Foundations for houses can be very different. They are made from various materials and using various technologies. The selection is made separately for each specific case. One cannot clearly say which foundation is better. Even during the construction of identical houses in different places, the type of support part and the costs for it can radically differ.
The types of foundations for a private house are selected on the basis of:
- bearing capacity of soils on the site;
- soil moisture and groundwater level;
- terrain
- basement needs;
- number of storeys of the building and the mass of its structures.
All these factors must be taken into account simultaneously. It is difficult for an unprofessional to choose without error what foundation is needed for construction. If there is such an opportunity, it is better to contact an experienced designer. At the same time, he needs to provide information about the soils on the site and the structural features of the structure.
Before choosing the type of foundations, geological studies are mandatory. For the construction of a house in the private sector, you can not order an expensive procedure. It will be enough to find out approximately the type of soil and its depth. There are two methods to perform this work:
- drilling;
- passage of pits.
Types of foundations
To answer the question, what are the foundations, you need to consider several classifications. For the construction of a building, the types of foundations are distinguished by design and method of manufacture, as well as by material.
The choice of foundation depending on the material is proposed to be made of three options:
- wood;
- metal;
- reinforced concrete.
The first option is currently practically not used. Wooden piles have been widely used in the past for the construction of buildings in swampy areas. But the disadvantage of wood is its high susceptibility to decay and low strength. In modern conditions, it is not worth considering such types of foundations for a private house.
Another option for construction is metal. It has a limited scope. Only a certain type of foundation is made of it for wooden houses and frame buildings - pile-screw.
Reinforced concrete types of foundations for the home are most widely used. This is due to the fact that concrete performs very well when working in compression. It is such loads that arise in the underground part of the building. There are exceptions, but in this case, metal fittings are included in the work. Due to the combined action of concrete and reinforcement, reinforced concrete varieties are highly reliable and durable.
When using the reinforced concrete option, the question almost always arises: what foundation should I choose, precast or monolithic?
Combined technology involves the use of prefabricated prefabricated elements. These types of concrete foundations can be quickly built, there is no need to wait for time to harden the material. But these options are more provided for mass construction. They allow you to perform work on an industrial scale in a short time, but require the availability of special heavy and lifting equipment. Such a foundation for a home to make on your own will be difficult and costly.
An excellent option for private construction will be monolithic types of foundations and their various variations. For the manufacture of virtually no special equipment is required. If desired, all work can be done manually. But nevertheless, in order to improve the quality of work and reduce the time for their completion, it is recommended to order ready-made concrete at the factory and its delivery with special mixers. In addition to the mixer, it is worth ordering a concrete pump. This technique allows you to quickly and effortlessly distribute the mixture into the formwork.
The disadvantage of a monolithic technology for the manufacture of foundations will be an increase in the construction time. A stone made of this type gains strength on average within 4 weeks. All this time to erect on the supporting part of the wall is prohibited.
In addition to differences in material and technology, it is worth highlighting the classification according to design features. Before choosing a foundation, you need to consider four main types of it. There are also several modifications within each group.
For the construction of buildings use the following types:
- tape;
- plate;
- pile;
- columnar.
Strip foundation
If you answer the question, what kind of foundation is needed for a building with a basement, then the answer will be unequivocal - tape. This is the best and almost the only option. You can also use a slab base for these purposes, but the tape will have to be used in this case as well.
What is the foundation tape made of? It can be made from monolithic or precast concrete. The device assumes the presence of three types of tapes, depending on the depth of laying:
- In-depth. These types of foundations for the home are used if necessary basement, as well as for the construction of massive buildings. The depth of laying is determined depending on the height of the basement and the depth of freezing of the soil. The latter characteristic is located separately for each region. With independent construction, you can use special maps and tables to find the mark.
- Shallow. Such a tape is buried in the ground by about 70-100 mm. They are used for massive buildings without a basement on fairly good soils. Also relevant when the groundwater level is at a distance of more than 1.5 m from the surface. When resting above the freezing mark, enhanced waterproofing and warming are necessarily provided. Read more about shallow tapes.
- Not deep. It is used only for small buildings on solid non-porous substrates. It does not have a high bearing capacity.
You will also have to choose a strip foundation according to the type of section. It can be rectangular or t-shaped. The second option assumes the presence of broadening from below in the form of a pillow and has higher stability and bearing capacity. It is used for buildings made of brick or concrete. In the manufacture of tapes according to the combined technology, special foundation pillows of the PL are used to ensure broadening; their production is carried out in the factory.
Slab foundation
The slab is a good option for fragile soils. Just like a tape, this type can be buried, shallow and shallow. The first option due to the high cost is rarely used.
If we compare the foundations, then the plate has the greatest bearing capacity at approximately the same labor costs. Only certain types of piles can be compared with it in terms of bearing capacity on weak or marshy soils. But they will cost much more and will require a lot of effort and the availability of special equipment.
Most often, in the construction of private houses, an undecked stove is used. You can also consider the insulated Swedish stove. It will be an excellent solution for heaving soils in the northern regions.
A stove can be made even by a layman. In private construction, the thickness of the structure is usually taken 200-300 mm. Such a foundation can withstand a two-story brick house. Reinforcement is carried out by grids in two rows. If the plate thickness is 150mm or less, then you need to lay one row of reinforcement.
Tip: for pouring, it is recommended to use concrete of grades B20-B25. This is due to the fact that the slab foundation, in addition to compressive loads, perceives bending effects on which concrete does not work very well. To avoid cracking, you need to take care of high-quality reinforcement and strong concrete.
The stove is used in the following cases:
- building a brick or concrete house without a basement on marshy or fragile soils;
- the construction of buildings with a high groundwater level (at a distance of at least 50 cm from the surface of the earth).
Also, a slab base is used in the construction of small forms of a building, which should stand on separate foundations in order to prevent uneven shrinkage. These forms include:
- basement entrances;
- porch;
- terraces;
- etc.
Pile foundation
Piles - the only reasonable option for construction on soils with an underground water level higher than 50 cm from the surface of the earth. They also allow you to build a house on a weak foundation and with strong elevations on the site without significant effort.
In this case, it is not possible to provide a basement. The basement is covered with finishing materials, while leaving ventilation gaps and openings for free movement of air under the house.
A grillage is installed to cut the piles. It can be made of wood, reinforced concrete or metal. The choice of material is carried out depending on the material of the walls and the piles themselves. For example, in the construction of a wooden house it is reasonable to use a wooden harness, and in the construction of reinforced concrete piles - concrete.
Piles are classified by material, method of manufacture and immersion. I can be made of metal or reinforced concrete, both in the factory method and at the construction site. There are four most common types of piles:
- Hammered from reinforced concrete. Not common in the private sector. Initially intended for use in mass construction and require special, expensive equipment.
- Bored. They are made of reinforced concrete directly on the site using monolithic technology. They are not recommended for use at high water levels in the ground, since they require water reduction during construction work. This is a costly undertaking. Read more about the bored foundation.
- Screw. They are made of metal. Such elements are a pipe, at the end of which a screw is welded. Due to this screw, the pile itself breaks through a well during installation, which avoids soil development work. Screw piles are not characterized by high bearing capacity. They are mainly used in private construction as supports for frame or wooden houses. It can be used for single-story buildings made of light concrete. The most common element diameter is 108 mm. Read more about installing a pile-screw foundation.
- TISE. Piles of this type are made in much the same way as bored piles. But this option has a significant difference - the broadening in the lower part. It is made using a special drill, which at a certain point can discard the broadening knives. The solution is perfect for performing work on heaving soils, since the design prevents the house from being pulled out of the ground.
Column foundation
This option is characterized by the lowest bearing capacity of all presented. The approval does not affect the special pillars of the glass type, which are used as the base for the columns in the construction of public and industrial facilities.
Most often, poles are used in the construction of small outbuildings on solid soils. In this case, they are made shallow or shallow. They can be made from finished elements (bricks, blocks) or from a monolith. Read more about the column foundation.
Before choosing the foundation for the house, you need to carefully study all the necessary information. An irresponsible attitude can lead to cost overruns, building distortions during operation or other troubles.