✔ Calculate a strip foundation in 5 minutes and get a complete and accurate set of drawings https://buildup.ru/ So, you are ready to build your home. You have a project and a great desire to join the country life. Now the most important thing is to build the foundation. The process is not easy, but it is quite possible to do almost everything yourself. Buildup will show you how to build a strip foundation with your own hands. Why is a strip foundation so popular? Let's start with the fact that it is suitable for almost everyone. It can be erected on many types of soil. It is not suitable only for marshy areas with increased seismic activity. If you do not know exactly what is under your feet, it is always better to conduct geological surveys and assess the characteristics of the soil. A strip foundation is strong enough for most low-rise buildings. Plus, the construction of a strip foundation does not require any supernatural knowledge and skills from you, patience and attentiveness will be enough. According to the principle of the device, tray foundations are divided into monolithic, prefabricated and combined, i.e. prefabricated-monolithic. The first is a single strip of reinforced concrete with reinforcement. When erecting it, formwork is needed. The base of the prefabricated foundation is laid out of ready-made reinforced concrete blocks using a crane. The third type is when the foundation cushion is poured, and then reinforced concrete blocks are laid on it to the height of the foundation. Strip foundations are also shallow and deep. The first is made mainly to save on excavation work. To erect it, it is enough to dig a trench up to 50 cm high. The downside of this solution is that a shallow foundation will need to be additionally insulated, otherwise temperature changes will quickly render it unusable. A deeply buried foundation is lowered below the freezing point by 15-20 centimeters, which will insure it against frost heaving. However, in this case, you need to take into account the characteristics of the soil and the presence of groundwater. Here you should not save on waterproofing and good drainage. On a strip foundation, you can build a house from absolutely any material. Wood, brick, concrete, aerated concrete, whatever. For multi-story buildings, a deeply buried monolithic strip foundation is well suited. Light baths and summer houses can be placed on shallow structures. In addition to simplicity, the advantages of a strip foundation include: - Low cost. After all, its manufacture does not require the involvement of heavy and expensive special equipment, and all the materials for the same formwork cost quite adequate money. Speed ​​of manufacture. Theoretically, a strip foundation can be erected in three to four days. But the process of pouring concrete into the formwork itself should be continuous. But in fairness, it must be said that you will still need assistants. Durability. There is no need to even comment on this. A properly constructed foundation will last for decades, and the houses of our fathers and grandfathers are vivid proof of this. A strip foundation makes it easy to arrange a cellar or basement, it is convenient and very practical. The most important thing you should consider when choosing this type of foundation is that you have no right to make a mistake. All calculations must be prepared in advance! After all, you will not be able to correct them later. What materials are needed to build a strip foundation with your own hands? Edged board for formwork at least 25 millimeters thick. Roofing felt or polyfilm is necessary to retain moisture in concrete when it gains strength. Steel wire for tying reinforcement. The reinforcement itself for mounting the reinforcing belt - rods with a diameter of 10 to 16 mm, but we advise you to focus on the calculations specifically for your site. Nails and self-tapping screws for fastening the formwork, as well as crushed stone and sand for the foundation cushion. It is better to fill the formwork with ready-mixed concrete produced at the plant. But if this is not possible, then we prepare the solution ourselves: 1 part M400 cement, 4 parts fine crushed stone and 2 parts sand. Stage 1 - preparation for work and marking on site The first thing you need to do is level your site in height so that there are no differences, holes or bumps. If the difference is significant and cannot be changed, then this must be taken into account when planning further actions: in some places you will have to dig a trench deeper. For marking, we use wooden stakes, between which a rope is pulled. It will mark the boundaries of the foundation. The first pin is driven in at the location of one of the corners of the building. The second one is immediately placed next to it. The distance between them determines the width of the strip foundation. We mark the remaining corners in the same way. The evenness of the resulting angles is controlled by a large triangle. Th