The construction of high-rise buildings and shopping centers does not do without pouring the foundation. But in order for the preparatory work to take place in a short time, and the base is well dried up, pits or trenches used for these purposes are needed. Most people come up with the concept of "trench" most often in the construction routine and few people remember that such pits have deep historical roots.
A little background
The Middle Ages - this is the time of knightly tournaments, romantic stories of love and the widespread struggle for territory. Each castle or any fortification was separated by a deep moat or trench filled with water.
In order to survive and protect relatives from death in the hands of enemies, the owners of fortresses spent a lot of money on maintaining them in working condition. At that time, the trench was not a whim and not part of the builders' architectural idea, but a thing necessary for survival.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, in connection with the technical boom, there had been a change in the role of pits in everyday life. If you recall, the trench is a ditch, the depth of which varies based on the requirements and purposes of use.
The most common trenches were in the early twentieth century during the First World War, and after the Second World War. To protect the soldiers dug deep holes, half or full height of a person.
A trapezoidal shape made it easy to hide from crossfire and was relatively comfortable to take a short rest in between shelling.
Types of Trenches
In military affairs, single and double sided dumps are used for protection. A large role is played by depth, width, and also additional structures along the trench. It can be extensions in the form of platforms for shooters or dugouts under the command post.
In the construction business, it is necessary to take into account not only the main points, but also the properties of the soils on which the construction of buildings will be carried out. The denser the ground, the easier it is to carry out preparatory work.
For sandy areas, formwork or support supports may be used depending on the depth of the pit. According to the unspoken rule, on sandy and gravel soils, the depth of the trench should be no more than one meter, sandy loam - one meter thirty centimeters, clay - up to one and a half meters, dense soils - up to two meters.
Organization of work
Before starting construction work, the craftsmen must calculate the depth and length of the trench under the foundation. If the building will be large-sized, several floors, a foundation pit is needed for the equipment of the basement and basement.
But do not forget that the need for trenches that are used when replacing or installing new communications and life support has increased. Masters can use both manual labor and automate it to quickly solve problems.
In order to carry out the required work, especially if it affects a pedestrian or roadway, it must be shielded with a bright ribbon or signal flags. Before the event, it is worth taking care of the equipment, if necessary.
Utilities use tractors, excavators, which are on the balance sheet. But this technique is not always convenient in hard-to-reach places because of its size.
How to dig a hole under the foundation
Firms involved in the production of special equipment offer several models of a manual trencher. Such an assistant has many advantages and can be used not only for construction purposes, but also for the refinement of personal plots.
The trencher can be divided according to the method of movement (manual, self-propelled), as well as the type of engine (two- or four-stroke). Manual trencher is a universal tool for work on any type of soil. Although there are models that require replacement chains for each type of soil.
The advantage of this mechanism is the speed of excavation of the earth, as well as the possibility of use in many industries. In an average of sixty minutes, a trencher can dig a ditch from seventy to one hundred and eighty meters, depending on the ground.
Do I need to compact the soil
After the work done, do not forget that the earth that you dug up and then fell asleep in the same ditch will subside over time. This issue is especially relevant for trenches dug on the roadway or in places of frequent use.
You can prevent the subsidence of pits in the future by filling the trench. Given the properties of the soil, as well as groundwater, workers should consider possible landslides. In areas with sandy soil, it is advisable to additionally use gravel for compacting, which will easily pass water, but not much sag.
So that the dug earth does not remain on the surface, mechanical devices are used for tamping: motor concrete, vibratory rammer, skating rink.
If the soil is dense and difficult to cultivate, experts propose to fill up the trench, leaving an earthen roller on the surface, which will sag over time. This method is convenient if the ditch is dug in a place little visited by people.
If you have a need to dig a trench, this does not mean that you need to rush to the store in the morning and purchase a manual trencher. Yes, it is affordable, although it requires significant maintenance costs. It is easier to rent special equipment for a certain period, convenient for the customer.