A basement footing is the footing supporting a basement foundation wall, typically placed at the deepest point of the excavation, well below the frost line, to provide stable support for the full-height wall and everything above it.
Because basement footings sit deeper than footings for shallower foundation types, they’re often subject to more careful soil verification given the additional excavation involved.
What Does a Basement Footing Involve?
- Placement at the base of the basement excavation
- Sizing calculated for the full weight of the structure above
- Reinforcing steel and adequate concrete cover
- A footing drain positioned alongside it
Why Are Basement Footings Important?
Because a basement footing supports a taller foundation wall and everything built above it, including multiple stories in many homes, its sizing and soil verification carry more consequence than a shallower footing supporting a single-story structure with less height in the wall above it. Getting the footing depth and soil bearing verification right at this stage is essential, since any inadequacy here affects everything constructed on top of it for the life of the building.
Basement footings are also inspected with particular care given how much excavation and cost would be involved in correcting a problem discovered after the basement wall and floor above are already complete. Given how much excavation this footing type requires, contractors often coordinate closely with a geotechnical engineer throughout the excavation process rather than relying solely on the original soil report. This extra scrutiny reflects just how much is riding on getting this particular footing right the first time. Getting it right the first time avoids consequences that would otherwise last the life of the building.
Basement Footing vs. Foundation Footing
Foundation footing is the general term applicable to any foundation type. Basement footing specifically describes the footing supporting a full basement foundation wall, typically deeper and more heavily loaded than footings for shallower foundation types.