What is one key characteristic of a shallow foundation?

A shallow foundation is characterized by its placement at or near the ground level, typically extending only a few feet into the subsoil, making it ideal for supporting structures where the loads are relatively light and the soil conditions are favorable. By being cast at soil grade level, shallow foundations take advantage of soil's bearing capacity close to the surface, which helps provide stability to the structure above. This design approach is often used for residential buildings and smaller structures.

In contrast, a deep foundation would extend much deeper into the soil, which is not a characteristic of shallow foundations. Similarly, while some shallow foundations can support moderate loads, they are generally not designed for heavy loads that would necessitate a deep foundation. Extensive reinforcement is more commonly associated with either deep foundations or larger structures where high load factors are involved, rather than typical shallow foundations.