For constructing new buildings on ground of poor loadbearing capacity (where traditional foundations would cause an unacceptable amount of settlement) compensated foundations can be constructed using Laterlite Expanded Clay, which is sufficiently strong to support the whole load of the building.
A compensated foundation consists of replacing a volume of the ground below the foundations with an equivalent volume of expanded clay (which has a much lower density) thereby reducing the weight and partly or wholly compensating for the loads imposed by the new building.
Advantages
Insulation in contact with the ground
Incorporating a layer of expanded clay below the base structures of a building, tank, or swimming pool (the base slab and foundations) provides an extremely durable, stable, robust layer of thermal insulation that is free of interruptions, is easy to spread. If special Laterlite Plus hydrophobic expanded clay is used, this provides effective additional control of rising damp.
Advantages