The occurrence of cracks in the basement and the distortion of the openings may indicate the deformation of the foundation of the building. This poses some degree of risk and may threaten the collapse of the walls of the building. To independently determine whether the foundation is deformed, you can install gypsum beacons. They must be applied across the cracks. If within a few days after the installation of the marks, their surface did not collapse, then it can be judged that the deformation process has ended. In this case, the resulting small cracks can simply be repaired with cement mortar. If deep gaps appear, a major foundation repair may be required.
Foundation destruction: causes and types
Before choosing different methods of strengthening foundations, it is necessary to identify the reasons that led to the destruction of the brick or reinforced concrete foundation under the building.
The main factors include:
- Increasing the load on the basement of the house. This situation may appear due to the construction of additional add-ons.
- Occurrence of shifts in the ground in the process of freezing.
- Violation of the waterproofing system.
- Occurrence of emergencies when using communications.
- High water table.
A common reason for the gradual destruction of the foundation is the seasonal increase in groundwater levels. It can manifest itself in the form of gaps in the base along the height or vertical cracks. A perimeter drainage device will most likely be required to fix this problem.
The reason may be the backfilling of the foundation with frozen soil. In the case of alternate freezing and thawing, swelling can occur, exerting significant pressure on the foundation. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to replace the soil, filling the gaps with concrete mortar. In this case, a more effective way to eliminate the defect would be to redistribute the load on the foundation by installing outrigger beams and increasing the foundation area.
Exposure to aggressive environment
Constant failures in communications lying near the house can lead to leaching of concrete due to exposure to s alt or alkaline water. If it is still possible to restore the foundation, then it will be problematic to reduce the impact of an aggressive environment.
For restoration around the foundation, it is necessary to remove the soil. After that, the concrete surface is cleared. The affected areas are filled with a solution. Together with the foundation, masonry is being erected in parallelfrom brick, which is isolated with roofing felt from the old foundation of the structure. The brick is impregnated with mastic and coated with clay. At the final stage, a drainage device is provided around the foundation to reduce the level of aggressive environment.
Restoring the strip foundation: the classic method
Restoring the foundation can be done on your own. During work, do not forget to follow safety precautions. The rise of the house consists in the parallel construction of another reinforced concrete tape, which is rigidly tied to the collapsing foundation.
The process of combining them into one whole system consists of several stages:
- A pit is dug out in the corners of the old house in order to expose the walls underground. The recess must have a width sufficient for the implementation of work in it. The depth of the pit should be at least 0.5 m below the foundation.
- A three-dimensional frame made of reinforcement is placed at the corner of the house.
- The foundation pit with a concrete structure placed in it is poured with concrete. Before the final hardening of the solution, it is impossible to proceed to the next step.
- When the concrete gains strength, you can begin to strengthen the base around the perimeter of the structure. To do this, the system is divided into conditional sections, the length of which can reach 2 m.
- In the future, the recovery process is carried out in parts at each interval. Such care is needed in order to stop a possible collapse and save the basement of the house.
- Alongfoundation in a predetermined area, it is necessary to make a trench.
- Holes are made in the body of the foundation, which are intended to then install steel reinforcement in them. In size, these holes should be equal to 2-3 diameters of the metal rod placed in them. This will ensure full cementing.
- The old pins installed in the previous foundation must be rigidly connected to the three-dimensional frame, immersed in the trench. For this, welding work is carried out.
- After preparing and installing the formwork, a concrete solution is placed in the prepared part.
This is how the restoration of the perimeter occurs. When lifting a house, it must be taken into account that the strengthening of structures underground is carried out only after the concrete has gained the necessary strength.
How to restore the sole of the foundation?
Often the owners of private houses are interested in the question of what to do if the foundation has sunk. In some cases, in order to stop the shrinkage of the foundation of an old building, it may be necessary to expand the area of \u200b\u200bthe sole lying under the base. Restoration work in this case will be quite laborious and provide that a reinforced concrete slab is brought under the sagging area, and a concrete pad is also equipped.
Unloading the foundation
Before restoring the foundation, it is often necessary to unload it. For this purpose, several holes are made above the upper cut of the base of the old building every couple of meters. They contain beams ofmetal. On both sides, under the installed crossbars, supports are made that will take on the entire load. For this purpose, it will be necessary to partially disassemble the floor of the first floor of the building, as well as the inner side of the walls.
Installation of reinforced concrete slab during restoration
If the restoration of the foundation of the house requires the construction of reinforced concrete slabs, then it is necessary to carry out large-scale repairs. The dimensions of the excavation must guarantee the unhindered installation of the slab on the prepared base. It must be leveled and rammed. A gap must be left between the sole of the base and the surface of the slab, which will subsequently be filled with a layer of cement. To determine whether the individual elements of the old foundation masonry are suitable, it is imperative to perform a strength assessment. Many today are interested in how to calculate the foundation. A calculator for carrying out these calculations today can be found on most construction sites.
When creating a cushion of concrete at the bottom of the pit, it is necessary to lay a mesh of reinforcement and build a formwork. The mortar, which has not yet hardened, is compacted after pouring with concrete to get rid of voids. To create a single monolith, it is necessary to perform concreting to a level of 100-150 mm.
Cementation and silicification method
You can lift the house by silicification or grouting. To use this technology requires the use of special compressor equipment. The soil along the perimeter of the foundation is opened inif necessary. Perforated steel pipes are immersed in holes made in a checkerboard pattern. They are connected to the injection unit. With the help of it, a sand-cement mortar is pumped into the wall. The consumption of the mixture will depend on the wear of the structure and the density of the composition. Silicization is carried out similarly.
How to choose the right recovery method?
How to repair the foundation of a house? In itself, the restoration of the base is a rather laborious and costly type of repair work. There are many ways to restore the foundation. For their implementation, special equipment is required, as well as significant financial costs. Before starting the implementation of measures to restore the foundation, it is necessary to carefully evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages. The cost of restoration work can ultimately exceed the price of a new structure. In this case, the calculator for calculating the foundation will be an excellent option.
Non-standard methods of strengthening the foundation
Various methods can be used to restore the base. For example, an unconventional option is to use an overstressed clip. Thanks to this, it is easy to perform partial unloading of the foundation. The space around the old foundation can be divided into several sections within the framework of this method.
This technology involves digging the foundation. After that, soil is removed from under the suspended part. Next, concrete is installedreinforced jumper, and the empty space is filled with mortar. After the composition has hardened, the consoles are mounted. In turn, the nuts must be screwed onto the rods. Thus, overvoltage occurs. When the beams are removed, the overstressed cage will put pressure on the tides.
Restoring the foundation is a simple process that you can do yourself. The most important thing is to follow certain instructions and observe safety precautions during work.
