increased durability
- block ring foundations, offering robust stability for a range of building types
- stepped floors, ideal for sites with varying elevations
Expert groundwork services to ensure your site is ready for foundations
Laying foundations on secure, level ground is crucial. To make sure the ground is ready, we offer earthworks services, including site clearance, excavation and soil compaction and site levelling. This is especially important for RibRaft foundations which need to sit on level ground. When needed, we collaborate with trusted subcontractors to get the job done right.
After the site is prepared, we'll handle the profiling and formwork for the foundation before pouring the concrete. And when your build is complete, talk to us about returning to finish off the project with a top-quality concrete driveway.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Concrete foundations are strong, fire-resistant, and resistant to decay. They offer excellent load-bearing capacity and, when designed properly, can provide thermal insulation.
With proper care, concrete foundations can last over 100 years. However, factors like environmental conditions and construction quality can affect their longevity.
While concrete sets in a few hours, it takes around 28 days to reach full strength. However, most foundations are strong enough for construction to continue after 7 days.
Concrete foundations require minimal maintenance, but it’s important to ensure proper drainage, seal any cracks to prevent water infiltration, and regularly inspect for signs of shifting or settling.
Small hairline cracks are normal as concrete cures. However, larger cracks, especially those that expand over time, may signal structural issues or foundation movement and should be inspected by a professional.