6 Types of Footings Used in Construction (With Guide)

Footings in construction are an important part of any building project, providing support to the foundation of the building and helping to ensure the structure is stable and secure.

They are designed to distribute the weight of the building evenly and to reduce the risk of damage caused by shifting soil and movement. There are many kinds of footing types available depending on how you want your construction to look.

In this guide, we cover what you might need for your projects.

What Are Footings in Construction?

Footings are the structural base that sits between a building's foundation walls and the ground beneath them. Made of reinforced concrete, they spread the weight of the structure across a wider area of soil to prevent settling, shifting, or structural failure. Every load-bearing wall and column requires a footing sized to match the soil's bearing capacity and the loads above.

In Ontario, the Building Code requires footings to be placed below the frost line — roughly 1.2 metres (4 feet) deep in the Greater Toronto Area. This prevents frost heave from pushing the foundation upward during freeze-thaw cycles. Soil conditions across the GTA vary widely, from dense clay in Scarborough and Etobicoke to sandy or silty ground near the lakeshore, so footing design must account for local conditions.

1) Individual Footing

Individual footing is a type of footing commonly used in construction which is designed to support a single column or load-bearing wall. It is one of the most common types of footing as it is a relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive foundation construction method.

Individual footing is also known as a spread footing, as it is constructed by spreading the weight from the load-bearing structure across a wide area of the soil.

This type of footing is typically made from reinforced concrete and is poured and reinforced with steel bars. Individual footings are usually rectangular in shape, with a deep base to ensure a secure foundation.

2) Strip Footing

Strip footing is a kind of footing used for shallow foundations that is suitable for buildings with low load-bearing capacity and light structure. This type of footing is also called wall footing and consists of a continuous, rectangular strip of concrete that is used to support an entire wall.

It is usually constructed with dimensions that are the same as the wall’s width and thickness and is laid directly on the soil.

The main advantage of strip footing is its simplicity; it is easy to construct and requires no formwork or shuttering. It is also suitable for shallow foundations as it will not be affected by the presence of water. Additionally, strip footing is relatively inexpensive compared to other footing types.

3) Raft or Mat Footing

Raft footing is a type of foundation that is constructed by extending the foundation in all directions below ground level, resulting in a large slab-like structure.

It is one of the most popular and cost-effective foundation systems used in modern construction as it can span large areas, reduce the number of individual footings required, and reduce the amount of excavation and concrete work.

Mat footing is similar to raft footing, but instead of having all of the foundations below the ground level, it is partially above ground level. Mat footing is often used for large buildings, such as bridges, and is designed to spread out the load over a large area.

4) Combined Footing

A combined footing is a type of footing used when two or more columns are so close to each other that they cannot be supported by individual footings. It is a large reinforced concrete slab that supports two or more columns and distributes their load over a large area.

This type of footing is very useful in cases where the columns are placed close together and the load is large. It also allows the columns to be spaced further apart than individual footings would allow, which can save space and material.

5) Pile Footing

Pile footings transfer building loads through weak or compressible soil layers down to stronger bearing strata deep underground. Steel, concrete, or timber piles are driven or drilled into the ground, sometimes 15 metres or more, until they reach bedrock or a dense soil layer with adequate bearing capacity.

This type of footing is common in areas with high water tables, soft clay, or fill material that cannot support shallow foundations. In parts of the GTA — particularly along the waterfront and in areas with deep deposits of glacial till — pile foundations are sometimes necessary for mid-rise or heavy structures where shallow footings would not provide enough support.

6) Step Footing

Step footings are used on sloped sites where the building must follow the natural grade of the land. Instead of one continuous level footing, the concrete is poured in a series of steps that follow the slope downhill. Each step maintains the required depth below grade while keeping the footing below the frost line at every point.

Step footings are especially relevant for hillside custom homes and walkout basements. The formwork is more complex than standard strip footings because each step must be level, properly reinforced, and tied into the next section with continuous rebar. Accurate layout and bracing are critical to prevent blowouts during the concrete pour.

Conclusion

Footings are one of the most critical structural elements in any building project. The type of footing your project needs depends on soil conditions, structural loads, slope, and local building code requirements. Getting the footing design right prevents costly problems like foundation cracking, settling, and structural movement down the road.

Konstruction Group provides professional footings framing and foundation formwork services across Toronto and the GTA. Our crews build the forms that shape your footings before concrete is poured — accurate, properly braced, and ready for inspection. Contact us for a free quote on your next project.