A house without a foundation: types of foundations and methods of construction

As a rule, all houses and other structures are installed on the foundation, he has a lot of varieties. The most popular are pile, tape and slab. These are the bases that can withstand significant loads, but they can be used in certain conditions. For example, the tape type of the base cannot be used with a large difference in height on the site. But the pile foundation can be used even on unstable soils. Let's look at the features of building a house without a foundation in this article. This may not be very usual, but the foundation can not be equipped during construction.

What makes the foundation

Let's first look at what allows you to provide any foundation, no matter what its design:

1. With the help of the foundation, it is possible to ensure the most uniform pressure of the building on the ground.
2. You can also prevent moisture from entering the house.
3. The lower floors and walls of the structure are not destroyed and do not rot.
4. Ground vibrations using the foundation can be stabilized as much as possible.

Building a foundation is the most expensive step in building a house. Therefore, some homeowners are wondering if it is possible to make a wooden house without a foundation. After all, it would seem that the structure has a small mass, therefore, the effect on the soil will be minimal.

Foundation function

The usual foundation is able to accurately distribute the load on the ground, it does not allow distortion and subsidence of the house. And therefore, if you have a desire to get rid of the foundation, you need to make the construction of the house as correctly as possible. So that the entire load that he will create on the ground is uniform. It is also necessary that the soil can withstand the mass of the house. For example, you can use such houses without a foundation, such as cabins or wagons.

Frame technology application

It is worth noting that it is possible to erect buildings without a foundation, if they have a sufficiently low mass. A good example is a house assembled using frame technology. Judging by statistics, around 70% of all residential buildings around the world are built using this technology. The structure is assembled from the frame, inside it is filled with insulation material, for this reason the whole house is very light and does not create a high load on the ground.

It is also worth noting that relatively recently, Japanese scientists have developed completely new house designs that differ from their frame technology in their simplicity. Houses are built in just a couple of hours, as the main material is polystyrene. Dome structures are erected in two to three hours, then all joints are carefully sealed, external and internal decoration is carried out. Therefore, it seems that the house is built of more durable materials.

But this is true for Japan, where there is a high seismic hazard. After all, such structures are able to withstand strong fluctuations of the earth's surface. But in our article we will look at how to build a frame house without a foundation. How to fill in the tape and pile will not be considered.

The main features of frame structures

It is worth noting one important feature of buildings that are assembled using frame technologies. It is extremely important when designing to provide for additional structural reinforcements. It is possible that heaving soil will affect the house, this is especially true at high temperature extremes.

But, despite this, strengthening the frame of the house will cost you much cheaper than building even the cheapest foundation. And now let's look at alternatives for foundations that are used actively in the construction of houses and other structures.

Application of car tires

In order to build a small frame house, you can use simple tires for cars. It is necessary to lay a beam on them for dressing. Such material is the most affordable and cheap; it can last quite a long time. In order to equip the base for the frame house, you need to pour sand into the tires at about 3/4 height. From time to time it will need to be watered and compacted.

After that, fill the tires to the brim with gravel. As a result of the work done, you will get a good alternative to the usual foundation. Here's how to make a house without a foundation - just put a few tires. At the base there are such advantages:

1. The foundation has very good cushioning properties. You can protect the entire house from seasonal swelling of the soil.
2. By erecting such a foundation, you will not violate the general environmental friendliness of the entire building.
3. On what basis will you get a very stable structure. Judging by the reviews of people who chose just such a foundation for construction, it can be concluded that the distortions of the walls are completely absent, door and window openings are also stable.
4. The cost of building such a base is very low, tires can be found for free at any tire fitting.
5. Installation is very simple, as is the device, so this foundation has earned popularity among builders.

Such a foundation shows itself very well in the construction of a sauna or bathhouse, hozblokov, arbors, and other buildings.

Boulder Building

When building houses in mountainous areas or in areas where rocky soil predominates, it is very difficult to build a simple foundation. Therefore, boulders (stones) are used instead. Houses that are installed on such stones have very high stability. And the stone foundation has all the advantages of a conventional foundation. In addition, there is almost no financial investment in the construction of such a foundation.

During the construction it is necessary to put large stones in the corners of the future structure. It is also necessary to install several along the long walls of the structure. Along the perimeter of the building, you need to equip the filling with ventilation openings. It is made of wood, after which you need to fill it with soil. Houses made using this technology can stand for many years. It is worth noting the fact that the lower ceiling practically does not decay, and does not lose its strength even after several decades.

Ground construction

In the event that the soil is solid, not loose, then the building can be put directly on the ground. In order to prepare it, you will need to remove the upper fertile layer of earth. Instead, you need to fill up a layer of clay. It will perform the function of a waterproofing material. The frame structure can be installed directly on the clay layer. That's all, there is nothing complicated in construction, only you need to fix the entire structure so that the house does not slide down during rains or bad weather. And, of course, you need to insulate the house without a foundation. Nowhere without this stage.

Soil base

Blocks made of soil have been used for construction for a very long time. Nowadays, many builders also often use a similar method. In order to make a block of soil, you must first make a form. A certain amount of soil is laid in it, which is most compacted. Many people wonder if it is necessary to insulate the foundation of a house without a basement. Of course, it is necessary, since the cold will begin to enter the house through the weakest points.

After this, you need to remove the form, allow the block to dry completely. For the manufacture of the base will require the presence of several blocks. They need to be laid around the entire perimeter of the future structure. And on top of these soil blocks you need to install a frame structure.

Using brickwork as a foundation

In case you ventured to build a small house without a foundation, you should carefully study the soil. Many builders are sure that there is no need to fill the foundation if the soil consists mainly of clay. There is also a second condition, which states that groundwater should be as far from the surface as possible.

If these conditions are met, then you can make brickwork of high quality material. But note that at the base of the masonry should have a thickness of about 1.4 m. At the level of the first floor, the thickness of the masonry can be reduced by about half.

Use of foundation pit

This is a rather unique way to build a house without using the classic type of foundation. It is necessary to dig a pit about 1 m deep. After that, fill it with rubble and stones of the largest possible fraction. You can also add river sand diluted in water. At the top of the pit, lay brick or stones to a height of 20 cm from the top of the soil.

After that, fill everything with a cement solution. On top of the masonry, you can install a frame house. Houses that are installed on the basis of the foundation pit are not covered by cracks, do not sit down, even if several decades have passed after construction.

DIY home construction

A small frame house is a quick-built and lightweight construction. Therefore, everyone can build it independently without using a foundation. But let's look at the detailed instructions that will allow you to build a house with your own hands:

1. First you need to decide what the foundation of the building will be. It is recommended to place the house on a hill. And it is absolutely necessary to develop a drainage system that will allow precipitation to be diverted from the house.
2. All structural elements - floor, walls, can be made of the same material. For the construction of walls, edged boards of 150x25 mm can be used. In the event that you plan to make thin walls, keep in mind that they will not be able to retain heat in the room. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the presence of insulation.
3. The main part of the prefabricated structure is a lightweight wooden frame. It should be made of vertical and horizontal harnesses, all voids must be filled with insulation having a low degree of thermal conductivity.
4. The base platform of the frame structure is its floor. First you need to use an unedged board, as it is very cheap. With its help you make the so-called draft floor.
5. The next stage is the laying of transverse logs. The space between them also needs to be filled with insulation. After carrying out all work on these logs, floorboards will be laid. This is how the foundation of the house is built without a basement.
6. At the bottom, under the timber, it is necessary to lay the roofing material, treat all the wood with impregnations that prevent moisture absorption.
7. Indicate the exact location of the walls relative to the floor.
8. Fasten the bars with anchor bolts 2 meters apart. Using the level, set the geometry of the entire structure correctly. More than 10 mm diagonal angles are not allowed.
9. Now assemble the frame of the future wall. Assembly should be done on a flat and dry surface to prevent skewing. First you need to prepare the boards, they must have the same size. It is the size of these boards that will affect the height of the ceilings. As a rule, for private houses, the height is about 2.75 m. Please note that you do not need to make ceilings less than 2.4 m. In this case, it will put pressure on you, as a result of which you will feel discomfort.
10. If you decide to equip the second floor or the attic, you need to make slanting ceilings. In addition, you have to install windows in the roof. They can give the room a sufficient amount of light, as well as increase the visual space.
11. Assembly of the frame can begin with the manufacture of vertical partitions. There should be a distance of 40-60 cm between the beams. The width between the boards should be selected based on what material will be used for cladding. If siding is used, it is necessary to maintain a distance between boards of 20-30 cm. When using chipboard or a pseudo-beam, the distance should be 35-60 cm. It is worth noting that siding, which is used for cladding buildings, is durable and practical. During operation, there is no need to treat it with impregnations or varnishes, as is the case with wood.

To give the building an individual look, you can veneer it with various finishing materials that can be found on the market. When assembling the walls, be sure to provide for windows. Please note that they must occupy more than 18% of the wall area. Only in this case you can provide maximum comfort in the house. It is recommended to use double-glazed windows as windows.

All walls from the inside should preferably be covered with plasterboard. This is a universal material that makes walls even. any coating can be applied to it. But it is necessary to lay all communications inside the walls. Therefore, first perform work on laying communications, and then you can veneer the inner surface. And the last stage is the laying of roofing material. To lighten the roof, it can be made of tiles or ondulin.