Abstract: The interface properties between some lateritic soils within the Ife region in southwestern Nigeria and some common foundation materials (namely concrete, steel and wood) were investigated by the direct shear test method employing the shear box apparatus adapted specifically for that purpose. The values obtained were compared with the shear strength characteristics (cohesion and angle of internal friction) of the soils. The angles of interface frictions between the lateritic soils and concrete, steel and wood ranged from 24.6 and 41.2 , 17.5 and 34.0 and 12.0 and 16.0 , respectively, while the adhesion between the lateritic soils and concrete, steel and wood ranged from 15.8 and 30.2 kPa, 11.2 and 18.5 kPa and 7.5 and 10.8 kPa, respectively. The angles of internal friction and cohesion of the soils ranged between 29.1 and 40.7 and 23.7 and 32.3 kPa, respectively.