Footings are an important part of foundation construction. They are typically made of concrete with rebar reinforcement that has been poured into an excavated trench. The purpose of footings is to support the foundation and prevent settling. Footings are especially important in areas with troublesome soils.
Under every house is a foundation, and under most foundations are footings. Most of the time we take footings for granted, and usually we can: For typical soils, a common 16- or 20-inch-wide footing can more than handle the relatively light weight of an ordinary house.
Poured concrete has high compressive strength, meaning it resists breaking, cracking, or crumbling under the weight of the building materials above it.
Foundations made from poured concrete don't have joints that could allow pooling rainwater around the structure to seep through, which prevents indoor flooding and property damage.
Since concrete is more resilient, you won't have to worry as much about paying for potentially expensive repairs.
