Precautions to be taken :-

• Foundation should be placed at a depth where the cracks cease to extend. The minimum depth of foundation should be at least 1.5 m.

• The main wall of the building must be provided with all round reinforced concrete ties or bands.

• Reinforced concrete ties or bands having 10 to 15 cm deep should be placed at plinth level, lintel level and eaves level.

• In case the depth of black cotton soil is only 1 m to 1.5 m, then completely remove the entire black cotton soil and place the foundation below that depth.

• Try to avoid direct contact of black cotton soil with foundation material. This can be achieved by making wider trenches for foundation and filling spaces on either side of the foundation masonry with sand.

• Ram the bed of the foundation trench to make it farm and hard. On this rammed bed, spread a thick layer of sand (i.e. 30 cm) in two layers, each layer being 15 cm. each layer should be water and rammed properly to get highest possible density. On this compacted layer of sand, place either sand or stone up to desired height where concrete foundation bed has to be made.

• In case of important structures, raft foundation should be provided.

• Construction should be done in dry season.