Hi Chris,
As you probably know, I am an Architect, so for your own safety (and your family's), let me explain some issues
First, the answers of your questions depend of several items, starting with the building codes
The building codes issue is a very complicated subject. As we all know, there is a building code, but each state has its own version / adaptation as well as each county.
An Architect, Engineer, etc must elaborate the interpretation / application of the Building codes, calculation of structures and foundations, etc. Not only for the technical understanding of these issues, but for the liability.
An advice regarding a technical subject (something basic as a code dimension and independent if you are paid for this advice or not) implies liability. And this could be a legal issue if I (or other professional) provide advice about a technical problem
Structures / materials are quite different depending the characteristics of the soil / topography, wind conditions and seismic calculations. Take Florida and California for instance.
The foundations and underground specs are a very delicate subject
The purpose of the foundation is the transmission of the weight of the building to the resistant layer of the soil. In some areas / countries this may be very deep (I did a project in Brazil and we used piles at 40 ft), this is a case of a punctual foundation, a vertical support from skin friction between the surface of the buried pile and the surrounding soil.
However, if you have the same situation but with a seism restriction, you must link the piles with a beam. If your have this type of foundation or a footing or a wall foundation, it is called a linear foundation
At last, if you have a very hard soil (I did a project in Bahamas, where you have stone at 18"), you use a foundation platform, and it is called a pad foundation
There are mixed cases where you have, for example, a deep foundation where rest an isolated pad.
Punch allows several of this types in a way or other(not only the wall set) and this is useful for the estimator, however, they don't appear in liveview
Of course, users must remember that the decision of which foundation is the right one for each case as well as their dimensions is a responsibility of the engineer or the professional assuming the liability of the building
In addition, please read my article "Do I need an Architect?"
http://www.punchhelpers.com/need_arch.html Hope this helps
Patricia
