The contents
- How to evaluate the condition of the Foundation yourself
- Possible prevention before works to strengthen
Under the moon, as we know, nothing lasts forever. This also applies to the Foundation of the houses. Causes of misalignment of the openings, cracks or even destruction of the Foundation can be different: mistakes in design, use of improper construction works, external influence, problematic soils. But in any case it urgently needs to be strengthened. Easier to do it the owner of the house, which he built it and knows all the features. It will be difficult to a person who has already bought a built home and will have to sort out the problem «from scratch». Of course, you can contact the experts who will help the Foundation strengthen, but it can be done in the event that permitting your financial situation.
How to assess the condition of the basement ↑
There «antiquated» method to assess changes in the condition of the Foundation. It is that if cracks in the walls (first and foremost, this applies to brick houses), appeared on a cracked paste «beacons» of paper. Watching these «beacons» will show what is really happening. Torn paper – the process of destruction continues and urgent need to carry out work to strengthen.
If «beacons» not torn in a long time, the immediate threat is gone, the Foundation never breaks down and can be limited by sealing of cracks with cement mortar.
Possible prevention before works on strengthening ↑
Before proceeding to work on strengthening the Foundation of the problem, it is necessary to take some actions of a preventive nature.
To strengthen the ground beneath it. The behavior of soil is usually the main cause of the problem. The soil can be prone to heave that were not considered during construction. Or were not taken into account his insufficient bearing capacity, which led to soil subsidence under the weight of the house. Some of these problems with soil can be removed, having arranged for drainage, and insulate the Foundation and the soil around it:
Make drain protection ↑
- To do this, dig around the house the annular trench with depth up to the level where your site appears groundwater.
- A trench connecting the ditch to drain the well. A well, constructed of rings, it is desirable to build outside of your plot.
- Pave the bottom of the geotextile, leaving a loose end. The geotextile should have a permeability in one direction only. Pour a layer of gravel to lay on this a layer of the drain pipe.
- Connect the drain well of the trunk pipe a drainage pipe, laid in the trench. Ask normal «plumbing» gradient: 10 mm to 2000 mm pipes.
- To fill the pipe with another layer of gravel and close this design the free end of the geotextile. From top to pour the trench drain mix.
Drainage will take the excess moisture from the site, which will reduce the deformation of swelling. As a result, decrease the pressure of the soil and decrease the negative impact of excessive moisture.
To insulate the Foundation ↑
- Dig around the house a trench depth of about 200 mm and 800 mm wide.
- The bottom of the trench showered with sand. The layer of sand laid out plates of extruded polystyrene.
- In the trench is mounted formwork panel of the type which must be above the ground to 100-150 mm.
- Then the distance between the shield casing and the wall is reinforced with a grid with cells 10×10 mm. For building a brick Foundation in the clutch to score the pin and tied the reinforcing frame.
- This space is filled with concrete M300 with a gradient of 10-20 mm from the Foundation to the Board of a timbering.
This protection protects the soil in this area from rain and changes the depth of soil freezing.
How to strengthen the strip Foundation of the old house ↑
The main thing in the work to strengthen the old strip Foundation is the achievement of balance of all influencing forces. This can be achieved by increase of its area.
You select a section home up to 3000 mm, along which digs the trench to the depth of the house Foundation with a width equal to its width. In the old foundations drilled holes for fitting. In the trench is mounted shuttering and framework of reinforcement for the new belt. This ties round the frame is installed in the prepared holes for reinforcement. The construction is poured concrete. Dig this plot is possible only after complete drying of the concrete. Then arranged new trench and the work continues. After completion of the work on strengthening of the base on one side (outer) you are ready, if necessary, to these works, from the inner side.
How to strengthen the foundations of brick or cinder blocks ↑
To solve this problem you have to build a solid conveyor belt of reinforced concrete. With this aim, pulled the trench depth of the cushions of the old Foundation. The cushion must not be damaged. The trench width of approximately 500 mm, the trench should be dug at an angle of 35°. The old Foundation (if necessary, and basement) is cleared, the damaged fragments are removed, then it is treated with primer deep penetration. After that, the old Foundation of the house drilled holes for rebar in three rows with a gap of 600 mm To anchors driven into the horizontally welded to the armature to which is attached a metal mesh. Then 150 mm from the grid is set timbering and the construction is poured concrete. The filling is made after complete drying of concrete. The result is a one-piece conveyor belt of reinforced concrete.
How to strengthen the foundations of a wooden house ↑
You first need to examine the existing Foundation, will determine the nature of the damage and set the amount of work required. May require full or partial repair.
For work with by means of jacks wooden house raise and repair or strengthening of existing Foundation, until its complete replacement. To comply with safety regulations and conduct the jacking of the house so that the integrity of its design have not been violated.
How to strengthen the house Foundation piles ↑
This work will require precise calculations, special equipment and high skills of the builders. It is highly recommended not to strengthen the house Foundation piles independently.
Conclusion ↑
In most cases, strengthening the Foundation of the old house, talking about a brick house or a wooden house, to do yourself any house owner. Required to follow certain rules and try to do this work comprehensively to eliminate all possible causes of similar problems in the future.
