The foundation is the foundation of any home. The durability of the future building, as well as its operational characteristics, will depend on its quality. There are several types of foundations: strip, columnar, slab and pile. Regardless of what type will be chosen for the construction of the building, the most important thing is to properly prepare the concrete mixture.
Any mortar for the foundation consists primarily of cement, sand, gravel and water. In special cases, various plasticizers are added to the mixture. Most often it is lime or clay. The brand of cement is chosen based on what type of soil the house will be built on, in addition, the level of
groundwater occurrence is also taken into account
. The quality of the mixture ultimately also depends on how correctly selected sand and the size of the gravel fractions.
A solution for the foundation is most often made of cement of the M300-400 brand. When using the first, the proportion of cement / sand / gravel is 1/3/5. When using cement grade M400, it is permissible to add four parts of sand to the mixture. However, this is only if the soil on the site is dry and has good bearing capacity. For clay moist soils during construction on slopes, quicksand, etc., it is best to use cement grade M500.
As for sand, coarse river grains are usually chosen for the foundation. At the same time, it is imperative to ensure that it does not contain any organic impurities, as well as clay. The foundation solution should include only well-sifted sand. In no case should you use slag instead. The fact is that cinderblock absorbs moisture very strongly. In a house with such a foundation there will be constant dampness.
Concrete for a strip foundation, as for all others, usually contains five parts of crushed stone or gravel. Sometimes, private developers also use rubble stone. In the latter case, you can save a significant amount of money. In this case, the solution is diluted in the ratio of cement / sand: 1/3. First concrete is laid at the bottom of the pit, then a rubble stone of medium size. This is done in such a way that the distance between the individual elements is at least 2-3 cm. After this, the next layer of solution is poured with tamping. Then again a stone, etc.
Some private house builders use an even cheaper mortar for the foundation during construction - soil cement. In this case, instead of sand, suspensions, loam or loess are taken. In addition to cheapness, such a foundation has another advantage - over time, its strength properties increase quite significantly. The proportions of the mixture in this case are usually used the same as when using sand.
Many developers order ready-mixed concrete in construction organizations. Such a solution does not cost much more than the dry components necessary for its preparation at home. At the same time, it is not necessary to spend time and effort on a rather labor-intensive operation for its independent kneading. In addition, much better concrete can be obtained. The solution, the delivery of which is usually carried out quite quickly, is prepared in this case on professional equipment, and therefore has the best characteristics. It is transported in special machines with concrete mixers.