Digging "trenches" for the foundation!
Everyone understands that the foundation in the home is the key foundation. The durability of the structure depends on it. For this reason, digging a foundation trench should be taken seriously.
Note! In some cases, the assistance of an engineer will be required, who will accurately calculate the required foundation depth. One of the important factors that affects the determination of the depth of the trench is the type of soil
In some cases, in addition to the foundation, it will be necessary to install support pillars. Therefore, before buying a land plot, first of all, determine the nature of the soil and calculate what investments will be required on your part. After all, if a large depth of trenches presupposes a deeply buried foundation, then, accordingly, the cost of pouring the foundation will increase.
One of the important factors that influences the determination of the depth of the trench is the type of soil. In some cases, in addition to the foundation, it will be necessary to install support pillars. Therefore, before buying a land plot, first of all, determine the nature of the soil and calculate what investments will be required on your part. Indeed, if a large depth of trenches presupposes a deeply buried foundation, then, accordingly, the costs of pouring the foundation will increase.
It is important to prepare the construction site well before starting digging. For example, the preparation includes the removal of shrubs, trees and their roots.
You should not start building a house if a large tree grows on the territory, otherwise you will have to very carefully remove its roots, which go deep into the soil.
It is often possible to use the services of a hydraulic tractor, however, this is not always possible. The thing is that in some areas there may be rather narrow places where it cannot be found in any way. For this reason, manual trenching with a shovel is ideal. What's more, renting an excavator will cost you more than manual work, even if you have to hire several people. So, if you plan to dig a trench for a small foundation, then you can start doing the work yourself. If there is a large amount of work ahead, then it is better to use the service of specialized equipment.
What are the cuttings of bayonet shovels?
Wooden handles for bayonet shovels have a number of advantages: low price, light weight and ability to keep warm
When choosing such a holder, special attention should be paid to the smoothness of its surface, the absence of cracks and knots on it. The stalk must be thoroughly dried, which will not allow it to slip out of the shovel blade during operation.
The lightest and most reliable cuttings are obtained from mountain ash, aspen, maple and hazel.
Plastic cuttings are also quite light, durable and inexpensive, but they have one big drawback - they slip when working with them for a long time, when palms sweat or it is wet outside: because of this, calluses are rubbed, and the tool does not have sufficient fixation in your hands.
Steel shafts today have a comfortable ergonomic shape, they are very strong, durable, not afraid of any weather conditions, their surface is protected by a plastic coating that allows the tool to not slip in the hands. The shape of such holders is designed for more efficient redistribution of loads when working on all muscles of the back and arms. And, despite their slightly higher weight and cost, such cuttings are very much appreciated by gardeners and gardeners.
Select by shape
What could be better than a spade bayonet made of titanium or spring steel?
It turns out that the composition of the sharp "petal" mainly affects only the wear resistance of the thematic instrument. But the form is responsible for the convenience when digging the soil.
At the blade, it happens:
- Typical - rounded with a sharp end;
- Bayonet - triangular with a sharp end;
- Multifaceted - in the form of a crown with several sharp ends;
- Rectangular - no sharp edges and only one cut-in plane.
This difference is explained by the difference between the rocks of the soil and, accordingly, the complexity of its processing. Clay and hard soils favor standard finish construction. The bayonet analog is good for digging up any soil.
The multifaceted sample was created for uprooting, which is important when working on virgin soil. A shovel with a rectangular working base - an option for sandy and loose soils in the garden and on ponds.
For reference. The standard and bayonet versions are increasingly presented in a curved state, like a tablespoon. The novelty is akin to foreign designs - "American". It allows you to bend less when digging.
The purpose of the bayonet shovel
If your summer cottage is small in size, and you simply have nowhere to store all your gardener's tools, pay attention to a bayonet shovel, which can become a universal assistant in the garden at all times. Like her close sister, a shovel, she is simply necessary in the garden to perform various work related to the ground.
Such work, as a rule, puts a lot of stress on the back and arms, therefore, when buying a tool, you need to pay special attention to the quality of the metal from which it is made and to the type of wood of its cutting.
Cuttings made from hardwoods are considered to be the strongest and most durable. And the bayonet must be made of stainless steel or titanium. The blades of these shovels have two configurations: simple for normal soil work and serrated at the ends for digging the lawn.
General Tips
Studying the requirements of gardeners and summer residents, the garden market never ceases to amaze with varieties of themed tools, which is clearly demonstrated by photos of the shovel and its results. But the target contingent remains skeptical about the appropriate breadth.
Therefore, the topic of choosing an assistant for digging was filled with many recommendations. Here's what experienced workers and experts advise:
- Products with aluminum or metal holders heat up in the sun and cool down in cold weather, so their ends should be rubberized by default or have a scroll holder;
- In order for wet soil to adhere worse to the blade profile, the latter must have two bends;
- So that the wooden handle does not rot after contact with the ground, the bend coming from the tulle under the handle must have wavy walls;
- Reliable blades - those whose thickness is at least 1.5 mm;
- The processed metal slides in the hands, so its handles must be covered with an anti-slip layer;
- Instead of standard models, the unique ones - the fork-spade, the versions "Kozma" and "Vyatsky Plowman", have proven themselves well.
And the last thing that often raises questions from the target audience is the storage of shovels.
The main thing is not to forget to clean the heroine of the topic with a dry cloth after each work. If the tool will be stored all winter, then the blade can be covered with a cloth or film so that it is protected from possible moisture.
Rectangular bayonet shovel with a handle: description and materials of manufacture
Bayonet shovels are flat with a pointed end. They are used for a variety of work in the garden and vegetable garden: for digging a site, loosening the soil, mixing soil with fertilizers, for digging holes, removing the root systems of plants, and so on. The dimensions of the bayonet shovel are kept within a certain range: the blade width is usually 180–210 mm, and its height is 335–405 mm.The length of the handle can be 110–150 cm and is selected individually, according to the height of the person for the convenience of working with the tool.
Most often the blade is made of steel. Its thickness depends on the type of metal. A thinner tray is obtained from stainless steel than from hardened steel, it is used for working with sandy soil, and it is not suitable for loosening wet, heavy soil. A hardened steel shovel can be used on wet soil, but the tool is much heavier in weight.
A shovel with an aluminum bayonet can be purchased for handling light materials such as sawdust or dry grass; it will not work for all other gardening tasks for digging and loosening soil, as the scoop can bend and crack. The advantage of such a tool is its lightness and convenience in working with it, but you cannot call it durable.
The titanium bayonet shovel is recognized as the highest quality and most reliable of this type of tool. It is strong and durable, does not stick to the ground, and can be used to cultivate wet chernozem and heavy clay soil. Due to its low weight, it can be used for a long time and without interruption. But the cost of this tool is much higher than that of her sisters.
