AFAIK its the foot print size of the concrete slab.

But the LxW dimension is only part of the story. The Footing should have a minimum Thickness or Depth and should have the right amount and type of steel re-enforcing bars.

Your Builder is party right, size can be less (or more) depending on the soil type. But Only an expert can tell you correctly after taking a soil sample. Contractor just scratch the soil with his boot toe and say "3x3 cause you have hard soil" is not the correct way.

Difference Area is a lot. 3x3=9sqft while 5 x 5 = 25sqft. so If contractor only use 3x3 he use 1/3 the amount of concrete ans he save alot in cost and can give cheaper quote, which probably also make you happy. But what happens in 5yrs time when you have soil movements and the walls are cracking cause the footing was too small?

Cheers

That is bad advice, how did you come up with "Normally 2ft x 2ft is adequate" are you an Engineer and calculated it or have you ever referred to the Building Codes? I think not.

Don't give your tidak ada opinion and present it as sound advice. It is misleading to people that might foolishly follow your advice.

Cheers

NOT TRUE!

The original developer would have had to lodge construction plans INCLUDING SOIL SAMPLE REPORTS to the local authorities. The Engineer doing the calculations for the renovations can easily refer to these soil tests and then apply the appropriate calculations to come up with the correct footing size.

Don't cut corners or follow most contractors tidak apa attitude, if you do uyou will be one of the many that come to this forum to post pictures of their problems and ask for help/advice to solve the problems.

Sorry, I very much disagree with this approach. it is definitely NOT "definite"

Simply adding 1 foot to the original footing is not going give you the correct footing size for a double story extension. The loads that will be supported by that column and its footing should be properly calculated and then required footing size can be determined taking into account the loads and the soil type. There is no other correct or "definite" way to do it.

Cheers

YES YES YES, we have a winner, this is the correct way.

OMG dont know there were "suspicious Engineers" lurking around Malaysia to attack their helpless victims.

Please also look out for and avoid all the "Suspicious Doctors", Suspicious Pharmacists", "Suspicious Accountants"

PMSL

Seriously, Engineers have studied their profession for a minimum of 4 yrs and are accountable and liable for the technical advice they give. eg if the house collapses due to their negligence or incompetence they are held personally liable for the material damages and they can be found guilty of manslaughter if there are any casualties.

An Engineer acting in the capacity of a consultant must be Chartered/registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia or an equivalent such Engineering Society/Association that regulates its members (eg Institute of Engineers Australia).

Chartered Engineers must maintain their rating by completing a prescribed amount of Professional Development each year.

Engineering is serious business conducted by trained serious professionals that are held accountable for their advice by their Professional Body, the Govt and the Courts. Engineering is not something to be performed by a bunch of "Indon labourers" that don't know the folly of their half-baked "engineering advice".

Also AFAIK it is not expensive to engage an appropriate Structural/Civil Engineer to do the necessary minor calcs of footing, column, beam and slab specs that you would need for a 2nd storey extension. In any case I believe you can't/shouldn't get local authority approval for such an extesion without such Engineers calcs and drawings.

BTW I am hold the appropriate Engineer qualifications and Chartered status in Mechanical, Industrial, Structural and Aerospace Engineering. Though not holding any formal qualifications in Civil Engineering, I have also studied enough of Civil engineering to know what I'm talking about on the subject of footings.


Cheers

I know this thread has deteriorated into a ego battle between you and Platinum_12. But I think its inappropriate to pick on someones spelling (especially an engineers as we are famous for poor spelling & grammar) since from Platinum_12's postings its pretty obvious that English is likely his 2nd or 3rd language.

I find people in Malaysia are far too quick to jump on others poor English, when in most cases its not their first language. I wish I could speak and write Malayu and Mandarin, Cantonese even 1/2 as well as Platinum_12 communicates in English.

Cheers

Yes I know only too well about the "real World" here in Malaysia and the "Tidak Apa" attitude of far to many people.

Yes, you can get an indon laborour to do your engineering consulting for you and specify all your footing, beam and column sizes if you wish, many of those houses wont fall down, but its likely most of them will develop at least some minor or major structural during their lifetime. But every so often you will get a house that falls down and possibly kills someone.

I recall there was a case in Bangsar during the last 12 months where a renovation work collapsed and killed 1 or 2 of the workers.


Here are just a few Malaysian construction disasters due to "tidak apa" attitudes about following the correct procedures.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013...e-not-mall.aspx

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/01/re...orkers-injured/

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysi...al-works-charge

http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/artic...ouse-in-cheras/

http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/1-kil...llapse-1.159099

Anyway feel free to use your "cut corners" approach on your house renovations. but please don't encourage others with an air of authority and without warning them of the very serious possible consequences.

Also if you ever try to sell your renovated properties please give full disclosure (as required by law) and inform the potential buyers that you didn't follow the correct procedures and you cut many corners while doing your renovations and it is unlikely that the renovations meet the minimum requirements of the building codes. Then tell them not to worry its "tidak apa".

Cheers