Whatever the purpose of the structure, the reliability of the foundation always determines its durability. Correctly understanding which foundation for a bath is better is a difficult task for any builder. Especially a lot of trouble is caused by complex soil (peat or heaving).
What factors influence the choice of foundation?
Even in the process of designing the bath , an objective assessment is first of all given to the following factors that could negatively affect the quality of the foundation, if it is chosen incorrectly.
- The depth of freezing of the earth. It depends on the region and is known to all. Bloating occurs in the winter, when groundwater begins to freeze. These signs of heaving can be seen on cracks on nearby asphalt or on mounds on the soil.
- Soil characteristics are usually known if houses are being built nearby and you can ask builders. If it is problematic, the upper layers are cut off until hard layers appear. A reliable remedy for heaving is to deepen the base to the level of freezing with backfill of gravel and sand. The latter is always used, since it helps to balance the loads. Underestimation of heaving can lead to a displacement of the foundation. Even its slight deformation leads to the appearance of cracks on the walls, the displacement of slopes and openings. For normal soil, laying depths from 0.5 m are sufficient.
- Ground water level. Water has a destructive effect on concrete, it is necessary to create a drainage or install the structure on piles.
The foundation for a do-it-yourself bathhouse: which is better
To make the right choice of the basis for the bath, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of each type.
1. Strip foundation
When choosing which foundation for a bath is better, most dwell on this form. It requires little cost, and you can do it yourself. Uniform load and simple construction create a reliable foundation for the construction of small buildings.
For heavy walls, a deepened foundation is made under the bath. Which is better if the house is made of wood? Shallow (50 cm) is more suitable here due to light loads.
The foundation is integral and prefabricated. The first is preferred, since it does not require additional equipment, and the monolithic design has high reliability. A wide selection of materials is possible for the bath:
- reinforced concrete;
- boot;
- concrete;
- brick.
The prefabricated support is laid out on cement mortar from blocks. For the foundation of the bath, masonry made of solid red brick is suitable.
2. Column foundation
If in the first place there are savings and speed of construction, then the pillars come to the fore in the question of which foundation is better for a bath. This option is also widely used to create extensions to the house and erection of outbuildings made of wood and foam concrete. It is best suited for problematic soil.
Piles are lowered to a depth of solid ground. They are more expensive than pillars, but the manufacturing principle is similar. To do this, wells are made, fittings are installed and concrete laying is performed.
A reinforced concrete grillage is made from above, but for lightweight constructions it can be made of timber. To prevent the puffing of the upper layers of the soil from affecting the structure, a gap is created above the ground. It should also provide reliable protection of wood from moisture.
3. Slab foundation
The monolithic reinforced slab perfectly balances loads with uneven ground displacement. At the same time, the foundation itself and the building are not deformed. A leveling layer of sand backfill is created below. It is rarely used for a bath, since it is designed for heavy loads and is the most expensive in terms of material consumption.
4. Base on screw piles
Recently, screw piles installed in a short time are gaining popularity. They do not need preliminary preparation of the territory and drilling of wells, which reduces material and labor costs. But you will have to spend money on the purchase of piles and installation using special equipment. Manual installation is also possible if they enter the ground well. In general, screw piles are a good budget option for building a bath. Installation will take only 1-3 days, after which you can immediately begin construction.
Which is better to make a foundation for a bath. Foundation construction
Each type of foundation requires its own construction technology.
1. Preparation of the site for construction
A building plot is prepared in all cases, with the exception of the screw foundation, where excavation is not carried out. The chernozem is removed by 15 cm, the base is leveled, and marking is done.
2. The order of installation of the strip foundation
When the construction company inflates the prices for the work, the customer begins to think about what is the best way to make a foundation for a bathhouse with your own hands. Tape monolithic base is suitable here due to the ease of manufacture as follows.
- Digging trenches. Their dimensions depend on the state of the soil and the loads.
- Preparation of the basics. Making sand cushions. The layer thickness for a shallow foundation is 300 mm.
- Installation of formwork with a height of at least 50 cm. It is important to make the upper horizontal level even, so that later it is easier to lay out the walls.
- Laying a small concrete layer at the bottom and mounting the lathing from reinforcement. Filling the entire formwork volume.
- Waterproofing the surface of the foundation. The easiest way is to lay it on top with two layers of roofing material.
3. Installation of the column foundation
In order not to think about what is the best foundation for a bath and how to make it, you can immediately stop on the option with pillars as the most famous and simple.
The columnar base is made as follows.
- Calculation of the number of supports (for an average bath - at least 8 pcs. And separately under the inner walls).
- Drilling holes to a depth of at least 1 m.
- Making sand pads 250 mm high.
- Laying out pillars of brick, buta or casting from concrete.
- Check the horizontal level throughout the foundation.
4. Mounting the screw base
To find the foundation for a bathhouse, which is best suited for problem soil, everyone immediately remembers about screw piles. With their use, structures are erected even in swamps. After screwing into the ground on them, you can immediately erect the building as follows.
- Selection of screw piles. Their length should be greater than the freezing depth, but not less than 1.5 m.
- Piles with a length not exceeding 2.5 m can be screwed in manually. 2 people cope with this, and the 3rd should ensure that there is no bias.
- After all the supports are screwed into the ground, the horizontal level is checked by the range finder.
- Concrete mortar is poured inside the metal pillars of piles.
- When the concrete hardens, the heads and the horizontal grillage from the channel connecting the base into a monolithic structure with a uniform load distribution should be welded to the piles.
5. Making grillage for columnar and screw foundations
When deciding what is the best foundation for a bathhouse to choose, one must not forget about the grillage, which is an important part of it. It is also selected based on the features of the structure, costs and professional skills.
Reinforced concrete grillage is the most reliable and profitable base of the building. For its installation will require materials:
- fittings;
- strapping wire;
- concrete mortar;
- panel formwork.
A metal reinforcing mesh with a pitch of 15-30 cm around the entire perimeter of the building is knitted on the installed piles. It is attached to mortgages inserted in holes drilled at the top of the piles, if they are screwed. Also, the reinforcement is introduced into the posts and bandaged with longitudinal whips. With concrete piles, lashing of whips with reinforcement protruding at the ends is done.
The formwork is fully installed and aligned to the top edge. Then concrete is poured: first into the pillars, and then into the formwork. The ends of the piles are inside the monolith.
Lumber grillage is often used for wooden buildings. The material is pre-dried, angular elements are selected and cuts are made for connection with a lock. Then they outline the angles of the future grillage and begin strapping from one of them. The beam is attached with brackets or corners, and to the heads of piles - with bolts.
The channel grill from the channel is made for stone houses, since it can withstand the load well. It is well welded to the ends of screw piles.
Some useful tips
When a foundation is being built for a bathhouse, expert advice is needed here to avoid mistakes.
- The foundation for the furnace in the bath is done separately from the main one, so that their deformations do not affect each other.
- For complex terrain, screw piles are better suited.
- The pillow layer under the foundation is insulated with geotextile from siltation.
- The bathhouse is equipped with a drainage system with collection in an underground tank without a bottom, with the possibility of going into the ground.
Conclusion
The foundation for the bath is not difficult to select due to a wide variety of designs. But there is no single answer to the question of which foundation is better for a bathhouse. The choice of the appropriate type is determined by the features of the structure, soil properties and the capabilities of the builder.