How to make foundation blocks with your own hands. Construction of foundations from hollow, reinforced concrete and foam-concrete blocks Do-it-yourself hollow blocks for the foundation

House, sauna, gazebo, veranda, summer kitchen - everything starts from the foundation. The foundation is the full foundation of any building. Its cost reaches a third of the total cost of construction. Therefore, it is so important to choose the right type and material of the foundation. It is quite possible to build the base yourself, which will save you a lot of money.

Why do you need a foundation

The term "foundation" comes from Latin. "Fundamentum" means "foundation".

Foundation - an underground or underwater part of a structure, which transfers to its soil base the static load created by the weight of the structure, and additional dynamic loads created by wind or the movement of water, people, equipment or vehicles. A properly designed foundation transfers all loads to the soil in such a way that the possibility of unacceptable settlement and destruction of the structure is excluded.
Collier Encyclopediahttp://dic.academic.ru

Foundations save the house from manifestations of the "bad character" of complex soils and not only from groundwater, but also from ordinary, "regular" precipitation. The foundation must support the weight of the building. It is possible to build a luxurious and very expensive house, but if the design, depth and material of the foundation were chosen incorrectly, even on the most prosperous soil, the building will slump and crack. Before building a foundation of blocks, you need to make sure that it is suitable for this structure.

The dependence of the choice of block foundation on the characteristics of the site

Before designing a house, it is necessary to order a geodetic conclusion about the features of the site.

You can, of course, check with your neighbors - but this will not be entirely reliable. Sometimes even neighboring areas differ greatly in terms of soil, water, and other characteristics.

Priming

Textbook "Soils. Foundations. The choice of the optimal foundation ”classifies soils as follows:

Rocky soils are, rather, crystalline rock, rock, and not earth, and sedimentary rock (dolomites, compressed sandstones, shales, shell rocks, limestones). Any foundation is acceptable, except for a pile foundation (it is difficult to drill a rock).
Conglomerates - fragments of varieties of rocky soils; do not erode and do not change in volume, freezing; any foundation is acceptable.
Non-rocky soils:
- related - clay and loamy; freeze deep; able to “float” and move, only heavy types of foundations are suitable;
- unbound - sandy and sandy soils; when wet, they tend to move, they freeze shallowly; foundations of any type are suitable.

The type of soil can vary even in neighboring areas

If your site is a mass of rock, untouched sandstone or sedimentary rocks, then you can easily put a block foundation. It is also good if the soil of the site consists of sand or dense loamy soils.

Table: minimum foundation depth in sand and clay

For a rough understanding of what soils are available on your site, there is an old-fashioned way: drill a hole with a garden drill and examine soil samples from different depths. The sample is wetted with water, and if it can be kneaded like dough, then it is loam. If the earth dissolves in water, it contains a large percentage of the loamy component. If sediment falls, then clay is at the bottom, and sand is above it.

To test the soil, you need to place the sample in a glass of water.

ground water

The groundwater level is the most important characteristic of soils. If the level is small, then a shallow strip foundation made of blocks is perfect for us. If it is quite high, then the tape should be buried to a great depth.

The structure of the groundwater in your area has a huge impact on the choice of foundation type.

The depth of freezing in our area is on average up to one meter, but deviations are possible. If you are making a buried foundation from blocks, then its lowest point should be below the freezing point of the soil.

The sole of the foundation must be below the maximum freezing depth of the soil, so that swelling of the soil does not affect when freezing. The safe depth depends on annual temperature fluctuations, on the type and range of local soil variations, and on the normal groundwater level. In addition, seasonal changes in the volume of clay soils are sometimes observed, which should not be allowed under a foundation laid on a natural base.
Collier Encyclopediahttp://dic.academic.ru

Freezing depth - a factor affecting the depth of the foundation

The most dangerous factor is directly related to the level of soil water and soil classification.

Water "lenses"

Where permeable sand or sandy loam lies on a layer of clay, precipitation penetrates through the upper soil and remains under it in the form of so-called "lenses" that lie on an impenetrable base and can severely damage the foundation. You need to be sure that there will be no "lenses" on the way of laying the block foundation.

If there are "lenses" in the soil, only a pile-strip foundation is used

Foundation selection

From all of the above factors - soils, water balance, the presence of lenses, the depth of freezing, summarized in one geodetic conclusion, the choice of the form of the foundation from the blocks depends. But it also depends on your preferences, and on the blocks that may already be available, and even on the time of year. Therefore, you need to understand the main advantages, milestones and dangerous moments of the construction of each block foundation.

As we already know, the foundation of the blocks is of two types: columnar and tape.

The strip foundation of the blocks is small, non- and deeply buried. It is built from expanded clay, foam and cinder blocks, concrete blocks, concrete panels, laid on a pillow from a draining mixture. Not very suitable for unreliable soils, but the problem is usually solved by deepening and expanding the “tape”, laying a widened concrete or block base from pillow blocks and creating a capital reinforced concrete grillage.
The strip foundation, depending on the soil, can be shallow, deep or not deep.
The columnar foundation of blocks is perhaps the simplest and most inexpensive to build. It also happens to be small, non- and deeply buried and is also made from expanded clay, foam and cinder blocks, concrete blocks, concrete panels (non-monolithic pillars) laid in pits (if the pillar is buried) or simply on the ground (if not buried) on a pillow from a draining mixtures. Suitable for light buildings such as frame houses, arbors and greenhouses and any soil except marshy.
When building a shallow columnar foundation of blocks, a wooden grillage is used

Blocks

Block - a structural prefabricated element or product, usually prefabricated, used in modern industrial construction (for example, a three-dimensional, wall, window block).
Wikipedia
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BA_(%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8% D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE)

Let's look at this wonderful material: how good it is and how difficult it is for building a foundation.

standardization of blocks: as a rule, if a block is produced in an official production, its exact dimensions are strictly regulated (for concrete blocks, this is GOST 13579–78);
speed of construction (for a concrete tape, the construction time is dictated by the month of concrete hardening);
relative cheapness;
in difficult soils, a block reinforced structure better resists deformations;
ease of assembly that does not require special skills (moreover, if something went wrong, you can disassemble the foundation and fold it again);
a huge size range and a variety of blocks allow you to lay down the foundation of any complexity, size and design;
the blocks are structurally provided with voids, grooves, reinforcing inserts and even recesses for the thickness of the solution, which incredibly simplifies assembly.

for some types of blocks, as well as for concrete panels, you will need equipment - a crane or a winch;
interblock seams do not provide tightness - thus, the foundation needs vertical waterproofing;
block foundations are still not shown for buildings with a high mass.

Types of blocks for building a foundation

Blocks are parallelepipeds made of solid or foamed concrete with or without various fillers. The type of block dictates the size and weight, thermal insulation and foundation design.

Concrete blocks can have different fillers

concrete blocks

Concrete blocks are monolithic and devoid of air bubbles. They are classified according to several criteria:

for their manufacture by casting or pressing, different concrete is used - heavy, lightweight, light;
according to their purpose, they are divided into wall, basement, foundation;
to increase the heat-insulating properties, they are made slotted, hollow or with holes, but there are also solid blocks;
blocks are reinforced and without reinforcement.

Wall concrete blocks are also used for foundations that do not carry a large load.

Wall concrete blocks come in all colors and sizes

But if the foundation must be solid, then solid concrete foundation blocks (FBS) are used. They can be reinforced (heavy large variety) and not.

Concrete foundation blocks with reinforcement are used for heavy buildings

There are also base blocks, which are called "FL blocks" - from the words "tape foundation", made of heavy concrete. In everyday life they are humorously called "pillows". They are always reinforced.

The task of the foundation pads of the strip foundation is to increase the area of \u200b\u200bthe base

They fit in first. Due to the larger area, they distribute the weight of the overlying foundation blocks and the building.

Due to the larger area, FL-blocks distribute the weight of the overlying foundation blocks and the building

The unified sizes of the FBS and FL blocks are quite large. Their mass can reach up to two tons, and the density - up to 2500 kg / m 3. It is these blocks that require the use of a truck crane and for this they have reinforcing loops on the upper edge.

The unified sizes of the FBS and FL blocks are quite large

Foam concrete blocks

Foam concrete was invented to increase thermal insulation and reduce the weight of the blocks, which is brilliant and managed to be done. It is cellular concrete with pores created by the addition of a special foam processed in a mixer, without curing in an autoclave. Foam blocks have an interesting quality: at first, the blocks are quite soft (there is a term - “fresh foam blocks”), and then they can be cut with an ordinary saw and special devices; but they gain more strength with time. For the foundation, foam blocks are also used - but for its very light varieties.

Foam concrete blocks - a step forward in construction

gas silicate blocks

The pores in these blocks are not created by foam, but, as in yeast dough, by a chemical reaction of lime and aluminum powder with the release of a gas that creates bubbles. From lime, these blocks are white and elegant. But the same lime causes great hygroscopicity, so gas silicate blocks need serious waterproofing. They are autoclaved, so they have a high degree of unification. In terms of strength and hardness, gas silicate is much better than foam concrete, respectively, it is suitable for more solid foundations.

Gas silicate blocks - white and elegant

cinder blocks

They were once very common. Slag is simply mixed into an ordinary solution and dried in a mold, so they are “prickly” and rather fragile. They are very inexpensive, but do not require sophisticated equipment for production, so they are often made by small artisanal producers, and the cinder blocks are uneven in size and shape. They are quite heavy, although the size is smaller than that of foam concrete: 40x20x20 cm (and semi-blocks - 40x12x20 cm). They are little used for walls, as they emit harmful gases, but are widely used for any foundations because of their cheapness.

Full-size cinder block - once very common material

Expanded clay blocks

In their manufacture, not slag is added to the solution, but expanded clay (burnt foamed clay). These blocks are the least hygroscopic of all (except concrete), and one of the lightest. They are also often made hollow. Expanded clay blocks are the same size as cinder blocks and are almost as cheap. They are also often made in a handicraft way, so the size range is large.

Expanded clay blocks are full-sized in their qualities better than cinder blocks

In another way they are called "wood concrete". The filler is sawdust of large fractions. Such blocks are even close to wood in some properties: they are light, elastic and have good thermal insulation qualities, but are more hygroscopic; therefore, they also require accurate waterproofing. Wood concrete is very popular as a building material, but it is rarely used for foundations. Their sizes: 50x25x30 cm and 50x25x20 cm.

Arbolite blocks are closer in properties to a tree

Porous ceramic blocks

These beautiful, warm, waterproof and durable blocks with dimensions of 51x25x21.9 cm and 38x25x21.9 cm, of course, can also be put on the foundation. But they are very expensive, so they are rarely used even in the construction of walls. Although theoretically everything is possible. And suddenly there is a reserve from building a house, and you do not know what to use it for.

Porous ceramic blocks of different sizes are an expensive pleasure for a foundation

Material selection

Let's summarize all the information:

expanded clay and cinder blocks are dense, with better thermal insulation, but having a large variation in size due to handicraft production, not very strong, suitable for medium strip and column foundations;
foam concrete and gas silicate blocks are inexpensive, they are all the same, even and light, but with their hygroscopicity, great efforts will be needed to waterproof the foundation; nevertheless they are widely used for these purposes;
wood concrete blocks are subject to deformation and are very hygroscopic;
ceramic blocks are very expensive;
concrete blocks - the most durable, suitable for heavy foundations, but also poorly insulating, and the heaviest; nevertheless, their use in a strip foundation is the maximum guarantee of the quality of your foundation in any condition of your soil.

Columnar buried and non-buried foundation of blocks

The simplest columnar foundation, regardless of depth, is easiest to fold from blocks.

This foundation is made of blocks (wall concrete, expanded clay, foam concrete) or bricks. We will consider an unburied foundation, which is installed directly on the ground; small and deep ones differ only in that a different number of blocks are laid on the mortar in a conical pit on a sand-gravel cushion, and the deep pit is then filled up with the earth dug in front of it.

Columnar foundation (drawing in two positions, shallow and recessed) shows the principles of its construction

Required Tools

For the construction of the foundation you will need:

a construction mixer for mixing concrete (or a trough for mixing by hand);
bayonet shovel;
shovel;
hand wheelbarrow;
tamping (manual or vibro-);
rubber hammer;
hydraulic level (or laser level);
roulette.

Step-by-step creation of a columnar foundation

We choose a place for construction.
We are preparing the site: we mow the grass, we uproot the trees, we level the horizontal.
First of all, the soil surface is cleared of debris, trees, shrubs and their root system are removed.
With the help of twine and stakes, we mark out the platform (half a meter on each side more than the foundation) and the places where the “pillars” will stand. Pillars will need so much that they are a maximum of one and a half meters from each other. Then the building will be solid.
The foundation device begins with the markup
We deepen the ground within the boundaries of the site by 0.3 meters (you can do this only at the locations of the pillars, then less rubble will be needed).
We fall asleep crushed stone there, fill it with water, ram it.
We lay two or four blocks on crushed stone (in the first case - one above the other, in the second - layers in a perpendicular orientation) blocks on a self-prepared (M400 cement, sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 1, 2 and 5 parts, respectively) solution. Let the solution dry. The same principle is for bricks, only more of them will go away. Buying ready-made concrete is not worth it, since the consumption is small.
We put four (in perpendicular orientation) blocks into the pit on crushed stone
We coat the top of the pillars for waterproofing with molten bitumen and put pieces of roofing material.
We build a grillage from a wooden beam.
We connect it with plank stiffeners.
The grillage should be at a distance of more than 10 cm from the ground level

Video: construction of a columnar foundation from blocks

Strip foundation made of blocks

If you have started building a foundation, then you have a geodetic conclusion on the soil, groundwater level, freezing depth on the site and a house project. For example, you are planning to build a one-story log house.

To calculate the foundation, you will need a project of the whole house

Let us assume that our geodetic conclusion is favorable, so the foundation should not be particularly deep.

It must be remembered: even with the permitted minimum depth of the strip foundation of the blocks, there must be at least two blocks in height.

There are two ways, and their choice depends on the weight of the future house: put a foundation of large (for example, 2380x500x580 mm) FBS and FL blocks (for example, 2400x800x300 mm) according to all the rules. There will be much fewer seams in the “tape”, it will be stronger and, in terms of its qualities, close to a monolith. But this will require the use of a truck crane and an excavator to dig a huge trench. Yes, and for the future house, such a foundation is redundant and incredibly expensive, even though we can put a solid foundation only around the perimeter of the house, and at the intersections of the inner walls there will be enough pillars of wall blocks.

Calculator-online FBS blocks for a foundation 44 meters long

The online calculator and the simplest calculation based on approximate prices for central Russia show that FBS blocks alone will cost in our case more than 250 thousand rubles.

And you will also need FL blocks (which are even more expensive), a mortar and a sand-gravel mixture.

An example of using large blocks FBS and FL

The main difference between such work is the width of the trench.

The foundation of FBS and FL blocks is incredibly solid, incredibly durable and very rarely needed

For less heavy structures, the so-called intermittent foundation is suitable - when FL blocks are not placed close to each other, the allowable distance between them is no more than 0.7 meters; this allows you to save some money.

"Discontinuous foundation" - FL blocks are not close

Video: building a massive foundation from FBS and FL blocks

But it is better to use small wall blocks (for example, 200x200x400 mm), the so-called "manual" - which a person can lift with his hands, and without "pillows". In addition, such a foundation will be quite sufficient for a light-weight log house.

Strip foundation of small concrete blocks

First you need to draw a layout of blocks on the foundation in order to understand how much and which ones will be needed. If a whole number of blocks does not fit between the corners of the foundation, you can order "additional" blocks of the right size for laying the corners. In the same way, blocks with holes for communications (water supply, sewerage) and air vents will be needed. They can also be ordered. And you can lay the standard blocks with openings, which are then partially filled with mortar.

There are many online foundation calculators. But they are all designed for large FBS blocks. You can use the wall calculator by entering the data of our blocks and the dimensions of the foundation into it.

We get the results for the required amount of reinforcement and cross section of reinforcing bars.
Reinforcement in the reinforcing belt: section, location, quantity
We lay down the necessary numbers - the thickness of the tape is 0.3 meters, the length, width and height of the tape, the brand of concrete and click on the "calculate" button.
But there are many online calculators for concrete strip foundations, and they will help you calculate the consumption of concrete for a reinforcing tape. Calculations are usually made in accordance with SNiP 52-01-2003 "Concrete and reinforced concrete structures", SNiP 3.03.01-87 and GOST R 52086-2003.
The amount of mortar we need per masonry
We get the results: the length of the tape, the total area of \u200b\u200bthe masonry, the thickness of the wall, the required number of blocks, their volume and cost, the approximate weight of the solution, and other data.
Filling out forms with data for our foundation
We fill in the data for our foundation: the dimensions of the block, the total length of the walls (perimeter), the height of the tape at the corners, its thickness, the thickness of the mortar in the masonry, the use of masonry mesh (and how often we will use it), the average price of such a block in central Russia , block weight. Click on the "calculate" button.
We get the calculated result
In addition, the required amount of solution becomes clear.
We enter the parameters of the reinforcing belt for the block foundation
About 5 m 3 of concrete will be needed for the tape, and given the mortar that will be used for laying blocks and the upper reinforcing layer, you need to take it with a margin of 6 or 7 m 3.

The final result of calculations of the number and section of reinforcement

The calculations also show a drawing for the best location of the reinforcement in the reinforcing belt.

The location of the reinforcement in the reinforcing belt is shown in the calculations

Table: mortar proportions for Portland cement grade M400

We must not forget about the proportions of the preparation of the solution, depending on the brand of cement. We were counting on M400 Portland cement, but there can be many options.

Table: mortar proportions for Portland cement grade M500

Required Tools

To build such a foundation you will need:

Construction mixer for mixing concrete (or trough for mixing by hand).
Spade bayonet.
Owl shovel.
Hand wheelbarrow.
Ramming (manual or vibro-).
Welding machine (if you need to weld fittings).
Hammers of different weights.
Pliers.
Bulgarian for cutting reinforcing bars.
Nail puller, crowbar.
Hydraulic level (or laser level).
Roulette.
Circular saw (or hand saw, for cutting lumber during the construction of formwork).
Electric drill (for mounting the formwork).
Screwdriver (for mounting the formwork).
Goats (for mounting formwork).

Step by step implementation

We prepare the site, as in the previous case.
We make markings for digging trenches under the "tape". The pegs are not driven into the places of the expected corners of the foundation, but so that these corners are formed by the intersection of the cord. The pegs are driven in to the height of the future plinth.
The pegs are driven in to the height of the plinth
We dig trenches according to the plan, the intended width and depth.
We swarm trenches - do not forget about trenches for water supply and sewerage
At the bottom of the trenches, sand and crushed stone are poured for a drainage pillow to a height of about 0.3 meters.
The pillow is slightly filled with water and tamped - manually or by a mechanism called "vibrotamper".
The drainage mixture is processed with a vibrating plate or vibrorammer
For formwork, we saw the board into the necessary pieces with a circular saw according to the preliminary calculation.
We knock together or fix with the help of stops in the trench a low formwork for the reinforcing concrete belt.
We lay reinforcement on the sand in the formwork in the estimated number of layers and with the estimated frequency of installing vertical posts.
We knead the concrete mortar from cement, sand and gravel. If you have a construction mixer, then the process is quite easy.
Cement mortar can be mixed by hand or use a construction mixer
Pour the solution into the trench to a height of 30 centimeters. Such a support base will help to evenly distribute the mass of foundation blocks and walls of the house. So that there are no voids and bubbles in the hardened concrete, you need to stir it with a stick. The pouring must be done in one day, otherwise the foundation will be divided into segments that are poorly linked to each other due to the difference in “setting” time.
We smooth the filling flush with the formwork with a trowel; it is very important that it is perfectly flat for laying blocks. We cover the fill with a film and leave to gain a fortress for two weeks.
To create water resistance, roofing material is most often wetted with oil bitumen.
Now you can do the general waterproofing of the foundation.

Waterproofing

For high-quality waterproofing of a building, it is necessary to have a proper drainage system around the foundation.

Waterproofing the foundation itself is needed for two purposes: to prevent the penetration of moisture into the structure of the house from the foundation (done on the horizontal surface of the foundation) and to prevent the penetration of moisture into the foundation from the soil and the environment so that the concrete does not collapse when this moisture freezes. Let's talk about the second.

It is done in many ways:

coating - bitumen, polymer and epoxy mastics are used for this;
Pasting the foundation with waterproofing is overlapped

Pasting, as a rule, is combined with coating with mastic before and after pasting. If the pasting is multi-layered, a mesh is laid between its layers, which is used in conventional plastering.

The location of the layers when pasting should be only vertical; vertical overlap should not be less than 10 centimeters, horizontal - at least 30, and pasting must be done from below.

thermal insulation

In the case of a subfloor, it is important to have a thermally insulated foundation. Spray waterproofing also has thermal insulation properties. But polystyrene foam sheets are often used, sticking them on the blocks from the outside even before the foundation tape is backfilled with earth. They do not do this from the inside: double thermal insulation will cause condensation to form.

Insulate not only the foundation, but also the blind area

Video: building a foundation from blocks

From concrete blocks you can build a strong, reliable and almost eternal foundation. For a large house, heavy FBS concrete blocks are suitable; for a small building, it is worth picking up small lightweight blocks of foam or aerated concrete. In the process of building a foundation, you need to carefully consider its waterproofing, then the structure will be used for a long time and will maintain its integrity, regardless of external influences.

Concrete blocks for the foundation - a convenient and reliable building material designed for arranging basements and basements in a building, allows the developer to significantly save money on construction. Foundation blocks form the walls of the future basement and become the basis of the entire building.

FBP foundation blocks, types and GOST standards

Foundation blocks are solid and hollow. They are made from silicate concrete, porous and heavy concrete.

Blocks for the foundation are manufactured in accordance with GOST 13579-78, which reflects certain requirements for the manufactured product:

technical characteristics of the block;
types of concrete products;
basic dimensions;
standard requirements for the material and its components;
list of permissible deviations;
basic requirements for acceptance and control of the product;
rules for storage and transportation of blocks.

Hollow concrete blocks for the foundation

Hollow foundation blocks are produced under the FBP brand and have:

length 2380 mm;
width 400 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm;
height 580 mm.

Along the entire length of the block there are blind voids, in the form of a rectangle. Each such block has four holes, passing from a rectangular shape to a rounded one. For the production of hollow foundation blocks, materials such as heavy concrete, medium-density silicate concrete, and porous aggregates, such as expanded clay concrete, are used.

Positive properties of FBP, features

FBP blocks are distinguished by the following characteristics:

frost resistance. The resistance of the block to low temperatures allows it to be used in the harsh climatic conditions of the Far North;
a high rate of water resistance of concrete allows the use of the product on soils with a close groundwater flow;
reliability. It is provided by structures made of metal reinforcement, which runs along the entire length of the block;
the dimensions of the FBP allow you to increase the speed of masonry;
does not require additional formwork construction;
clear geometric shapes ensure a snug fit of the blocks to each other;

For hollow foundation blocks, the price from the manufacturer of such products is much lower than in the distribution network.

On the site lemostroy.ru you can get acquainted with a wide range of similar products manufactured by the factory, find out the prices for the product and place an order.

The basis of the strength of the building is the foundation. It is on its strength, quality characteristics, stability that the performance of the structure depends. The most suitable for this purpose are monolithic concrete blocks for the foundation. The only drawback is that the construction of this structure can take more than 30 days. In order to speed up the process, ready-made foundations are purchased, respectively, the cost item increases. It is possible to purchase concrete matter, which was used earlier.

Advantages

The main competitor of blocks (fbs) are solid foundations. The advantages of FBS are obvious:

ease of installation;
the speed of the installation process;
good geometrical indicators (collection is made quickly, selection of docking elements is not required);
no dependence of the quality of the material (during installation / operation) on weather / climatic conditions.

The main advantage of solid blocks is their high strength.

Creation/delivery/installation is possible by the manufacturer. In this case, the costs of creating, the drying time of materials are excluded. They are delivered ready-made, high-quality, durable to the desired construction location. There are several other advantages of FBS that should be noted:

economic volume;
foundation blocks withstand sudden temperature changes (from 50 to -70 degrees);
the structure may vary depending on the purpose of the concrete block (forms are built according to consumer orders);
strength/reliability/stability;
low cost, less labor costs for construction.

If we compare FBS with foundation monolithic buildings, then the former show higher characteristics of reducing the costs of the material plan, reduce the overall construction costs.

Flaws

Despite a number of advantages, FBS also has some disadvantages. Technological functions/properties do not pose such a problem as selecting the right climatic conditions for the installation of concrete blocks. Before buying FBS, you should consult the seller and find out about the climatic conditions of use. If this rule is ignored, the following consequences are possible:

wall deformation;
building subsidence;
due to the incompatibility of the climate with the material, the soil sags at the freezing point and pulls the foundation blocks along with it;
additional, instability to low temperatures.

To avoid such foundation deformations, you should hire a qualified designer (or do the calculations yourself). You may be advised to use slabs for sheet foundation structures, which will become the anchor point of the structure, tying the block to the ground. In addition, at the points of contact between the blocks and the ground, the area will increase, thereby increasing the reliability, strength, and stability of the construction.

Varieties

Wall

Hollow and solid and blocks.

This type is made in the shape of a rectangle. They are laid on the same principle as solid bricks. Dimensions, like other types, may vary depending on the needs of the consumer. The surface is covered with small protrusions. Thanks to such protrusions, the concrete is more tightly joined to the desired surface, the connection is more dense, reliable.

Concrete wall panels have an internal classification:

FBP is a full-bodied material. It is more often used as a formwork, which is not removed, but is broken (broken) after the material has dried. The space filled with the mixture for the future concrete fills the formwork. After complete drying, the formwork made of FBP (solid material) collapses and is unsuitable for reuse. The foundation of such a structure is strong and stable.
FBS is the most popular variety. They are made in the form of monolithic panels of heavy,. Scope of application: tape, walls. The size, volume are negotiated with the buyer, then manufactured at the factories.
FBV - are made in the form of monolithic panels that have a special cutout for communication. If you use ordinary monolithic blocks, you should additionally drill holes for communication.

Pillow

Concrete products that have a trapezoidal shape. Thanks to this shape (taking into account the cut, volume, size), the bearing area will increase, increasing the stability of the structure. More often used to form the lower rows (foundation row) of the bases.

Marking

Each type of concrete block has its own marking. It does not depend on the manufacturer and brand of concrete blocks. Marking is necessarily affixed to the blocks, has a general classification, helps the buyer and the manufacturer to convey important information through such application. The brand determines the weight, size, scope, cycle of use in the foundation.

Ф (brand used by glass concrete foundation. Glass concrete foundation is used for massive columns);
FL (reinforced concrete products for strip foundations);
FBS (for basements, zero cycles for concrete);
BF - concrete goods (tape type of blocks for erecting walls of residential multi-storey / private houses, industrial construction);
FR - reinforced concrete (heavy concrete block for three-hinged frames);
FBP (hollow block).

The foundation block is marked with an alphabetic symbol and a numeric code. The number means the design parameters in decimeters (rounded to the nearest whole number). 1st digit is the length, 2nd digit is the width, 3rd digit is the height. Be sure to consult with the seller before purchasing the design you need. The consultant will once again point out the features of the material, marking, select the material that will be the most effective for construction work.

The technology of building a foundation using blocks is versatile (suitable for both multi-storey buildings and small buildings in private construction) and the speed of installation work. Instructions for the construction of a rubble foundation.

Features of blocks for the foundation

Blocks are produced in various sizes: from the largest 238:30:50 cm (the weight of such a block is 0.97 tons) to small 88:60:58 cm (the weight of such a block is 30 kg.).

Large blocks are used for building foundations with heavy structures; for laying such blocks, special equipment is required.

Small blocks are used for private construction, the weight of such blocks allows them to be laid manually.

Device and calculation

The required volume of blocks for the installation of the foundation is calculated based on the area of \u200b\u200bthe sole (the area of \u200b\u200bcontact between the foundation and the ground) and the depth of the trench. The depth of the trench under the foundation depends on: the depth of soil freezing; the volume of loads depending on the size and weight of the building under construction. The area of the sole of the trench depends again on the volume of loads, depending on the size and weight of the building under construction; soil moisture and bearing capacity.

The worse the bearing capacity of the soil, the greater should be the area of the base of the foundation. Clay soil has the worst bearing capacity, gravel and coarse sand have the best bearing capacity.

Kinds

Manufacturers of building materials today offer a wide range of blocks for the construction of foundations, which differ from each other in size, structure and material of manufacture:

Concrete blocks are produced in three versions:
- hollow blocks with FBP marking;
- solid blocks with FBS marking;
- blocks with special cutouts for laying engineering communications with FBV marking.
Reinforced concrete blocks, due to reinforcement, have increased strength characteristics and are used for the foundation for the construction of heavy buildings.

Hollow blocks are recommended to be used for vertical reinforcement of the internal walls of the foundation when equipping the basement. Hollow blocks are laid dry, reinforcement is placed in the voids and the voids with reinforcement are filled with concrete.

Cement blocks for the foundation are made from cement and sand by vibrocompression. The price of such blocks is much lower than the prices of concrete blocks. The standard dimensions of such blocks are 188-190-390 mm.
The supporting columnar foundation made of concrete blocks is a more budgetary version of the foundation, due to the savings in building materials. Such a foundation is used for the construction of light small buildings. Holes are dug along the perimeter of the building at a distance of two meters, in the corners and at the intersections of the walls, in which pillars of concrete blocks are laid out. The height of such pillars should be 40 cm above ground level.
A prefabricated block foundation differs from a monolithic structure in the presence of gaps (cement mortar may not fill all the gaps between the blocks). This type of foundation involves the arrangement of waterproofing (polyethylene or roofing material) to prevent moisture from penetrating into the foundation.
Expanded clay blocks have a lighter weight, due to the presence of expanded clay in the composition. The price of such blocks is lower. Due to their light weight, expanded clay concrete blocks are easier to transport and stack; in terms of strength characteristics, they are in no way inferior to pure concrete blocks.

Foam concrete blocks are recommended for use in foundations for small buildings. The advantages of using such blocks: it is a budget price and light weight.
Concrete blocks 20x20x40 - the best option for building a foundation in private construction.
Blocks with dimensions of 500x600x2400 are additionally reinforced with iron and equipped with side loops. Such blocks are used for the construction of foundations for multi-storey buildings. Read how and what it consists of.

How to build?

Foundation building process:

A trench is dug under the foundation;
A layer of gravel is poured at the bottom of the trench, then a layer of sand and everything is carefully compacted, thus, a kind of gravel-sand cushion is equipped under the foundation;
Blocks are laid out in rows and fastened with cement mortar;
The rows are laid out relative to each other in a checkerboard pattern;
Block laying starts from the corners of the building;
After all the rows are laid, the formwork is installed and the reinforcing belt is poured;
As soon as the solution hardens, the formwork is removed;
Backfilling with sand is carried out, filling the remaining voids and the space between the walls of the laid foundation and the trench. Read how a tape monolithic foundation works.

The cost of concrete blocks for the foundation

The world does not stand still and new technologies created every year penetrate into all areas of construction. Work on the construction of the foundation was not left without attention. In this article, we will talk about fixed formwork, which has recently become popular with developers, making their life easier.

In the photo - non-removable concrete formwork for the foundation

The first installation stage of construction work is the preparation of the foundation for the future building. In most cases, such foundations are made of wooden formwork, which is dismantled after they have completely dried.

However, currently there are methods that allow the use of non-removable elements. About what they are and how to make a foundation with their help, read below.

General information

The first tests of such a technique began at the beginning of this century (in 2000-2001). At the same time, the main stages of laying the foundation were no different, the differences were only in the assembly and installation of the formwork. Let's remember the main stages of the construction of the tape base:

Project

At this stage, all calculations are carried out, and two factors influence the preparation of the foundation: the total weight of the building;

bearing capacity of the soil underneath.

Based on this information, the required brand of concrete and the total area of \u200b\u200bthe base are selected.

Site preparation

It is necessary to clear the future construction site of everything superfluous, as well as mark the proposed foundation. Such work is quite complicated, but the geometry of the constructed building depends on the correctness of its implementation.

Excavation

First, a trench breaks out under the strip foundation, after which a pillow of sand and gravel is laid on its bottom. Then it is compacted, and formwork is fixed on top of it.

Advantages and disadvantages of the design

And just from this place, significant differences begin in the installation of the foundation with removable and fixed formwork:

The first one includes a large number of elements, and for its correct creation, as well as subsequent installation, certain knowledge and skills are required.
In the second case, anyone can cope with the work. It does not require further dismantling, and also performs another role - thermal insulation. As you know, when installing classic formwork, heat-insulating materials are laid separately.

Its advantages:

If you decide to make a fixed formwork, then this immediately gives two advantages:

good limiter for concrete mix;
excellent insulating layer.

Use allows you to refuse the installation of an additional reinforcing belt. To make it, you will have to buy metal fittings and make a frame out of them. The intersections are welded or simply tied with a special wire. Agree that this is an additional cost for construction.
Another significant advantage of fixed formwork is its water repellency. As a result, you can not worry about the invariability of the proportions of the concrete mixture.
Most types of fixed formwork are highly resistant to fire and do not lose stability in a humid environment.

Of the design flaws, only one can be distinguished - the high price of the product. However, there is a nuance here, do not forget that when using it, you can save on the installation of a heat-insulating layer.

Types of fixed formwork

Currently, there are several varieties of this material. Let's take a closer look at each of them:

Styrofoam	It is used most often. Although the material is quite light, this does not affect its strength properties in any way. It has good thermal insulation properties and at the same time allows the concrete to "breathe", i.e. allows air to circulate freely.
A mixture of cement and wood chips	The design has good sound insulation. In order to keep warm in such plates, air bubbles are located between the wooden chips. To increase the service life of wood, as well as to increase its water-repellent and fireproof properties, it is subjected to special processing.
Fiberboard	It can be considered a product of the chemical industry. Such blocks consist of wood shavings mixed with magnesite. If Portland cement is used instead of the latter, the design will exactly resemble the previous one. Such formwork has good fire protection properties, and also does not allow steam to pass through, and at the same time retains heat in the room.

Technologies in construction

In addition to the foundation, this type of formwork can also be used during the installation of walls. However, there are times when it is used as their basis.

Wherein:

The walls must be mounted on a pre-impregnated foundation.
To fix them, use metal fittings, which must first be mounted and brought out of the base. In addition, with its help, new rows of reinforcing mesh will be formed, which must be overlapped.

Tip: before proceeding with the installation of the first row of fixed formwork, you should decide where the doorways will be located, as well as the places to which the internal walls will adjoin.

After that, you can continue to increase the reinforcing mesh and apply permanent formwork. By and large, this process resembles the creation of a sandwich, where a concrete casting, supported by a metal frame, will be protected on both sides by a heat-insulating material.

Tip: if you need to then dismantle, cutting reinforced concrete with diamond wheels is used for this.

The instruction during pouring concrete into a fixed formwork does not differ from the basic technologies used during the formation of a conventional concrete casting:

it is recommended to fill in one stage, if this is not possible, layers of concrete should be used;
be sure to use a vibrator (the best option) or a rammer to remove air bubbles from the mass. If they are not available, you can simply take any sharp object and pierce the entire volume of the solution.

Tip: it is very important during such processes not to forget to leave space for engineering communications.

Otherwise, only diamond drilling of holes in concrete with special crowns will help you. In addition, do not disregard the formation of structural elements of the room.

Conclusion

The acquisition of really high-quality fixed formwork blocks, as well as a competent process of preparing fasteners and tools, together with a reliable fastening of the entire structure, can have a significant effect.

At the same time, the house will be reliably heat and sound insulated, and the process itself will not seem so complicated. The video in this article will help you find more information on this topic.