Strengthening the foundation

We use a concrete bandage to strengthen the foundation

If the old foundation is cracked on all sides, it can be strengthened using a reinforced monolithic frame. This method provides for the strengthening of the foundation with concrete not from below, but from the side, which greatly simplifies do-it-yourself work. A concrete bandage is most often used when it is necessary to restore the bearing capacity of an old dilapidated foundation of a private house. To do this, you must complete the following procedures:

1. A moat should be dug along all the walls of the foundation around the house, cleaning the surface of the old concrete base. In this case, it is necessary to go deeper slightly below the depth of the old foundation. How to do this is explained in the video.

2. The side wall of the old concrete is carefully cleaned with your own hands from earth and dust, peeling pieces of concrete are removed, and cracks are sutured with a spatula.

3. To tie the new poured concrete to the old foundation, holes are drilled in the surface of the latter with a punch, in which the anchor rods are fixed. Moreover, the deeper the studs (rods) are driven into the old concrete, the stronger the base will be.

4. Then, along the perimeter of the old foundation, it is necessary to make a permanent formwork, the inner walls of which will be old concrete.

5. A reinforcing cage is constructed inside the formwork, the base of which should be anchor pins.

6. The formwork is filled with concrete mortar and rammed with a vibrator, which is necessary for reliable connection of the mortar to the surface of the old foundation and its penetration into all cracks.

7. After the concrete has set, the formwork is dismantled and vertical waterproofing is placed around the poured concrete. The trench is filled up, the soil is rammed and a high-quality blind area is poured around the base of the house, which will protect the concrete from excess moisture. The fact is that if water gets between the old and new concrete during its freezing, the surfaces may delaminate, which cannot be allowed.

The concrete bandage is fully compatible with the method of strengthening the foundation with concrete blocks. However, in this case, you will first have to dig in the corners and pour concrete supports under them, and after they have hardened, you can already do a reinforced concrete bandage. Despite the fact that it will be much more expensive and more difficult to make such a double reinforcement with your own hands, it will provide a more reliable reinforcement of the old foundation of the house.

Attention! Sometimes in construction, reinforcement of foundations with bored injection or screw piles is used, however, this construction technology is considered more complex and is practically not used in private construction.

Protection of foundations from weathering

It is carried out with the chemical and physical weathering of the foundation material. This usually happens with foundations made of brick or rubble masonry, which have low water resistance and strength. Chemical weathering occurs when cement is not resistant to aggressive properties of the medium.

Figure 7. Increasing the base area: 1 - reinforced concrete cage; 2 - dowels; 3 - fittings.

To restore the surface, plastering with cement mortar (gunning) is used on the prepared side surface or plastering on a metal mesh. If the weathering has covered the entire thickness of the foundation, it is necessary to cement the masonry by strengthening the foundation or reinforce it with clips by restoring the bearing functions of the foundation.

is carried out by drilling in the foundation masonry of wells from the surface of the first or basement floor. Further, cement slurry is injected into them.Wells are drilled with perforators at a distance of 50 cm from each other with a diameter of 20-30 mm and to a depth of about 2/3 of the base thickness. Tubes are inserted into the wells and cement slurry is pumped through them. At the wellheads, the tubes are sealed with a thick solution by 10 cm. The injection pressure is set at 0.3-0.6 MPa. After carrying out test injections, it is necessary to dig out experimental sections, check the results, clarify the scope of work and technology.

In cases where, due to the destruction of the foundation masonry and weathering, cracks have appeared in the above-foundation part, filling the cracks with cement mortar alone may not be enough. Increasing the strength of the building can be achieved by additional structural measures.

Filling the reinforcement belt

If the platform is covered with cracks, but their number does not grow over time, then the repair is carried out by pouring a reinforcing belt. This prevents further destruction of the base and protects it from deformation at low temperatures, but its strength increases insignificantly. The reinforcing belt is allowed to be poured both along the entire perimeter and along one wall.

1. First of all, the foundation is excavated outside the building. The outside of the foundation should be completely free of soil, but should not dig deeper than a sand or crushed stone pad. The optimum ditch width is 0.8–1.0 m.

   The outer part of the foundation must be completely free from the ground

2. Then it is necessary to compact the soil close to the foundation using the manual ramming method and pour a layer of crushed stone with a fraction of 30–50 mm and a thickness of 10–15 cm. The crushed stone is also compacted. A thin layer of sand is poured over it to hide the sharp edges.
3. On top of the sand, a dense foam plastic 5 cm thick should be laid and covered with a tarp to protect the material from sparks during the welding process.
4. Further, in the foundation, it is necessary to drill holes with a diameter of 18–25 mm at a distance of 60–90 cm and drive in pieces of reinforcement into them, which will serve as anchors. The cuttings should protrude 15-30 cm from the wall.
5. Weld to them the outer and inner meshes made of reinforcement with a thickness of 10–14 mm, which should recede from the base by 5–7 cm. The meshes are connected with each other using pieces of reinforcement.

   Reinforcing meshes are connected with reinforcement

6. In the lower part of the belt, an additional reinforcing mesh is arranged for a pillow 25–35 cm thick, and is equal in size to the width of the ditch. The pillow reduces the load on the ground without having to dig in the foundation.
7. After creating the reinforcing mesh, remove the tarpaulin from the foam and install the formwork. The concrete is poured in two stages. After pouring the pillow, you should wait 2 days, and then start pouring the belt.

   Concrete is poured in two stages.

8. After 2 days, you can remove the formwork, and after another 3-5 days, fill the ditch with earth.

Some mandatory rules for carrying out work to strengthen foundations

Step 1

For work, part of the foundation is freed from the side on which the thickness will increase. Not only is it not necessary to completely free the entire foundation, but it is also impossible. It is already overloaded, and if you completely remove the soil pressure to its lower level, then the minimum phenomena that can appear are cracks in the base and in the walls, the maximum is the destruction of the foundation.

Therefore, the work is carried out according to the capture technology - sections of 1.5 - 2 m or a little more. Having completely finished in one grip, backfilling with soil and tamping it down, you can tear off the next section, but skip one grip. So, in a checkerboard pattern, work is carried out along the entire perimeter. During this time, the concrete in the first sections will have time to gain a part of the standard strength, and the new open grasp will be protected by already reinforced neighboring sections.

Step 2

The surface of the wall is cleared of earth.If there are crumbling areas of concrete, they are also removed to a durable layer. The removed concrete can be chipped into crushed stone and used as filler in new concrete mortar.

First, notches are applied to the surface with a chisel or perforator for better adhesion of the new layer, after which - a thin layer of cement mortar - cement milk (with a minimum amount of sand).

Step 3

Pouring or backfilling of concrete must be done at intervals, which will not be longer than the initial setting time of the concrete mixture. It is necessary to carry out all the preliminary work, prepare the raw materials near the grab and start mixing the concrete in the morning the next day.

Step 4

The concreted area must be thoroughly vibrated or rammed in order to remove macro- and micro-air bubbles and excess water from the concrete so that in the future these defects are not filled with water from rain or snow melting.

Reinforcement of the foundation with bored piles

Bored piles consist of drilled wells, into which reinforcing cages are placed and concreting is performed with careful compaction with deep vibrators. Drilling is carried out with special equipment or manually, using hand-held or motor-drills. The piles work as pile-piles, resting on a solid solid rock, or as hanging piles, working due to the frictional forces of the side surfaces with the contacting soils. Depth of immersion in all cases ≥ mark of seasonal frost penetration.

The scope of work to strengthen the columnar foundations:

• development of a trench along the perimeter of the foundation structure to a depth of ≥ 0.5 m;
• drilling in unstable soil or to great depths is carried out in casing pipes;
• production of reinforcing cages. Longitudinal bars made of periodic reinforcement А-II or А-III with diameters from 12 to 22 mm. Transverse reinforcement is performed with a smooth wire rod with a cross section of 6 ... 10 mm. The step of placement is 20 ... 30 cm. Joining of elements of thin knitting wire softened by firing using reinforcing hooks or nippers;
• installation of the frame. To provide a protective layer of ≥ 2.5 cm, plastic clamps or rectangular cement “croutons” are attached to the frame, and a 10 cm layer of lean concrete is preliminarily placed in the well. If the well is without casing, for additional insulation it is recommended to protect with 2 layers of roofing material twisted into a cylinder. Longitudinal rods should be released from the well to enter the grillage by 2/3 of its thickness;
• laying the concrete mixture, if water is present, it must be pumped out. Concrete consolidation;
• drilling holes in the existing structure, laying reinforcement pieces in them with fixation with cement mortar;
• the device of a compacted sandy 20 cm pillow;
• installation of formwork and reinforcement cage of a monolithic grillage, with joining with reinforcement outlets of piles;
• laying and vibration compaction of concrete.

Strengthening the strip foundation with piles is performed in a similar way. A trench along the perimeter of the tape is developed at the level of its sole from the outside, and, if possible, from the inside, which will significantly increase the bearing area. To prevent displacement of the tape structure, it is fixed with side stops made of wooden logs, abutting against the walls of the trench.

Beforehand, visible defects of the existing foundation must be eliminated: jointing and sealing cracks, repairing damaged areas.

In case of difficulties with pumping water, laying of plastic concrete mixture using the method of vertical lifting pipe (VLT) is used. The structure of the VHT includes concrete-cast pipe links and a receiving hopper. The mixture from the hopper comes from the hopper through the lower cavity of the pipe and displaces the water. After the end of concreting, it is enough to remove the layer of fragile concrete (sludge) formed at the top. But for lifting the HVAC, crane equipment is required.

Instead of bored piles, it is possible to reinforce the foundation with screw piles, consisting of a hollow steel pipe, equipped at the end with blades for the possibility of screwing into the ground. Such products have reliable anti-corrosion protection applied in the factory.

The pitch of the pillars, their required diameter and the order of reinforcement and concreting are indicated in the project.

These progressive methods allow you to increase the bearing capacity of the foundation with a minimum amount of excavation and low labor costs.

In some cases, drilling near the existing structure is impossible due to its strong destruction or extreme dilapidation of the house. The way out is the pressed piles. When installing special technical equipment, they are pressed into the ground with powerful jacks. This is a complex and expensive method, therefore it is used when it is impossible to perform other amplification options.

What piles are used to strengthen foundations?

To eliminate problems with foundations, rammed piles are most often used, immersed in pre-drilled holes. Indeed, the reinforcement of foundations with rammed piles allows you to preserve the integrity of the existing foundation during the immersion of an additional support. In addition, a screw pile also gives good results, which is simply screwed into the ground, without any accompanying vibrations.

Actually, therefore, in the process of strengthening, neither vibration-pressed nor driven supports are never used.

Technology of strengthening the base of the structure with piles

Well, now that the principle of strengthening the foundation with piles is already clear to you, we can proceed to an overview of the technology we are interested in. And further in the text we will introduce you to the basis of the process of strengthening the supporting structure with some types of piles. So..

Strengthening the foundation with bored piles

This is the simplest way and is done as follows:

• You simply drill out the base and plunge the drill into the supporting soil 1.5-2 meters. After that, you just have to insert the formwork (casing) into the hole.
• Next, we introduce reinforcement into the pipe (four or three corrugated rods with horizontal dressing).
• After that, the reinforcing frame of the support is connected to the frame of the foundation itself (using foundation bolts, reinforcement outlets, beams or other solutions).
• Finally, the formwork pipe is filled with concrete, and after the mixture hardens, the foundation "grows" a new support rod.

The advantages of this method are the high speed of work and the simplicity of the technology implementation. The disadvantage is the high probability of destruction of the foundation structure during the installation of the support.

Therefore, additional bored piles are most often mounted in pairs, outside the perimeter of the base. By connecting such a pair with a beam mounted on the pile heads and passed through a hole in the foundation to be strengthened (or under its base), a sufficiently reliable support is obtained.

Reinforcement of foundations with bored piles

Bored piles are introduced into the structure of the foundation to be strengthened in pairs, obtaining an X-shaped beam.

Such work is performed as follows:

• A puncture is made from the outside of the foundation wall.
• A puncture is made from the inside of the foundation wall.
• Fittings (sleeves) are inserted into the punctures.
• The punctures are injected with concrete, forming an X-shaped beam.

The foundation can be supported by the sole on the upper triangle of the beam or simply pierced with reinforcing beams. The main advantage of such a solution is its versatility. This technology can be used to strengthen any foundations: from block to monolithic structures. The main disadvantage is the complexity of the implementation of the amplification process.

Reinforcement of the foundation with screw piles

Screw piles are screwed into the ground next to the foundation, creating a base for a support beam or new grillage.

The amplification process itself looks like this:

• The problem area is surrounded by a pile field - a line of supports located in a pre-calculated step.
• The structure is raised with jacks over the old grillage. The old beams are dismantled, replacing them with new elements with large dimensions, laid on the heads of the new supports.
• The structure is lowered onto a new grillage.

This technique is practiced when strengthening pile foundations. However, with the help of screw piles and beams, it is possible to strengthen both the strip and slab structure.

Let's sum up

The process of strengthening an old base or a foundation with structural defects is rather complicated. Only an experienced designer can calculate the location of the reinforcing piles, their length and dimensions of the beams.

And if you have problems with the quality or characteristics of the base, then it is better to contact the professionals. Moreover, most amplification technologies require the presence of complex and expensive equipment on the site, which cannot be found in the garages of home craftsmen.

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Amplification methods

There are different ways to strengthen all kinds of foundations. For example:

1. Increase in the sole.
2. Summing up new foundations.
3. Cementation.
4. The use of piles, ebbs, clips, shotcrete.

Methods for strengthening foundations are chosen based on:

1. The type and structure of the foundation.
2. Degree of destruction.
3. The material from which the house is built (wood, brick, concrete).
4. The reasons that led to the destruction.

But with houses made of brick or concrete, you need to be much more careful, because here a mistake can destroy the wall.

Cementation and injection

Strengthening the foundation by cementation is carried out as follows:

1. Pits are being dug. Their depth should be slightly less than the depth of the base.
2. Wells are drilled in the foundation at a distance of 25 cm to half a meter. The drill should not reach the sole of 30 centimeters.
3. A slurry is prepared (the ratio of water and cement is 0.9 to 1), with which the channels are filled under a pressure of 0.2 MPa to failure.
4. Further, thicker solutions are prepared, with which the wells are again filled to failure. Thus, the cement fills cracks and cavities.
5. After two days, the base is considered strengthened.

Strengthening the foundation by injection looks a little different. Here, wells are drilled from different sides of the building down to solid soil layers. The channels are filled with a solution, and then reinforcing bore-injection piles are introduced into them, into which concrete or a mixture of cement under pressure is fed. Thus, the soil under the foundation is strengthened, and the foundation itself is reinforced with reinforced concrete piles.

Shotcrete

But here you also cannot do without specialists,

Strengthening of foundations by gunning is carried out using a special gun, which applies the solution to the base under pressure. For greater strength, it is recommended to first create a reinforced structure. The advantage is that concrete applied in this manner is very durable.

Shotcrete can be dry or wet. In the first case, you can apply a thick layer with the same density and consistency in one go.

This result is explained by the fact that the composition is not mixed with water, but is mixed with it in the nozzle. But this approach has significant drawbacks: for example, high material consumption and dustiness of the area.

In addition, the workers must be highly skilled as the mixture must be prepared on site. Therefore, many resort to the wet method, when the material prepared at the enterprise is brought to the site by special machines. So the concrete consumption is significantly reduced, and the rebound loss of the particles is also small.

Reinforced concrete shirt

This method is suitable for those who wish to strengthen their foundation with their own hands. Neither technicians nor assistants are needed here. You can do everything yourself. So let's start with the corners.It is necessary to make digs near them and clean the foundation: from above - from the cladding, from below - from the soil. The depth of the pit should be half a meter deeper than the base.

Next, a frame is made of metal rods. Someone uses a crochet hook, someone a welding machine. It is not worth saving on fittings. The finished structure is lowered into a pit, which is filled with concrete. This way the corners are protected.

Now that the corners are protected, you need to divide the entire perimeter near the base into segments of one and a half meters. Then the first such site is dug out to a half-meter width. Holes are drilled at the base into which reinforcing bars are installed.

As in the case of corners, a frame is made. The finished parts are placed in a trench and tied to the reinforcement with wire. Then the trench is poured with concrete. Having finished with one segment, proceed to the next, and so on the entire perimeter.

For example, reinforcement of a columnar foundation is easier. For example, one post can be replaced with bored or remote piles. But to strengthen the old tape-type foundation will not be so easy. Here they resort to gunning, reinforced concrete clips, piles: bored, brown-injection, etc. Reinforcement of foundations by cementation is also used.

Main types and methods

Strengthening the foundation can be carried out by various methods, depending on the degree of destruction of the base, material and many other factors.

In addition, the cause of the destruction of the structure is of no small importance.

From weathering

Protection of the foundation from weathering is carried out during the chemical and physical weathering of the foundation material, when the masonry is superficially affected by the weathering processes, and there are no through cracks in the foundation. As a rule, this happens if the foundation is made of brick or rubble masonry, which has low strength and water resistance.

Chemical weathering can occur with unsatisfactory stability of cement or a substance added to the binder against aggressive environmental influences.

To restore the surface of the foundation, gunning (plastering with a cement solution) is used along the cleaned (prepared) lateral surface of the foundation or gunning along a steel mesh fixed on its lateral surface.

If the weathering processes have covered the entire thickness of the foundation, it is necessary either to cement the masonry, thereby strengthening the existing foundation, or to strengthen the foundation with clips, restoring the bearing capacity of the foundation.

Strength due to widening

This method is quite difficult to perform with your own hands, but several people are able to solve this problem. The sole is a reinforced concrete cushion that supports the base. First of all, it is necessary to mark the foundation every 2.5-3 meters, excavate the soil on the sides of the base and under it.

Lay a reinforced screed under the foundation, fill it with mortar, which must be evenly distributed, and remove air bubbles. This requires a concrete vibrator. On the sides, the sole must be raised approximately 15 cm above the base.

Injectable

Strengthening the foundation by means of injection is one of the most innovative methods. It will not work with your own hands. To implement this method, special equipment is required. The essence of the technology lies in the fact that wells with a diameter of 16-24 cm are drilled from different sides in the foundation at an angle (approximately 45), the diameter is selected depending on the conditions. The depth of the wells varies depending on the characteristics of the soil. For a more reliable reinforcement of the base of the house, it is recommended to drill to hard soil layers. After that, the wells are filled with solution.

Borehole piles made of reinforcement are placed in the wells filled with solution.A cement mixture or concrete is poured into them under a pressure of 1-3 MPa. This process is referred to as “well pressure testing”.

Shotcrete technology

As a result of using the above method, you get:

• strengthening the soil under the house;
• additional strengthening of the base with reinforced concrete piles.

If you are convinced that you are able to cope on your own, then you will need:

• puncher;
• installation for applying concrete or mortar mixture (gunning gun);
• cement, gravel and sand;
• shovel.

Strengthening the foundation is carried out in 2 stages: initially, work is carried out from one side of the base and only after a week they switch to the opposite side. Such a temporary pause makes it possible to strengthen the structure as much as possible.

The areas to be captured must be at least 2.5 m in length. A trench 2 m wide and 1.5 m deep is dug, the masonry freed from the soil is cleaned, and notches are made on it, about 1.5 cm deep.

A concrete solution is made by mixing cement, sand, gravel and water and, by means of a spray gun, is applied to the foundation, filling all cracks and crevices. Strengthening using shotcrete technology is one of the optimal reinforcing schemes, because it significantly increases not only the bearing capacity of the base, but also its moisture resistance.

Signs and causes of partial destruction of the base

Strengthening the foundation must be carried out in two cases: when signs of structural deformation are detected and when it is planned to complete the construction of floors. Before starting work, you need to carefully analyze the condition of the house, assess the degree of destruction of the foundation or the likelihood of defects in the near future, and only after that start strengthening work.

Most often, professionals with special equipment are invited to identify flaws. But you can do the work yourself if you correctly assess all the factors and follow the step-by-step instructions for strengthening the foundation. The only thing that can not be done when defects are found is to ignore them, so that later the inevitable replacement of the foundation does not result in a round sum.

It is possible to identify the initial stages of destruction by several obvious or latent signs. Obvious signs are visible to the naked eye, these include:

• the appearance of deformations on the floor surface;
• changes in soil level and the formation of sinkholes around the base;
• defects in the exterior of the house or its destruction;
• small cracks on the walls and basement;
• local small destruction in the building itself and in the adjacent area.

Faint cracks have already appeared in the basement of this house. If urgent measures are not taken, then all this beauty, unfortunately, will be destroyed.

It is more difficult with hidden defects; special equipment is required here. However, if at least something worries you, for example, part of the decorative plaster on the facade or plinth has peeled off, or the soil around the house has slightly subsided, take the time and money for specialists.

In this way, you will save yourself from more serious problems. Experts will quickly find out the cause and advise how to eliminate it. And if you wish, you can do the work yourself.

The destruction of the basement of a house occurs for many reasons. The main ones are:

• initially erroneous calculation of the load on the foundation;

• large-scale excavation work carried out nearby;

• violation of the foundation laying technique;
• freezing of the soil;
• poor-quality waterproofing of the foundation or its absence;
• excessive savings on construction, in particular, the use of poor quality building materials;
• change in soil quality since the construction of the structure;
• constant vibration (proximity of the house to the railway);
• improper use of the building (lack of heating in winter);
• an increase in pressure on the base due to the reconstruction of the house or its redevelopment.

In addition, the influence of the environment affects: small underground fluctuations, sharp warming, temperature drops, prolonged rains and an abundance of snow, as a result of which the level of groundwater rises and the processes of soil heaving begin.

Under the influence of frost heaving, cracks appear on the walls of the house. This indicates the beginning of the deformation of the foundation.

Of course, it is impossible to foresee all the harmful consequences of natural disasters, but you need to calculate the risks even at the design stage of the house.

Strengthening the foundation of a private house with your own hands

A kind of moat is dug at each section. Its depth should be equal to the depth of the foundation itself. The moat should be about 50 cm wide.

Special holes are drilled in the foundation. They will need to fix fittings or metal rods. The pieces of reinforcement should be about 40 centimeters long. Prepared in advance reinforced frames, as in the first version, are laid in trenches.

The entire structure must be carefully poured with concrete. Everything is done gradually. After the screed has completely dried in one section, you can proceed to the next.

How to strengthen the foundation with a reinforced concrete jacket?

To increase the stability of the building, to increase the duration of operation, to build on the floors, it will be necessary to reinforce the foundation with a reinforced concrete jacket. The quality of the construction depends on how consistent and stable the outsole is. The problems with the foundation are indicated by the bevels, cracks, and subsidence of the building that have appeared on the basement.

Causes of destruction

A visual analysis of the supporting structures that have undergone collapse, an inspection of cracks on the base are necessary to find out the reasons and how to eliminate them. The land plot on which the building stands is also inspected for changes in the ground. The reasons for the destruction of the base of structures can be the following:

• erroneous design of the foundation - incorrect calculations of the planned load, failure to comply with the technology when laying the foundation;
• use of low quality building materials in construction;
• a change in the degree of soil moisture, i.e. an increase in the level of groundwater, swelling of the soil, flood, flood;
• slope of the terrain;
• insufficient, weak waterproofing;
• improper use of the building, for example, not heating during the cold season;
• increased loads on the foundation, as happens during redevelopment;
• freezing of the soil;
• large construction earthworks associated with vibration, digging trenches, laying technical communications in the immediate vicinity;
• nearby railway.

Types of work to strengthen the foundation

There are several ways of strengthening, including the use of brickwork.

Strengthening can be done in several ways:

• Concrete shotcrete. It is a layer-by-layer application of a cementitious compound under high pressure.
• Installation of bored piles.
• Expansion of the base.
• Reinforcement with brickwork.
• Reinforced concrete shirt. This method is reliable and simple, and is used most often. To strengthen the foundation of the house, an outer shell of reinforced concrete is made. It serves as a support and protects against atmospheric influences.

Problem analysis

Before constructing a jacket made of reinforced concrete, it is necessary to conduct an external study of the base and base, assess the dimensions of the dwelling, the current state of the bearing surfaces, the nature of damage, cracks, bevels, and the load on the base of the building. Internal, underground, inspection will allow you to assess the characteristics of the foundation, the depth of the location, assess the quality of the building materials from which it is laid.

Strengthening methods

Complete unloading of the foundation involves the use of metal beams, which are inserted into the masonry.

A complete overhaul can be avoided by reinforcing the base.An important point in preparation for work is the unloading of the foundation, fragmentary or complete.

In the first case, you will need supports and struts made of wood or metal: 2 m from the walls of the basement, support pillows are laid, a bar is placed on top, racks are fixed, grouped with beams with overlapping and wedges - with a support bar. With full unloading, metal crossbars are installed.

Holes are punched in the lower part of the walls, straps are inserted into them, transverse ones are placed on supports from the inner and outer sides of the walls.

Strengthening the base of the building with a reinforced concrete jacket is always carried out in stages - first, the foundation is strengthened, after complete drying and hardening, they proceed to the design of the basement part.

Dependence on the material of making the house

When strengthening the foundation of an old house, you need to take into account what it was built from. This factor influences both the choice of the method and other features. Let's take a closer look at them.

Wood

In fact, the easiest situation. The fact is that a wooden house can be raised above the base using jacks. In this position, you can easily carry out the necessary work. How to strengthen the foundation of a wooden house, you need to decide in each individual case in different ways.

Somewhere it is necessary to replace the pile, somewhere - to create an additional monolithic belt. You can sheathe the base with a reinforced concrete jacket. And all this is easier if the building is in a raised state. As you can see, it is relatively easy to strengthen the foundation of a private house made of wood.

Brick

But here everything looks more complicated. The fact is that such a building cannot be lifted, and you need to be careful with the material itself. Therefore, the strengthening of the foundation of a brick house in most is fundamentally different from a wooden one. Which method should you choose in this case? It all depends on many factors, such as the degree of destruction, the type of foundation, and others. All this must be taken into account before strengthening the foundation under a brick house.

One of the most reliable methods is shotcrete. In this case, the masonry is achieved not only strength, but also water resistance. Also, many resort to cementation, since this method is more economical both in time and in finance. Those who are thinking about how to strengthen the foundation of a brick house with their own hands can be offered the creation of a reinforced concrete pillow - this option is used quite often.

Possible methods, such as using piles or widening the sole, can continue to be described. All of these methods can be used to prevent cracks in the walls. So strengthening the foundation of an old brick house is quite possible, and in some cases even simpler.

Strengthening the strip base

The basis of most of the private houses is a strip type foundation. The properties of such bases have the technical ability to locally exceed the loads permitted by the standards. This type of foundation is capable of experiencing local heaving of the soil. All types of foundations are erected on bedded rubble stone

When it settles, it is important to stop this process in time.

To strengthen the strip foundation, a hole is dug at an angle of 35 degrees in direct proximity to the base. Its depth should reach the level of the bedding stone masonry. Then a pipe is placed in the dug hole, the diameter of which is 150-200 mm. With the help of a pipe, concrete mortar with a low cement content and a high content of crushed stone or gravel (lean concrete) is poured.

Filling continues until the soil is completely saturated. At this stage, all work must be stopped for two hours. During this period, it is necessary to observe the behavior of the soil regarding its saturation with a solution. If the solution begins to leave, then the filling of the pit must be continued after a few days.According to practice, for absolute saturation of the soil, two or three repetitions of the process are required. The situation is monitored by means of beacons. In case of a slight change in their position, they proceed to the next stage.

A trench 200-350 mm wide is dripping along the contour of the base. On its outer side and at the bottom, a structure of boards is being erected, similar to the formwork. Reinforcing pins are hammered into the base, and a reinforced mesh is fixed to them. A concrete solution is poured into the resulting structure, in which there is a filler from fractions of fine gravel and gravel. Such a structure will significantly strengthen this corner of the house and equally disperse the loads in the horizontal plane, which will stop the process of house settling.