Which statement is generally true regarding footings?

Footings are critical structural components that support foundations and help distribute the weight of a building to prevent settling or shifting. When considering the characteristics of footings, it's essential to understand both their depth and width relative to the foundation wall.

A statement regarding footings being made as deep as the foundation wall is thick emphasizes the principle of providing adequate support. This depth ensures that the load is transferred evenly to the soil beneath, which is foundational in preventing structural issues.

The assertion that the total width of the footing is twice the thickness of the foundation wall reflects standard practices in construction to ensure stability and adequate load-bearing capacity. A wider footing provides increased surface area for load distribution, which is particularly important in various soil conditions.

Together, these practices (with the depth matching the thickness of the wall and the width being twice that of the wall) are grounded in principles of structural engineering that aim to optimize the performance and safety of a building's foundation. Therefore, as both statements reflect typical guidelines followed in construction, the choice indicating that both are true accurately encapsulates the fundamental aspects of footing design.