Foundation blocks allow you to build durable and reliable foundations for various structures. Against the background of monolithic structures, they compare favorably with speed and ease of installation. That is why the foundation blocks became common in single-story and multi-story construction.
If you decide to use this material for the construction of the foundation, then you need to get acquainted with the pros and cons, as well as the features of the technology. Of course, if you use this material, you can’t do without special equipment, because one product can weigh more than 100 kg, but part of the work can be done independently, which will save.
FBS Description
The foundation block is made by the method of forming heavy concrete, which is additionally strengthened by steel reinforcement. The structure and size of the elements allow you to distribute the load from the building to the laid out base. As practice shows, the foundation of FBS blocks, the pros and cons of which will be discussed below, is characterized by higher reliability and strength compared to a concrete monolith. FBS is available in several varieties, among which are:
However, all these products are manufactured using the same technology and are tested. Therefore, the buyer can be sure that he is acquiring quality goods.
The main advantages of the foundation from FBS
The foundation of FBS blocks, the pros and cons of which should be considered before the start of construction, is tape or columnar. A concrete monolith acts as an alternative to FBS, however, the blocks allow you to abandon the construction of formwork, and concrete will not have to set. A positive feature is that the FBS foundation cannot lose its operational characteristics due to weather deterioration. After laying, there is no need to moisten the surface of the foundation, as well as cover it with a film.
FBS passes quality control in the conditions of the plant, its characteristics do not depend on the weather at the time of construction, while the assembly of the structure is faster and easier. The foundation of FBS blocks, the pros and cons of which should be considered by a private developer, allows you to save. With the help of blocks, labor costs can be reduced, therefore, fewer workers will be needed, and construction time is also reduced. Blocks are durable and reliable, they undergo excellent temperature differences, the material is resistant to frost, fire and moisture, and also conducts heat rather poorly.
Cons foundation from FBS
The foundation of FBS blocks, the pros and cons of which are mentioned in the article, differs in that over time, some sections of the structure can subside. This is true when the soil responds to temperature changes. The design is composite, it is assembled from many blocks, so sometimes they behave independently of each other. However, builders learned to cope with this drawback.
And in order to exclude such behavior of products, in the construction of the foundation, sections of tape plates located between the soil and FBS are used. This distributes the pressure of the products over the entire area of the structure.
The foundation for the house of FBS blocks has another drawback, which is expressed in the need to protect the seams. The base needs waterproofing. If fairly large blocks are used, then construction cannot be carried out without special equipment.
FBS foundation strip: manufacturing pillows and laying the first row
The strip foundation of FBS blocks provides for the formation of a pillow in the first stage. First you need to prepare a trench, taking into account the level of freezing, to which 25 cm should be added. A pillow is laid on the bottom, which consists of two layers: 10 cm of crushed stone and 5 cm of sand. In order for all materials to be compacted as efficiently as possible, their surface is poured with water and pressed.
Then a concrete pillow is laid, its thickness should be 2 cm. In this state, the preparation is left to gain strength, then you can start laying the first row.
The foundation device from FBS blocks at the next stage provides for the installation of products. The first row should be laid on a base that will not sag during operation. For this, a concrete slab is usually used, but many builders do not bother with the additional expenses, using blocks that are laid on their side.
As an alternative solution, you can use pillow blocks, which have a slightly different shape - they are flatter. It is necessary to start installation from the corners, the products must dock as tightly as possible. Seams are smeared with a cement mixture. The first row must be checked for horizontal.
Laying the following rows
Installation of the following rows is carried out according to the principle of brickwork. The vertical seam of the block should coincide with the central part of the product from the bottom row. The extreme blocks in the corners should be laid with overlap. Seams are covered with cement. It is necessary to monitor the vertical and horizontal level of the masonry. First, the external walls are completed, after which you can start laying the internal ones.
Features of mounting blocks
FBS blocks, the price of which is 730 rubles. apiece, usually stacked using a crane. As a solution, a mixture of the M-100 brand should be used. The laying of one product takes about 15 liters of composition. For orientation, it is necessary to pull a rope between the corners to make it easier to expose the blocks horizontally.
To strengthen the base structure, a reinforced concrete belt is cast in the upper row, the thickness of which varies from 200 to 300 mm. For reinforcement, 10 mm reinforcement can be used. In this next step, floor slabs will be laid on this belt. Some builders dispute the need for using an arm belt, arguing that the products described in the article are fairly evenly able to distribute loads, it is only important to lay them down correctly. But in practice, it becomes clear that the armor belt device is not recommended to be ignored, it definitely will not get worse from it.
The design is being built according to a certain technology. It provides for the installation of formwork around the perimeter of the foundation walls, as well as the laying of the reinforcing mesh in the formwork. At the final stage, concrete is poured. On this we can assume that the foundation is ready. The technology is rather laborious, but not complicated. If you follow the instructions, you will get a solid, reliable and safe base, which is relatively inexpensive.
Waterproofing device
Waterproofing the foundation of FBS blocks is an obligatory step. To do this, you can use liquid mastic. She smeared the outer and inner walls of the base. In those regions where precipitation is frequent and generous, an additional layer of roofing material should be laid, which will improve the quality of waterproofing work.
Conclusion
FBS blocks, the price of which differs depending on the size, are an ideal option for foundation construction. The weight of one product is 80 kg, this is true if the dimensions are equal to 280x300x279 mm. The cost of the block increases to 910 rubles if its dimensions are 380x300x580 mm. In this case, the weight of one product will be equal to 100 kg.