The construction of concrete foundations in Moscow, the region and throughout the country begins with a detailed and technically correct calculation of all the nuances and features. To establish the main characteristics of the base of the cottage, the design of the cottage, the features of the relief and the state of the soil, are taken into account, and the meteorological situation in each specific region is also taken into account. All these subtleties are needed to calculate the height of the foundation in its aboveground part - that structural element on which many are trying to save money.

The specialists of InnovaStroy, based on the requirements of GOST and SNiP, create such structural elements that, on the one hand, will save the developer's money, and on the other, will ensure the safety of the building, its load-bearing structures and finishes, no matter what materials they are.

The height of the foundation above the ground - what is it?

As you know, the base of any cottage is buried in the ground at a certain distance, depending on the structural features of the building, design loads, characteristics of the soil base and the location of groundwater. Naturally, the underground part of the foundation can be of very different depths, up to 1.2 meters with no space involved. With the creation of a basement or a well-equipped basement, this depth can reach 3 meters. The question naturally arises about the part of the base that protrudes above ground level - that is, above the zero height mark. Many believe that this part can be neglected and significant savings can be made on more than one cubic meter of monolith or brick.

In fact, those few tens of centimeters separating the surface of the earth from the beginning load-bearing walls, are designed to provide increased protection of the entire structure from adverse external influences. The height of the foundation above the ground level is determined at the design stage by our architects and designers. This part of the building foundation is processed in the same way as all other elements - waterproofing, insulation, decorative external cladding... But in addition to aesthetic beauty, the basement distance also carries a functional load, which we do not recommend discounting if you want your country mansion to stand for a very long time and does not require repair.

House foundation height: what is it for

Distance from the ground to the bottom edge of the load-bearing walls and exterior decoration is designed to provide several protective functions, for which it is actually created by architects and designers. Below we describe the main functions of the basement, excluding the option with a full basement floor, since in this case, according to GOST, more than 1 meter of distance from the ground to the first floor is required. So, the main functions of the aboveground part of the foundation:

• Leveling the relief of the site without making changes to the topography of the territory, with the absence of large volumes earthworks... With very large drops plot heights are best order a pile foundation at InnovaStroy to minimize any excavation operations;
• Resistance to the heaving of the soil layer in the process of freezing - thus, the soil acts only in the horizontal direction on the walls of the base, and does not apply any effort to the supporting structures of the walls of the cottage;
• Protection against waterlogging during the critical amount of precipitation. Because aerial part the foundation is slightly recessed in relation to the plane of the wall, it facilitates the drainage of rainwater and condensation from the walls, which helps to prevent the appearance of dampness and mold;
• A defined foundation height above the ground minimizes the effects of capillary moisture and vapors. In the process of atmospheric exposure, microscopic pockets of moisture appear in the surrounding space and on the territory - dew, for example - they evaporate and can have a detrimental effect on the house, settling on surfaces. The distance from the ground level of construction allows you to retrace given type moisture into the drainage system even before it settles on the walls themselves;
• The height of the foundation of the house provides airflow in the base to improve ventilation of the underfloor space. Another functional load is work in the form of an additional waterproofer, together with a blind area;
• Do not forget about the aesthetic beauty of the building, which has a small distance between the ground and the walls, finished, as a rule, in contrasting materials in relation to the outer facade of the walls.

How high should the foundation be above ground level?

This issue is very relevant, since most of the protective processes are not visible during operation, and all the advantages appear only in the long term. Based on this, many developers are trying to save money on this structure and exclude it from construction and estimate documentation.

However, many generations of builders and architects have already tried different variants constructions country cottage, which led, as a result, to the widespread use of the above-ground basement distance in the construction of all houses. For each type of building material, from which the cottage will be erected, there are certain requirements about how high the foundation should be above ground level, which must be taken into account by the designers.

The most common parameter is in the range from 30 to 50 centimeters - which optimally provides protection for a house built in middle lane Russia. If the maximum level of snowfall reaches 20 centimeters, then the distance can be increased.

It is also worth considering the fact that about 10 centimeters of a given height will be occupied by a blind area with a surface finishing material - so you will have to increase the distance to the ground. Naturally, there are cases when 20 centimeters of the height of the aboveground part of the foundation is enough - this is in those areas where the soils are not heaving and the maximum snowfall does not exceed 5 centimeters - in the south of our country.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that during the construction country house the height between the ground and the base of the walls is used to give the building originality and unique style - for example, terraces are made below floor level with wide steps, or the platform can be arranged on piles, which will give the house a charm and light sophistication. The entrance block also acquires several steps with railings and a veranda, which also affects the image of your country residence. Perhaps the height of the above-ground part of the foundation is that rare case in architecture, when the purely functional details of the house could be turned into its zest and an unusual decorative element. There are even cases when basement part it is made protruding, in the form of an old "rubble" - there are no restrictions on design and engineering thought, as long as this part of the foundation regularly performs its main functions of protecting the house.

What is the optimal height of the foundation above the ground for the types of structures?

Based on the main material from which the supporting structure of the building will be created, the parameters of the distance from the zero mark are also selected. For example, the height of the strip foundation at a shallow bed is almost always equal to its underground part - that is, about 50-60 centimeters. At the same time, there is no particular difference where strip foundation in the Moscow region will fit, since the approximate soil profile is the same for the entire central region and most of the surrounding areas of the country. By type of structure, you can present approximate figures for the distance from the edge of the wall to the ground level:

• 30-40 centimeters - for brick and monolithic structures;
• 40-50 centimeters - when using aerated foam blocks, large ceramic materials;
• Over 50 centimeters - when constructing a frame, prefabricated or wooden house, since the material is most strongly susceptible to external influences.

What is the height of a monolithic foundation to make?

This question arises most often, since in the strip base there is a rather small area of ​​the foundation surface, which can be increased with the help of various building materials. In the pile and screw version of the foundation, the technology itself provides for at least 20 centimeters from the extreme point of the ground to the bottom of the grillage strapping. Since a monolithic foundation slab, the price of which is already quite high, requires homogeneous pouring to a certain height, it is best to consult with our company's specialists on how to simplify the basement structure and reduce the financial costs of creating a slab foundation. contour build-up of the basement with bricks, and fill the interior space with more accessible screed for floors. Anyway, professional help never hurts when creating a reliable and durable foundation.

Exactly what the height of the foundation will be sufficient for your particular cottage can be determined exclusively by a trained specialist of InnovaStroy. More than 7 years of practice and our own developments in the field suburban construction allow providing each customer with objective and substantiated data on all the nuances of building a foundation for a cottage, not only in Moscow, but throughout Russia. Use the services of professionals to prevent premature and unexpected costs of repairs and restoration of the load-bearing parts of the cottage.

Not everyone knows and, most importantly, understands why the basement of the building is needed. From a technical point of view, a plinth is a structural element that is located between the foundation and the building frame. It performs many tasks.

Peculiarities

Technically speaking, a plinth is that part of the foundation that is located above ground level. Its main purpose is to evenly redistribute the load on the supports in order to increase the stability of the structure and a long service life.

The plinth solves a number of important tasks:

• is the basis for the construction of the building frame;
• in the presence of a basement floor, it functions as walls;
• special air vents are mounted in the basement, which play the role of ventilation holes, thanks to this, the basement is well ventilated and does not rot under the influence of high humidity and low temperatures;
• the height of the plinth protects the floors from the cold coming from the ground.

All this determines the special importance of the base for the strength and durability of the whole house, which is why its competent arrangement is very important.

If the surface of the basement is not covered with finishing materials, then it quickly becomes dirty, which can cause its rapid destruction and deterioration of the state of the foundation and floors of the entire structure.

The cladding material protects the foundation from damage by fungal microorganisms and mold, and also prevents the appearance of "insect colonies" under the main part of the house.

It is very important to give Special attention insulating the basement, since the basements function as a large accumulator, sucking all the heat out of the building, and even a warm floor cannot prevent this. And besides, the insulated plinth is important to maintain the strength of the structure, since when severe frosts quite often, erosion processes begin in the foundation.

A stylish plinth can be a decoration of a building, an accent that will emphasize design solution facade and impeccable taste of the property owners.

Views

The basement plays a very important role in all buildings where there is a corresponding floor or a large basement.

In terms of structure, plinths are:

• sinking;
• speakers;
• aligned with the outer facade.

The western option is most popular because it requires less materials for its arrangement, and in addition, it is not flooded with rain, and this is very beneficial, since it allows you to abandon the installation of gutters. The sinking base, as a rule, is protected by a layer of effective waterproofing, therefore it tolerates rain and snow melting better, and it lasts much longer.

Purely visually, the sunken plinth looks like top part the building protrudes above the bottom, this contributes to the fact that a double protection from moisture is formed, so that the basement remains dry.

The protruding base looks more aesthetically pleasing, but the arrangement requires mandatory installation additional systems drainage along the upper edge to protect the basement from moisture ingress. Modern house building v last years practically abandoned protruding plinths, since this option requires much more effort, time and money for its arrangement, and in addition, it has a reduced resistance to wind and melt water, is prone to corrosion and, as a result, wears out faster.

In fairness, it is worth noting the fact that the thermal insulation with such an organization of the base is higher than with other options.

And you will also need to close the waterproofing layer and install a drainage mechanism to remove rainwater. This base makes sense if external walls the houses according to the technical design are too thin. At the same time, it looks quite aesthetically pleasing, giving the entire structure a tangible monumentality.

But to build a basement level with outside wall experts strongly advise against. In this case, the owners of the house will not be able to protect it with a layer of waterproofing, which means that the risk of excessive dampness in the most vulnerable zones will increase, and the aesthetics of this design is “lame” - a foundation aligned to the walls will never make as good an impression as a relief one.

Dimensions (edit)

The size of the basement is influenced by the type of foundation, the general design of the house, the basic parameters of the soil, as well as the purpose of the basement - there are special instructions for this. For example, if a heating boiler is located in the basement of a private house, then the basement must necessarily have access to the street.

Many owners of residential real estate believe that if they do not equip the basement, then there is no need for the basement, and the foundation can be built flush with the ground - and this is a very big delusion. The main task of the basement is not to protect the basement, but to isolate the facade and floors of the building from contact with the ground. It is in order that the groundwater does not rise upwards by capillary through the concrete, between the front and basement part of the wall, a layer of waterproofing, usually roofing material, is necessarily laid.

In accordance with the standards, in an ordinary private house, the basement should rise above the ground at a distance of about 30-40 cm.If the building is built of wood, it makes sense to make the basement higher - 60-70 cm, and if the house has a basement floor, then the basement should at all rise 1.5-2 meters above the ground level - it is this height that gives the maximum compliance with existing standards. The height of the base does not depend in any way on the material from which it is equipped, be it stone, brick or cinder block options - any coatings suffer from water equally.

It is very important to take into account the natural and climatic zone, namely: the average temperature in the cold season, as well as the average rainfall. If you are just planning to build a house, then the approximate height of the basement can be calculated empirically - for this, over the course of several years, you will need to measure the depth of the maximum snow cover, then find the average value and add 10 cm to it.

According to the current SNiP, the minimum base height should be 20 cm, however, from a practical point of view, this parameter should be higher.

Of course, the arrangement of a high basement will cost more, since it requires more costs for concreting work. Nevertheless, this is exactly the case when economy should fade into the background, in priority the strength of the base and high performance.

Let's figure out why the height is so important, and what the size of the base affects.

The main thing is that the degree of security of the entire building and its indoor spaces from adverse factors external environment and mechanical damage. At the same time, you need to set the height wisely, since every extra centimeter will significantly increase the total cost of construction work. In addition, it is important to focus on protecting the lower part of the facade from frost by laying a layer of high-quality thermal insulation from the outside or from the inside.

If you have any difficulties in calculating the optimal height of the base, then you should contact a specialist. Their help, as a rule, is not gratuitous, but it is better to spend the extra money on competent planning of the house than to later give much larger sums for its reconstruction.

Materials (edit)

For the construction of the lower part of the building, as a rule, one of the following materials is used:

• stone - is distinguished by its strength, but requires high-quality thermal insulation;
• brick is the most common material for arranging plinths;
• concrete - gives good stability to multi-storey buildings;
• foam and gas blocks - allow you to build a base as quickly as possible, hygroscopic;
• FBS blocks - have a high margin of safety, are used in multi-storey construction.

Choice suitable material is based on existing project documentation... Let's dwell on the advantages and disadvantages of each of the listed materials.

A natural stone

Stone is a rather expensive finishing material. At the same time, it is characterized by increased strength and durability. This type of plinth finish has been relevant for several decades, and only granite material and marble or limestone cladding can compete with it.

Naturally, a non-natural version of the stone is used; for arranging the basement, cut slabs with a textured surface are produced, in which decorative protrusions are preserved to give a natural look.

Plinths made of natural stone look very elegant and original. Such a foundation is optimal for private houses and cottages built in classical or English style. At the same time, the process of installing a stone basement is quite laborious and requires a lot of effort, time and money, and in addition, it requires professional equipment, which is not in every home, so these days such a basement is rather a rarity.

Brick

A brick base is considered the most popular option, it has a relatively low cost price, and the installation itself does not present great difficulties for a person who has at least minimal construction and finishing works.

In practice, several options for arranging such foundations are used, they are based on combining various materials... So, brick surface is usually not the final appearance, it can be painted or plastering. It is important to keep in mind that only silane-siloxane paints are used in the decoration of the base, they are distinguished by good hygroscopicity and reliably protect the base from water penetration.

Plasters should also be used special designed for facade works... For the arrangement of the basement, brick of the M-50 brand is used, the minimum masonry is 4 rows.

Concrete blocks

This material is also popular in construction work due to the strength and stability of such a base.

The current standards impose strict requirements on the weight of the blocks used: when doing manual masonry, it should not exceed 100 kg, and when using special metal or wooden levers, a block weight of 500 kg is allowed.

This option is perhaps the only one that is suitable for arranging a basement floor - that is, in cases where the basement is not just a basement, but a real living space.

When laying such material, it is necessary to take into account:

• the use of reinforcement to increase the stability of the building;
• pouring the bottom layer with concrete;
• the need for thermal insulation of the base;
• filling is performed in stages in several stages, avoiding the formation of seams in any direction.

Monolithic base

With the use of concrete, a monolithic basement is also equipped, such work is based on the construction of a formwork frame, where cement mortar is poured, after which it hardens 2 in 1 is obtained: both the foundation and the base at the same time.

At the same time, to design such a plinth, corrugated fiberglass, rubber mats and other materials are often laid in the formwork, which give the plinth a wide variety of textures.

After the concrete hardens, the formwork is removed, the surface is cleaned, voids are closed and external defects are eliminated, then covered with a reinforcing mesh and a topcoat is applied.

Foam block

A foam block base is another option for arranging a concrete foundation.

This material is distinguished by a porous structure, which is due to the peculiarity of the hardening of the foaming agent, and sand, cement and water, mixed using a special technology, are also part of the components.

As a rule, such a coating looks like a bar externally, but sometimes it is produced in other versions: with spikes, grooves, and the like.

Foam blocks are optimal for arranging the lower part of the facade, since they are highly durable and stable, but at the same time they have a low weight (14-20 kg), and thanks to their dimensions, all work can be carried out in the shortest possible time.

Note that using this type concrete structures compulsory steam and waterproofing is required at the stage of preparatory work.

Wood

This option is used very rarely and, as a rule, is popular in ecovillages, where residents prefer wood as the main building material. With this option for arranging the basement, they use completely round logs or a bar with a section of 15x15 cm or more.

Device

The device of the basement is a process that combines several important stages: equipment of the ventilation system, waterproofing, the construction of the basement itself and its finishing.

Ventilation

The humidity level in the basement is always high. This is due to the fact that moisture and evaporation rises from the soil base, which, having no way out, begin to be deposited on the surface of the bearing structures of knowledge. This has a rather detrimental effect on the operational properties of the latter, causes corrosion of the metal and rotting of wooden supports, which significantly reduces their service life. Unfortunately, this is far from the only consequence of moisture. The air in basements and basements is an ideal environment for the growth of life-threatening fungi and molds. These microorganisms lead to the development of allergic and bronchopulmonary diseases, since during inhalation they enter the lungs of a person, having the most destructive effect on them.

That is why the issue of ventilating closed rooms, especially basements, is always of particular relevance. The ventilation of the basement is arranged in two ways: natural and forced.

Natural ventilation involves the arrangement of special vents, that is, holes that will facilitate free air circulation. Ventilation of this type is provided due to the temperature difference between the air inside and outside the basement. Depending on the design of the base / plinth, the ventilation device may differ. For example, if the basement is built of monolithic concrete, then during the installation of the formwork, small pieces of asbestos pipes are laid in advance, the dimensions of which directly depend on the size of the ventilated room.

The vents are closed with special grates that prevent rats, mice and other rodents from settling in the basement of an apartment building. These gratings are usually made of polymer materials.

There are no standards governing the amount and size of air ducts, so the owners of a private house must plan ventilation holes independently, based on data on the wind rose, seasonal temperature fluctuations and precipitation. However, any professional builder can choose the optimal number of ducts and their location, based on their experience with ventilation systems in buildings of different types.

Forced ventilation has a slightly different mechanism of action and a different scope of use. This method is optimal for large basements where natural air circulation is ineffective.

To ensure ventilation of such spaces, ventilation pipes are laid in the box, which come out of the roof. Their height should not exceed the level of the roof ridge. For very large rooms, an option is used in which the inlet ventilation pipe is mounted at the level of the base, and the outlet - above the level of the ridge, while fans are installed in both pipes.

Engineering has taken a big step forward these days, which is why there is a wide variety of products on the market. automated systems forced ventilation related to sensors for detecting the moisture level in the basement. Thanks to the functioning of such systems in the basement, any increase in the humidity level above the established one is excluded; the system includes intensive air removal in cases when the indicator reaches a critical level.

Warming

The air temperature in individual rooms of the entire building largely depends on the literacy of the arrangement of the basement, especially those whose walls face the street. And in general, the microclimate in a residential building is largely formed due to the degree of basement insulation. This is not surprising, because the base is in direct contact with the ground, supporting supports and the floor.

If insufficient attention has been paid to thermal insulation during the arrangement of the foundations, the room will be cold and damp.

High-quality insulation of the basement neutralizes the effect of cold bridges and leads to significant heat savings, which reaches 15-20%. This stage is so important, because at least 15% of the heat from living quarters can go through the walls of the basement, as a result, freezing of the foundation and supporting structures occurs. As a result, materials begin to deteriorate, and the air in the basement becomes damp and "rich" in mold, mildew and moss. In addition, a feature of many regions of Russia is the clay structure of the soil, the soil is characterized by a high degree of heaving, and under conditions low temperature a phenomenon called "frost heaving" occurs - the soil increases, which often causes deformation and displacement of the building frame. Thermal insulation will be able to prevent this process and, accordingly, reduce the risks of distortions and subsidence of structures.

The basement can be insulated both from the inside and from the outside.

Insulation performs the following tasks:

• contributes to the formation of a favorable microclimate;
• protects the facade from soil and atmospheric sedimentary moisture;
• minimizes the risk of condensate settling on wooden supporting elements of the foundation;
• extends the life of the house as a whole.

From a practical point of view, both internal and external insulation of the basement gives the same result. The only difference comes down only to the appearance of all structures as a whole - insulation from the outside involves finishing finishing work, which makes the basement more attractive and aesthetic.

Used thermal insulation materials without fail must meet a number of requirements:

• low thermal conductivity - it is from this parameter that the property of retaining heat in the room primarily depends;
• hygroscopicity - the coating should not absorb water, since even its minimum concentration significantly degrades the operational parameters of the insulation and shortens the service life;
• high compressive strength - this allows the coating to tolerate well the pressure exerted by the soil.

All of the above requirements are best met by board materials. as well as modern sprayed insulation.

Waterproofing

There are a lot of options for arranging effective waterproofing; conditionally, they can be divided into several types. It can be:

• penetrating;
• pasting;
• painting;
• coating waterproofing;
• arrangement of a clay ring;
• drainage.

A clay ring is formed in the part of the facade, which is located just below the ground level. To do this, the clay composition is mixed and laid down, after which the foundation should be tied around the entire perimeter of the basement to a depth of about 20-30 cm. Further, the clay is compacted as much as possible and sprinkled with sand and crushed stone.

Blind area and drainage are also effective methods of waterproofing a basement. At the same time, for the lowest level of the basement, a drainage pipe is installed, through which groundwater will be diverted.

The blind area differs in location - it fits exactly in the place where upper layer the ground is in contact with the plinth.

The width of the blind area is about 1 meter, as a rule, asphalt or concrete is used for it, which are placed along the perimeter of the building frame. At the same time, it is most important to equip a good sealing of the places in which the base is in contact with the blind area. Urethane mastic is suitable as a sealant. This structure must necessarily be located with a slight slope.

These two methods are considered the easiest and fastest in terms of their arrangement.

The glued waterproofing is based on the use of roll materials made of bitumen or synthetic polymers, which are glued in several layers, less often they are fused. In some cases, multilayer membranes or isospan can be used. The minimum number of layers is 2, while it is necessary to form an overlap of 15-25 cm.

According to professional builders, this method requires preliminary preparation surface and strict adherence temperature regime when carrying out work.

The advantages of this method are obvious:

• low price;
• plastic;
• environmental Safety;
• high adhesion to stone surfaces, as well as to concrete and wood;
• simplicity and ease of installation.

All work can be carried out independently without the use of professional equipment.

However, not everything is so perfect - the gluing waterproofing has its drawbacks. The surface must be pre-cleaned and specially prepared: leveled and dried. In addition, the tensile strength of rolled materials raises great doubts, and under the influence of external unfavorable factors, such coatings begin to deform and become unusable.

As the name suggests, coating waterproofing is made using coating materials - most often bituminous and polymer mastics are used for this, a more modern option is considered liquid rubber... This waterproofing is ideal for plinths made of brick and concrete.

This coating is characterized by smoothness and uniform structure, absence of seams and good water resistance. At the same time, such materials are characterized by a short period of use - after 5-7 years they are covered with cracks.

Liquid glass can become a good alternative to the listed compositions - this is an innovative material that has been in the highest demand among users in recent years. Such insulation is easy to apply, environmentally friendly, resistant to temperature extremes and acid-base solutions.

Internal insulation allows the use of the same materials and methods as external insulation, for example geotextiles and roll materials will effectively protect the plinth from internal moisture. The choice can be stopped on other compounds: bikroelast, euroruberoid or hydrostekloizol.

However, sheet materials can also be used. They should be preferred in regions with snowy winters or in homes close to flood zones during the spring thaw. Waterproofing sheet withstands large volumes of water under high pressure... In this case, it is necessary to use steel with a thickness of at least 4 mm.

How to choose?

The most durable and strong, from a technical point of view, is the base, equipped with monolithic reinforced concrete, since only the most quality cement and river sand without any impurities. The frame of such a base is reinforced with reinforcement.

And here the most affordable material is brick. No less popular is a plinth made of concrete blocks, which are connected to each other with concrete mortars.

For one-story houses, they are most often used natural stone, which can be sawn or "wild". Masonry is carried out only using cement mortar, since when arranging a basement of this type, it becomes necessary to tightly seal all the holes between the stones so that the whole structure is a single whole.

As for the design of the basement, it directly depends on the characteristics of the foundation and not vice versa. The priority parameter in the construction of a house is the foundation, and the arrangement of the basement is, albeit important, but nonetheless of secondary importance.

If, with the help of the foundation, the facade is raised to a considerable height, at which the contact of the wall with melt water is completely excluded, then we can assume that the task of the basement has already been solved. It is this situation that arises when erecting foundations of pile and columnar types, while the basement serves as a fence for the space under the house and there are no special requirements for its strength and waterproofing.

That is why, in most cases, the arrangement of the basement is reduced to buying finishing material- here the choice is great: from siding to natural granite. This type of base is called decorative and it will be a big mistake to use it as a fence for filling inside the sand, since the base can only support the base if the structure has own foundation and is characterized by high resistance to tipping over.

If the basement part is placed on a strip foundation, then it combines the functions of a barrier and a bearing support, in this case, waterproofing and insulation of this part of the house is mandatory.

If the house is built on screw piles, siding should be preferred.

How to do it yourself?

In order to build a plinth, you need special tools:

• shovel;
• cement dilution tank;
• concrete mixer or screwdriver;
• trowel;
• paint brush or roller;
• centimeter or tape measure.

As a rule, home craftsmen build a brick base on their own. All other options require a more professional approach, so we will dwell on this type of work in more detail. For masonry, you need to purchase bricks, cement, sand, as well as waterproofing material, bitumen-based mastic and primer.

• lay out the first row of masonry in the corners, then, using a centimeter or tape measure, measure the conformity of the size of the basement for accuracy of compliance with the project, while the permissible deviation should not exceed 3 cm;
• mix the sand-cement mortar;
• using a trowel, lay the mortar on the corner masonry, then lay the first row of masonry around the perimeter, cover with a layer of mortar and strengthen the reinforcing mesh in it;
• carry out subsequent layers of brickwork.

Tip: the work will go faster and easier if you pull the cord around the perimeter - this will allow you to build layers evenly and without deviations from the required masonry parameters. By the way, to decorate the knot, a plinth strip is used.

When looking at private houses and cottages, the walls of which are located high above the ground level, sometimes it is not so easy to guess that this is a basement. If it is lined with high quality, it can look very decorative and aesthetically pleasing.

Finishing the basement can be done in two ways:

• finishing coatings are attached directly to the surface of the base;
• a crate of beams or a metal profile is installed, to which decorative elements are mounted.

Most often used for cladding:

• stone - it is decorative and resistant to mechanical damage, such a facing requires the use of the services of professionals;
• plastic panels - modern industry produces panels that imitate color and texture natural materials(wood, stone and minerals), the installation of such plates is carried out on a pre-equipped frame and can be done on our own;
• ceramic tiles - offered in large selection colors and shades, allows you to create any pattern and ideally emphasize the thoughtfulness of the exterior;
• plaster - as a rule, decorative varieties of plaster intended for outdoor use are used.

The last finishing option is the most budgetary.

What kind of base to be is up to you, the main thing is that it reliably protects the building, and its aesthetics are nice bonus to strength and efficiency.

Beautiful examples

The plinth, as an important part of any exterior, needs decorative finishing. Here are examples of stylish and aesthetic options design.

It is not at all necessary to highlight the plinth on the facade, the designers allow the use of one material, for example, finishing bricks or siding.

Plastering is fashionable option... The main thing is to use a material that is resistant to moisture, for example, terrazite. Its advantage lies in the ability to choose any shade of finish that can be updated at any time, however, the repair of such a coating will have to be done more than once.

Another type of base / plinth finish is panels, which are quite widely represented in any hardware store... This is a common option that perfectly mimics natural textures.

Finishing clinker bricks- This is a rather expensive solution, but worth it.

Construction Materials

Peter Kravets

Reading time: 3 minutes

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When building a house, the height of the basement is taken arbitrarily, based on the wishes of the owner, who decided to make a room in the basement for different purposes, for example, a kitchen with a vegetable store. But when calculating, they still use data on the type of soil, the type of foundation and the materials used.

There are times when, when building a basement, they do not pay due attention to it, sincerely believing that it is enough to just bring it beyond the surface of the earth in order to continue the construction of the house. But this assumption is fundamentally wrong.

It must be understood that the basement is the part of the house located above the ground. And the higher the basement height, the less moisture penetrating inside. Ground water, flood, precipitation - there are a lot of sources of wet impact on the base, and this process occurs constantly.

Foundation walls must be separated by layers of waterproofing from the main part of a two-story (or more) residential building, since moisture still penetrates through the smallest capillaries into the material, and significantly increases the level of humidity in the premises.

If a kitchen is equipped in the basement, then it is necessary to isolate from moisture from the inside, since the steam from the processing of products will form condensation.

When erecting a basement, you can use SNIP 2.08.01 for residential buildings and SNiP 2.08.02 for public buildings.

If you place the walls of the building too low, then the lower parts of the structure will constantly get wet, which will lead to their slow destruction and loss of thermal insulation properties.

As a result, the terms of use of the building will begin to decrease, and it will not always be clear due to what factors. This explains the importance of the basement occupying the required height from the earth's surface.

Typical parameters of the height of the base from the ground according to the rules

To find out what the maximum height of the technical underground can be, it is necessary to clarify the minimum parameters. According to the requirements of building codes, in a residential country house, the minimum basement height should be approximately 0.3-0.4 m.

When installing with a wooden beam, this distance should be increased to 0.6-0.8 m. If the presence of a zero floor is provided, then the minimum height of the technical underground will be from 1.5-2 m.

To determine the height in a particular case, the climatic conditions of the construction site, the likelihood of flooding by melt and ground waters, the frequency and abundance of precipitation, indoor and outdoor temperatures (especially in winter) are taken into account.

If it is possible to take into account all these factors, it is better to seek the help of professionals, although in theory, these calculations can be carried out independently.

This issue touches upon the moments of the emergence of risks of repair and re-equipment of the structure, as well as significant financial expenses.

In order to understand why the optimal height of the basement of the house is calculated, it is necessary to determine several of its functions:

• Preventing the interior of the house from getting wet;
• Compensation of shrinkage phenomena of the soil arising from the pressure of the weight of the house structure on it;
• Protection facing materials buildings from pollution;
• High-quality ventilation of the underground (when arranging kitchens, additional ventilation ducts are made);
• Increasing the service life of the overlap when using tape or columnar foundation, in addition, the thermal insulation indicators of the subfloor depend on the height of the basement;
• Improvement appearance buildings, since a house with a plinth visually looks very presentable.

It is necessary to pay special attention to the height of the basement when building from a wooden bar, which is prone to decay at the ends of the logs, which greatly complicates the repair and restoration work.

With this type of construction, they try to reduce the likelihood of wood decay; for this, the height of the basement above the ground is increased. Practice shows that some builders make a huge mistake, trying to reduce this height and neglecting the plinth for the sake of aesthetic reasons.

Of the disadvantages of increasing the height of the basement, one can only name the rise in the cost of building a residential building.

Important! To focus not on the advice of builders and your own considerations, it is important to know regulations, where the verified minimum height is indicated with a decoding of the origin of these verified values.

For example, SNIPs 31-02-2001 and 2.08.01-89 (basement floor height), set a height of at least 0.2 m for columnar and pile foundations. Such an indent is necessary on heaving soils in order to avoid their impact on the house. The greater the slope of the ground, the higher the zero floor should be.

Types of plinths

The construction of the basement may differ in the type and sequence of work, depending on the type of foundation. Most often, strip or pile foundations are used. In some cases, the base of the house is filled with a monolithic layer.

When choosing belt type basement basement can be monolithic (in the form concrete wall) or masonry (in this version, the foundation is made to the level of the ground surface, and then the masonry is erected - it is not enough to protect against different influences, therefore it is necessary to carry out insulation work and decorative finishing).

Relative to the walls of the facade, the basement can be executed as a sinking one (for buildings with thick walls), protruding (the only possible one for buildings where the basement floor and thin walls ( apartment buildings)), and flush (part of the basement smoothly passes into the facade, all parts of the house are located in the same plane, usually one-story houses or summer cuisine in the country).

Influence of the type of base on its height from the ground according to the norms

The most expensive but necessary option is the protruding view. It is the only one possible for buildings with a used basement. The height is taken for such a case, the maximum, otherwise it is impossible to achieve acceptable thermal insulation characteristics of the building.

For buildings without basements and a basement (most often this is a summer kitchen on a personal plot), it is worth choosing the western option. The facade overhanging wall will be the optimal protection against mechanical and atmospheric damage. In this case, the minimum height is taken, the lower it is, the better the protection will be.

The basement of a house on one of the low foundations is usually made of blocks or bricks. It should be noted that the use of blocks significantly increases the characteristics of the building in terms of strength and stability.

Both types of performance require finishing work and insulation work. If the groundwater passes close to the surface, then they equip the drainage system, and if it is deep enough, it is enough to make a blind area.

The base on piles can be low (if the grillage is located at ground level), or raised. Columnar, as the most unstable, requires a height of at least 0.2 m.

The gaps between the posts are laid with bricks or shields. Due to design features, an unnecessarily high base cannot be. Positioning on piles with different options heights can be found in the photo freely available.

Features of waterproofing and insulation at different heights

But no matter how thoroughly the strip foundation is erected, its effectiveness can be reduced to zero, if you do not equip ventilation holes around the entire perimeter at a distance of no more than 3 meters from each other. They provide high-quality ventilation as well as internal partitions and walls.

Such openings are closed with ventilation grilles to protect against the ingress of debris, dirt and small insects into the room. It is strictly forbidden to use plugs for this purpose, since the inherent basements moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth.

If a kitchen is being set up in the basement, then the steam from the processed products should also be taken into account. Examples of this use of underground can be found in a variety of photos in open sources.

Important! In a public building, technical basements should be divided in order to fire safety, with partitions for compartments not more than 500 m2, in non-sectional residential buildings, and in sectional ones - in sections.

The foundation is the foundation of any wooden structure. It takes the main load during operation and protects the house from negative impact groundwater.

FACTORS AFFECTING FOUNDATION SIZE

The foundation consists of a basement and an underground part, the dimensions of which depend on several factors:

1. Type of soil and its change in the autumn-spring period. To the foundation laid on capricious sandy or swampy soils, special requirements are imposed.

2. The level of soil freezing and the presence of groundwater. The base must lie below these points, requires high-quality waterproofing and insulation.

3. Weight and number of storeys of a wooden house.

4. Tasks of the basement and basement.

VALUE OF BASE

The aboveground part of the foundation performs several functions:

· Prevents internal floors from getting wet;

· Compensates for soil shrinkage;

· Protects the cladding of the house from pollution;

· Promotes high-quality ventilation of the underground;

· Increases the thermal insulation characteristics of the building;

· Considered an architectural decoration.

The height of the basement plays a huge role, especially for wooden houses, since rotting of the lower rows makes it difficult to carry out renovation works and reduces the service life of the building.

The standard height is about 30-40 cm.But experts advise equipping the ground part of the foundation of a wooden house to a height of 60-80 cm.On clay soils, this value can reach 80-90 cm, and 50 cm is enough for sandy soils.

RIBBON BASE

A common version of the foundation for a wooden house. Monolithic structure allows you to equip useful area basement at a moderate construction cost.

In areas with severe winters and freezing of the soil to an impressive depth, the underground part of the strip foundation can reach 1.5 meters. The height of the basement depends on several conditions (for example, the presence of a boiler room or a basement). The firebox requires special responsibility, therefore the height of the ground part is characterized by safe use and correct placement equipment.

Regardless of the quality of the soil and terrain conditions, it is recommended to erect plinths of sufficient height for wooden buildings. Wood is a very capricious material, therefore, the higher the house is raised above the ground, the longer it will stand.

The optimal size of the strip foundation is about two meters, which means that ground part is equal to 50 cm.

PLINTH CLASSIFICATION FOR TAPE FOUNDATION

The aboveground part is divided into two types:

1. Monolithic. The base is made in the form of a solid (inseparable) concrete canvas.

2. Masonry. First, the lower part of the foundation is poured (to the level of the soil), and then the basement is laid out (made of brick or other material). Less reliable option requiring additional cladding.

PLATE BASE

According to building codes, a monolithic slab should rise above the ground surface by at least 20 cm.But for regions with an unregulated level of snow cover, this parameter should be increased to 40 cm.

Monolithic slab considered the most reliable type of foundation. Its underground part should be buried below the level of soil freezing. The strength of the slab does not depend on potential ground movements, but in case of probable seismic displacements, its height must be increased. The total thickness of the foundation depends on the weight of the wooden house, its number of storeys, area and type of soil.

PILE FOUNDATION

Arrangement of a basement on a pile foundation is accompanied by certain difficulties. Its dimensions depend on the height of the ground section of the piles. The plinth can be hinged or made on a tape.

The design of the hinged version consists of a wooden or iron crate, fixed along the entire perimeter. After the arrangement, it must be sheathed with any facing material.

The second option is more complicated and costly. The masonry is carried out on a strip foundation. Its main advantage is enough high quality thermal insulation.

PLINTH CONSTRUCTION

The ground section of the foundation can be made in several versions:

· Westerner. Economical option plinth, typical for walls with a small thickness. Allows you to hide the ledge with waterproofing material or a small layer of soil.

· Presenter. Requires more building materials. Provides reliable protection of a wooden house from cold air, but needs to be equipped with high-quality waterproofing and drainage.

· The plinth is flush with the wall. The most unfortunate and rarely used solution, which requires constant control over the cut of the waterproofing layer.

MATERIALS

For the construction of the above-ground part of the foundation, it is necessary to use durable materials - concrete, brick, different kinds stone. In most cases, the basement of a wooden house needs an armored belt to be installed. The number and thickness of reinforcing bars depends on the structure of the building.

· For wooden houses, a monolithic concrete base is best suited. Its arrangement requires the installation of formwork and reinforcement cage.

· For a structure made of solid (not gas silicate!) Brick, it is necessary to take material with high frost resistance.

· The use of concrete blocks requires special skill. Between them, various voids will certainly remain, which in the future must be filled with a cement mixture.

HEAT AND WATERPROOFING

High-quality heat and waterproofing are mandatory steps in arranging the basement of a wooden house. Insulation must be done with porous materials with minimal water absorption. For waterproofing, bituminous mastics or roll materials are suitable.

The height of the basement and the features of its arrangement depend on many parameters. But under any conditions, the minimum level of the ground part should not be less than 20 cm. This will help keep the house from flooding and increase the life of the lower wooden crowns.

The content of the article

It is known that concrete foundation any type must necessarily rise some distance above the soil level. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve isolation of the walls of the building from its base. This prevents the harmful effects of capillary processes that constantly feed the building with soil moisture.

The foundation stays in high humidity conditions almost constantly. This is facilitated by precipitation, groundwater, and melting of snow masses. Therefore, there must be some minimum height of the foundation above the ground, ensuring the safety and dryness of the walls.

What are the functions of the foundation of the building?

The foundation, raised above the soil level, is not only the support for the entire structure.

In addition to this main function, it also solves certain tasks:

Foundation height of a wooden house

For a wooden house, a sufficient base height is especially important, since preventing rotting of the lower row of wood is sine qua non erecting a house made of wood. Such a foundation can be made of concrete, brick, metal or wood. The type of foundation can be strip, pile or columnar.

An indispensable condition is high-quality waterproofing of the base. As a mandatory waterproofing, you can use coating materials ( bituminous mastic, cement-polymer-based slurry), as well as roll materials (hydro-insol, glass-insol, roofing material).

Optimal height The plinth is selected based on the climatic characteristics of the area. It usually exceeds the average snow depth by 10 cm. It is advisable to protect the foundation for a wooden house from moisture not only from below, but also on the sides. This can be done by covering with ceramic tiles or clinker.

The higher the base of the house is, the better its thermal insulation will be, and the longer it will stand without complaints.

Height of strip foundation

consists of its aboveground and underground parts. The optimal height of a monolithic strip foundation above the earth's surface is about 35-40 cm. In some cases, this value may change. But its underground depth depends on the properties of the soil.

According to the provisions of SNiP, the depth of the foundation is determined as follows:

• Freezing of non-porous soil by 2 m or slightly loose soil by 1 m - the foundation is deepened by 50 cm.
• Freezing of non-porous soil by 3 m or slightly loose soil by 1.5 m - the foundation is deepened by 75 cm.
• Freezing of non-porous soil more than 3 m or slightly porous soil by 2.5 m - the foundation is deepened by 100 cm.
• Freezing of weak soil by 3-3.5 m - the foundation is deepened by 150 cm.

The depth of the strip base is very much dependent on the level of groundwater. When groundwater is found near the surface, it is strongly not recommended to lay weakly buried foundations.

Regardless of the level of soil freezing and soil characteristics. Groundwater contributes not only to dampness of the base, but also to its sedimentation, distortions and gradual destruction.

How to calculate the height of a slab-type foundation?

They usually prefer to build a slab foundation on weak, unstable, heaving soils. A monolithic slab is able to resiliently withstand soil heaving and its settlement, without violating the integrity of the entire structure. But this does not mean that it can be laid directly on the ground, that is, an unburied foundation can be made. In some cases, this is allowed, but only on rocky and non-rocky soils. In all other cases reinforced concrete slab must be buried to a certain level.