Expanded concrete blocks in modern construction began to be used very often. This material has a relatively low weight, good strength, excellent thermal conductivity and low cost. However, given certain features of such products, the question of which foundation to choose for a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks is often asked by novice craftsmen and even experienced builders.
General information
To begin with, it is worth noting that these types of blocks are practically no different from other piece materials with the same dimensions. They are laid on standard bases, and only when using piles, it is necessary to make certain additions to the structure. Therefore, in order to determine which foundation to choose for a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks, it is worth considering all types of these systems and determining their characteristics for certain types of buildings.
Types of bases
In modern construction, there are three types of foundations that are used most often. They are excellent for working with this material and haverelatively small cost. However, if a foundation is being created for a two-story house of expanded clay concrete blocks, then such a choice should be taken very carefully. Therefore, their features, scope and manufacturing methods will be given below.
Slab structures
This type of base is great for small buildings. It is very easy to manufacture and at the same time the cost of construction will be minimal. However, it is very important to note the fact that such a foundation for a house of expanded clay concrete blocks should be made only on stable ground. It is also necessary to understand that this type of structure is chosen for one-story houses, and the absence of a basement is implied in the manufacture.
Production of slab foundation
The process takes place in several stages:
- First you need to prepare the ground. To do this, the place under the base is cleared and deepened a little.
- At the next stage, the soil is compacted so that the foundation for the house of expanded clay concrete blocks has a dense base.
- Then a pillow is made from sand and gravel. It should not protrude beyond the edges of the recess.
- Next, a small formwork is installed and poured over the entire area. Its height should be 10-15 cm.
- After the mortar hardens, reinforcement is made on the surface using metal structures.
- At the finalstages perform a fine pouring of the screed. It is possible to build on such a foundation only after a month, since this is the minimum time required for the concrete to completely harden.
Strip designs
It is believed that the strip foundation of the house of expanded clay concrete blocks is the most reliable and practical. He is not afraid of soil movements, temperature changes and other external influences that other structures cannot tolerate. At the same time, this type of base allows you to create a basement that can be made warm. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that for its manufacture it is necessary to plan large costs and time.
It is worth noting that this type of foundation can be created both from concrete and using special blocks. The choice of a particular material depends only on the personal preferences of the customer and his financial capabilities. However, if you plan to make a warm basement, then the use of blocks is more rational.
Making a strip base
- To make a strip foundation for a house of expanded clay concrete blocks, you first need to dig a trench around the perimeter of the future structure. Its depth should be at least 80 cm. However, this parameter is best agreed with the architect at the design stage. It directly depends on the technical characteristics of the building.
- In some cases, it is worth digging a trench under the interiorpartitions. If a stove or flights of stairs will be installed in the room, then this should be done at the place of their subsequent installation.
- Further, the soil is compacted and a layer of crushed stone with sand is poured to the bottom. It should be about 30 cm high.
- The next step is to protect the future structure from moisture. To do this, a plastic film is laid out along the walls of the trench. Some builders prefer to use roofing felt or other bitumen-based materials for these purposes.
- In order for the foundation for a one-story house made of expanded clay concrete blocks to be strong, reinforcement should be performed. Metal structures are laid in a trench, tied together with wire. Some experts advise using welding for the bond, but then the product will lose its elasticity.
- The next stage of preparatory work involves the installation of formwork. Usually it is created in such a way that it rises above the ground to a height of about 10 cm. For this, sheets of plywood or boards are used.
- The foundation is poured using concrete. Usually use class B-15 or B-20.
- After pouring, the foundation needs to stand for at least 20 days before it completely solidifies.
Piles
This foundation for a one-story house made of expanded clay concrete blocks is considered one of the most practical. It is easy to erect, the cost of construction is relatively low, and immediately after installation, construction of the building can begin. Howeverit should be mentioned right away that there are a lot of types of piles that are designed for a certain type of soil and the corresponding building structure.
Also keep in mind that some types of this material may require special equipment to mount. Under houses made of expanded clay concrete, metal screw piles are usually chosen, which can be installed manually without resorting to the involvement of special equipment.
Special attention should be paid to the fact that such a foundation can also allow you to create a basement. However, this will require special stitching around the entire perimeter with additional insulation.
Pile foundation fabrication
- First of all, you need to determine the size of the foundation of the house of expanded clay concrete blocks. For this, a special project is created, which is called a pile field. It displays the location of all supports, indicating the distance from each other.
- If it is planned to install a stove or flights of stairs in the house, then supports are also mounted in the places of their installation to create a separate foundation.
- The next step is to level the area. This is done not only for the convenience of subsequent work, but also to determine the level of future surfaces.
- Next, you need to drill holes in the ground at the places indicated in the pile field. The depth is measured based on the design features of the supports themselves, which is usually indicated in the operating instructions.
- Then, using a special tool, they begin to install the piles themselves. Themscrewed to a certain depth, which corresponds to the parameters of a particular product.
- When all the piles are in place, you need to make their binding. For these purposes, a metal channel is used, which is welded along the perimeter of the structure and in the area where the partitions are located.
- Next, it is recommended to create a kind of armored belt. To do this, make a small formwork, which is poured with concrete. It is in this place that the blocks will need to be installed.
- Some craftsmen recommend making subsequent sewing of the foundation around the entire perimeter. It is best to use flat slate or a metal profile. If necessary, you can insulate the entire structure.
Advice and feedback from experts
- Concrete and block bases should be protected from moisture. To do this, not only special compounds or materials are applied to the structure, but also special drainages are made.
- If you need to organize the input of various communications into the house, which are supposed to be introduced through the foundation, then this should be done below the freezing level of the soil.
- After creating the foundation, it is necessary to create a waterproofing that will separate the structure from the masonry. To do this, it is better to use roofing material or only.
- There are other base designs, but the options presented in the article, according to the builders, can be considered the most practical.
Conclusion
Based on the material above, you can dothe conclusion is that the foundation for a house of expanded clay concrete blocks should be chosen based on the size of the structure. At the same time, it is important to take into account the depth of soil freezing, its mobility and the climatic component of a particular region. In some cases, the choice of base depends on the personal preferences of the user, since it is influenced by the presence of a basement and installation sites in the house of heavy structures in the form of flights of stairs or a furnace.
