For the construction of the foundation, heaving soils are a certain problem, which involves taking into account the force of impact, mass and the expected load. This primarily refers to clay, silty and fine-grained soil. In winter, the water in the soil layers freezes and swells, and the process is uneven. In this regard, the settlement of the structure may pose a certain threat, leading to deformations in the supporting structures. In this case, it is very important to properly lay the foundation. The properties of the soil directly affect it, so they should be considered first.
First, the
type of foundation is selected
that can ensure the reliability of the entire structure. Where there is heaving soil, if a columnar base is chosen for a large-sized building, then you need to lay it below the depth of freezing of the soil. For private buildings, this option is not suitable, since the heaving force is able to squeeze out the foundation, the load of which is much lower. In private construction, as a rule, shallow and shallowly foundation bases are made of columns.
As for the strip foundation, it is also allowed to install on heaving soils. However, shallow options are allowed to be used only when the
depth of soil freezing does not exceed 1.7 meters. Depending on the heaving of the soil, the type of strip foundation is selected. On lands with poor mobility,
concrete blocks can be used without a rigid connection. However, in other cases, a
rigid coupling or
monolithic reinforced concrete is required
. Pile-based structures are not widely used in individual construction, as they involve the use of special equipment.
What actions can be performed if there are heaving soils on the site? The most radical option is to dig a pit, the depth of which will exceed the level of freezing of the earth. Subsequently, it is filled up with compacted sand, which acts as an excellent foundation for the foundation. This method can be considered the most reliable, but in this case, the financial costs will be very serious, which is primarily due to the large amount of work.
Another technique that can positively affect heaving soils is insulation. This is especially true when erecting light, shallow structures. By laying insulating material on the ground around the perimeter of the foundation, freezing of this soil can be avoided. The width of the insulation should correspond to the depth of freezing. As for the thickness of the insulation, it is selected individually. You can also try to divert water from the house: if it is not there, then there will be no swelling of the soil. To implement this idea, a drainage system is created that can provide high-quality drainage. Thus, the water from the soil will go to the side, without exerting a negative effect on the soil.