The basement is in almost every private house. As a rule, it stores fresh crops and pickles, as well as unnecessary things. In addition, it is often rebuilt into a living room.
Types of basements
Basements in a private house can be of very different purposes, in accordance with which, the underground is divided into several types.
- Cellar. Its functions include the storage of vegetables and fruits, as well as homemade preparations for the winter period.
- Utility room. It is good to place engineering structures in it, such as water heaters, boilers, filters. This makes it possible to remove bulky appliances from the bathroom or kitchen, and usefully usable area.
- Ground floor. Ideal for creating a billiard room, gym or office in the basement.
- Workshop. Such a basement in a private house will be just a salvation for fans to craft something with their own hands. If desired, the room can be divided into two parts: a workshop and a warehouse where tools will be stored.
- Basement garage. This is the most popular option. However, it should be remembered that the main condition during construction is to make a convenient entry. Such basements in a private house should be spacious enough, as they will not only store cars, but also carry out minor repairs if necessary.
Basement construction
If the basement in a private house is planned for technical use, the height of its walls should be in the range of 1.8-2.2 m. For a residential basement, the optimal height is 2.5 m.
The order of execution of work depends on groundwater. If they are located close enough, then, first of all, form the floor. If they are absent then building walls can begin.
How is the floor made?
The floor in the basement of a private house is as follows. They dig a hole that has a wide margin for formwork, form a sand cushion with the addition of crushed stone. Next, formwork is arranged, waterproofing is laid, followed by reinforcement and poured with concrete.
If the walls were first built, the sand cushion is simply poured with concrete mortar. Between the walls lay a layer of waterproofing. In this case, formwork is not needed. The main thing here is to dig a hole.
How to make walls?
During the construction of monolithic basements, the walls are equipped with the technology of the strip foundation. Dig trenches, on the bottom of which sand is poured and formwork is installed. After completion of the waterproofing work, a reinforcing mesh is laid and concrete is poured.
If you first need to fill the floor, in this case, the formwork for forming the walls is installed only after the concrete has completely solidified. Otherwise, due to the severity of the solution, the formwork braces can be pressed into the floor and form completely unnecessary recesses.
Walls can be made of bricks. But the implementation of this work requires accuracy, because it is necessary to ensure that the walls are erected horizontally and vertically. Masonry starts from the corner and continues up to the 7th row.
It is recommended that reinforcement be laid every half meter to give the structure additional strength.
We must not forget about the place of the doorway. Jumpers are made of reinforced concrete or wooden.
Another option for building walls is to use blocks. This method saves time - a basement in a private house from blocks can be built quite quickly. The only thing that will need to be done is to align each block both vertically and horizontally, as well as the level of the wall. It is best to start laying from the corners.
Basement waterproofing
During the construction of the basement, even in the driest place, it is necessary to make high-quality waterproofing. It should be remembered that no one has yet canceled the torrential rains and the breakthrough of the water pipe.
Waterproofing
If the basement is built of bricks or blocks, it is necessary to secure the gaps between the joints. Waterproofing mastic is applied with a thickness of 2 cm. Additionally, you can perform the processing of blocks with mastic. Now the plastering work begins . A stucco mesh is put on the walls and plaster is applied. Proceed to the floor. Coat the joints between the walls and the floor with bitumen.
External waterproofing
This work is necessary to provide reliable protection against moisture in the exterior walls and under the floor. The best way to protect the floor is clay, compacted at the bottom of the pit, which is covered with a double layer of roofing material and coated with bitumen.
Walls are protected in a similar way. However, first you need to check that the horizontal waterproofing protrudes 15 cm behind the wall. Next, the roofing material is laid along the entire height of the walls, which should go about 20 cm beyond the surface.
How to insulate the basement of a private house?
As you know, the basement in a private house belongs to the coldest and wetter place, which involves not only waterproofing, but also insulation. In the winter season, thermal insulation eliminates heat loss, and in hot weather from condensate.
So, we will consider how to insulate the basement of a private house. You can warm the walls after 6 days, when the waterproofing mastic dries . The gluing of plates of extruded polystyrene foam is done directly on the waterproofing. Bitumen (resin) is suitable for bonding. The slabs should protrude about 40 cm above the ground. Before filling the trenches, it is necessary to cover the insulation with asbestos-cement sheets. You also need to perform horizontal insulation at a depth of 30 cm at the place where the blind area will be.
The floor is insulated in the same way. Expanded polystyrene having a thickness of 10 cm is laid on the waterproofing. Then they put another layer of heat insulator. Penofol can be used to reflect heat inside the basement.
The ceiling also needs protection. Styrofoam, mineral wool, polystyrene foam are suitable for its insulation.
Basement ventilation
Well-designed ventilation of the basement in a private house allows not only to protect the room from the appearance of fungi and mold on the surface of the walls, but also to significantly extend the time of its operation. In addition, air circulation makes it possible to preserve food and things located there.
Types of ventilation
Basements in a private house can have two types of ventilation, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:
• natural ventilation;
• forced.
Natural ventilation
Such a system has been used for more than a dozen years, and now also does not lose its popularity. Its design is quite simple and does not require significant cash costs.
The operation of the system is based on the existing temperature difference inside and outside the basement, due to which air flows.
This ventilation system consists of two pipes - supply and exhaust. The exhaust pipe starts from the ceiling and goes to the roof. It provides air outlet from the room. The supply pipe is placed on the opposite wall and installed closer to the floor. Its function is to supply fresh oxygen. Thus, the natural ventilation of the basement in a private house maintains normal humidity in the room.
An important role is played by the diameter of the pipes. The best option is a total diameter of at least 10 cm.
Forced ventilation
This system is most often used for large basements. The purchase and installation of forced ventilation requires quite significant costs, for this reason not everyone can afford such a luxury. The advantage of this method is that it makes it possible to bring the microclimate of the cellar closer to natural conditions. The basic principle of its operation is the forced creation of a stream of fresh air using special fans.
Basement heating of a private house
In order for the basement to be dry and warm, you need to take care of the heating system. The choice of equipment depends on how much thermal energy is needed for heating.
Storage of agricultural products
As a rule, this does not require additional heating of the basement. Most often, the neighborhood with a heated living room on top is enough. Low temperature is not terrible, however, it is necessary to prevent a minus, since the products simply freeze. In this case, heating should be arranged. The best option is to connect a fan heater or heater.
Bath, pool or sauna
Rooms with high humidity, in addition to heating appliances, must have dehumidifiers installed. For heating, infrared heaters are most often used, which are built into the ceiling, floors and walls. In order to obtain additional heat, a warm floor is laid. Tape, which is more unpretentious and durable, is best suited. However, the constant use of a warm electric floor is an expensive pleasure. This is the best option for temporary heating.
Isolated rooms
If the basement in a private house (photos are given in the article) is equipped as an additional living space, you can use a boiler or stove to heat it. The boiler is most often placed on a whole house, and an additional pipe with a coolant is simply laid underground. They use the following calculation of basement heating:
• for heating 50-180 sq. m installed boiler 25 kW;
• for heating 200-300 sq. m put the unit having a power of 25-30 kW.
If the cellars in a private house have an area of up to 200 square meters. m, you can install a long burning furnace, and for additional heating to make a warm floor. In such basements, a billiard room, a dining room, a gym, a home theater, etc. are organized.
So, despite the fact that the basement requires additional costs during the construction, a private house with a basement is very practical and convenient.