The foundation, as everyone knows, is the underground part of the house, bearing the load from all its structures. In the construction of private houses, several types of foundations are used. This can be a columnar, tape, slab or pile option.
The most acceptable is usually the installation of a strip foundation. This type is distinguished by the optimal combination of high reliability, ease of construction and low cost. Such a base can be used on almost all types of soils, except for very wet and prone to shifts.
I must say that the installation of the strip foundation is a fairly simple process. This is a continuous strip of brick, stone or concrete, passing under the building along its entire perimeter. A prefabricated strip foundation from finished blocks is also used.
The brick foundation will not cost too cheap. The base of the finished blocks is arranged very quickly, but this is a rather expensive option. Therefore, the construction of a monolithic is usually the most acceptable solution.
Preliminary conduct geodetic surveys. Based on the research, some features of the construction technology, the depth of the foundation, and other parameters are determined.
The installation of a strip monolithic foundation also involves preliminary preparation of the site and careful marking. Marking is carried out using pegs and twine. Pegs are driven into all corners of the future building, then twine is pulled between them. All corners should be perfectly straight and the opposite sides parallel and of equal length. Both the inner and outer perimeters of the future concrete strip are noted.
Begin the installation of the strip foundation with digging the pit.
Its depth may depend on many factors. Usually it is about 50-70 cm. The bottom is leveled and a sand pillow is laid on it. The thickness of the sand cushion should be 12-20 cm. After that, the formwork is mounted. For it,
wooden shields and struts are used.
Simultaneously with the formwork, fittings are installed. Typically, the rods are mounted in two rows and fastened with horizontal rods. It is best not to use welded reinforcement, but to tie the rods with a special wire. The device of the strip foundation with such reinforcement reduces the likelihood of its corrosion, and, therefore, increases its service life.
Concrete is poured into small layers, approximately 15 cm. Each layer is tamped. Sometimes the construction of strip foundations involves the addition of rubble stone in concrete. In this case, the layers are stacked alternately. First, a layer of concrete, then stone, then again a layer of concrete.
Finish the device of the strip foundation with waterproofing works. After the concrete strip has stood one and a half weeks, the formwork can be dismantled. As a waterproofing material , bitumen mastic and roofing material are used. Mastic cover the outer walls of the tape and glue ruberoid on it. Do the same on the top of the foundation. Then you need to fill up the gaps between the walls of the tape and the pit. They are sprinkled with sand, in small layers, which are tamped with water. The foundation is ready.