What is a foundation blind area and why is it needed? Pouring a concrete blind area around a private house How to properly pour a house blind area

A blind area is a simple element that can significantly extend the life of a building. This is also an indispensable part of decorating the local area.

The blind area around the house with your own hands looks presentable, combining or matching the materials from which the sidewalk and driveway to the garage are paved.

When answering the question of how to make a blind area around the house with your own hands and why it is needed in general, it would be useful to list the functions of this structure.

Protective. A properly constructed blind area with your own hands protects the foundation from prolonged contact with the foundation. The design provides for water to be drained directly into the sewer system.
Decorative. The blind area around the house gives the building a complete and solid look.
Preventing soil swelling. Reducing soil freezing will prevent soil swelling. What's the benefit? There will be no soil shifts around the foundation, which means its integrity will not be compromised.
Thermal insulation. The blind area of the house significantly reduces freezing of the soil and foundation as a whole. Thanks to this, the floors will be warm and the heat will not leave the house.
Protects the base from dirt.

Where a blind area may be needed

The blind area must be built not only near each capital structure, but also for small buildings. This will create a slope for water to drain and protect the foundation. Its importance is not exaggerated at all, since this structure, made of concrete and bulk materials has already proven itself as reliable foundation protection for many years. This means that having learned how to properly make a blind area around the house, you will not spend extra money on repairing the basement, and the walls will not crack from constant exposure to moisture.

What types of blind areas are there?

The blind area is built taking into account how you intend to use it in the future. The first thing you need to decide is whether it will serve only a decorative function or whether it will also be used as a sidewalk. In the first case, the slope can be made large, and in the second - minimal. Depending on their characteristics, blind areas come in different categories.

Types of blind area:

multi-layer and two-layer;
cast, prefabricated and bulk;
soft and hard blind areas.

The following materials can be used:

wood;
tile;
concrete;
reinforced concrete slabs;
bricks;
cobblestones;
asphalt.

3 conditions of effectiveness

In order for your home blind area to be effective in protecting the foundation from excess water, the following conditions must be taken into account.

The first and most important rule is that the blind area should be made with a slope towards the site. The amount of slope is affected by the type of coating. A reliable concrete blind area must have a slope of at least 5-10 degrees.
Its width should exceed the roof overhang by 30 centimeters. On heaving soils it is made no narrower than one meter, on sandy soils - at least 0.6 meters.
The correct blind area is built around the entire house without gaps. Since the settlement at the blind area and at the foundation is different, it is necessary to construct an expansion joint, which is filled with sand, filled with bitumen or filled with sealant.

Popular methods for constructing a blind area

When covering the facade with panels, siding or stone cladding, the blind area plays an important role, since it is the basis for installing the cladding.

In its absence, a noticeable gap appears between the casing and the ground level. This probably shouldn’t even be discussed, because no one will finish their façade without a previously constructed blind area.

Concrete is the easiest option

The technology involves the creation of 2 layers. The first layer is the underlying layer. It is necessary to create a smooth, compacted base. The following materials can be used for this: fine crushed stone, clay and sand. The choice of materials for creating the underlying layer depends on what materials will be used for the second layer. The coating must be waterproof and resistant to moisture.

Marking. The required dimensions of the structure were discussed above. The soil is removed and compacted around the entire perimeter of the building. The ground is prepared exactly to the marked width. For a concrete structure, the earth is removed to a depth of at least 25 cm.
Formwork. To create the formwork, a 20 mm thick board is used. A layer of clay is placed on the compacted earth, which is also compacted. After which a 10-centimeter layer of sand is laid. To ensure a good seal, it is spilled with water. Now a 60 mm layer of crushed stone is laid.
Reinforcement. The use of reinforcing mesh increases the stretching of the blind area in tension and compression. In addition, it will be quite difficult to destroy it - maintainability and vandal resistance increase. Buying reinforcement mesh with delivery to the site. The mesh is usually sold in sheets of 2x6 meters, which is very convenient. You can split it in half so that the width is 1 meter, this is ideal for reinforcement. You can cut the mesh with an ordinary grinder into fragments measuring 1x2 meters. You can cut into 3-meter pieces, but due to their large weight, carrying them is very inconvenient. The mesh is mounted in the formwork so that the distance from it to the crushed stone cushion is 2 cm. This is done in order to position the mesh inside the concrete, and not on the pillow. There shouldn’t be any difficulties, because no matter how you compact the pillow, pebbles will always remain above the surface. The cut mesh fragments must be overlapped. Excess wires are bent or cut with a grinder. Reinforcement is the fastest and easiest stage. 2 people are enough for this.
Pouring concrete. When poured with concrete, the mesh can bend greatly - the concrete will begin to squeeze it out. You will need to quickly compact the area or, after hardening, start cutting off excess fragments. It should be noted that this is not an easy procedure.

Waterproof option

If you are planning to make a drainage system, then a permeable system is suitable for you. This is the simplest option. Geotextile material is placed in a compacted trench, on which expanded clay, pebbles, gravel or crushed stone are laid.

Geotextile material is used to prevent crushed stone from being pressed into the base. Having chosen such a blind area, you must be prepared for the fact that it will have to be adjusted regularly, and it is not very convenient to walk on it.

Using paving slabs

To create a solid layer, crushed stone with sand can be used, on top of which the tiles are laid. Here you can't do without creating drainage system. You can also create waterproofing at the base of the blind area to drain water into the sewer.

Let's prepare the base. The ground is dug to a depth of tile size + 10 cm. To create a waterproof effect, clay is used, which is laid at an angle to a height of 10 cm.
A layer of PVC waterproofing is laid on top of the clay. The waterproofing is attached to the wall using a metal strip. Next, sand is laid in a layer of 4 centimeters, which is leveled and compacted.
Only now can you begin laying paving slabs. The solution should consist of concrete and water in a ratio of 1:4. The solution should be very thick. The tiles begin to be laid from the corner. After laying, 4 tiles are removed and a mortar layer of 4 centimeters is laid in their place. We install the paving slabs into place using spacers and a hammer.
After laying all the tiles and removing everything wooden spacers it is necessary to fill the seams with sand. To fill the sand as densely as possible, the tiles are watered. Even a well-made seam must be periodically covered with sand during operation.

Repair of concrete blind area

We have already figured out the question of how to make a blind area with our own hands, but what to do if it breaks? If damage is discovered, repairs must be made as soon as possible to prevent structural damage from spreading. Repair should begin with determining the boundaries of the damaged area.

Several significant potholes can be combined into 1 damage. The damaged asphalt surface is cut down to its full depth using wedges and cleaned of dust. The edges, walls and bottom are lubricated with liquefied bitumen and filled with concrete. The new coating is laid slightly higher than the old one, which will ensure best connection plots.

To repair peeling cracks and potholes, the following are used:

fine-grained concrete;
cement-sand mortars;
sealing pastes;
rubber bitumen mastics.

The longevity of a building depends on the condition of the foundation, the health of which is determined by reliable and efficient drainage surface waters from home at any time. This task is performed by the blind area, which primarily has a protective function. One of the most common and accessible technologies is arrangement concrete blind area around the building. Its correct design, created with your own hands, will effectively perform the functions long years.

What does it represent?

The blind area is an external waterproof basement concrete structure in the form of a continuous path along the perimeter of the building, sloping from the wall towards the surrounding terrain adjoining plot. Its arrangement involves a tight but movable connection to the base of the house.

The structure is a layered “pie” consisting of materials that together keep the foundation dry. The basis of such protection is in proportion: a compacted, even underlying layer of sand (crushed stone, clay), waterproofing and a coating - concrete, which ensures the waterproofness of the structure.

Functions performed

A properly equipped blind area ensures the longevity of the structure, preventing the destruction of the foundation and structures of the house by precipitation moisture, melt water. A blind area without concrete, created with your own hands, is a temporary measure that does not solve the entire complex of problems of such a design.

Main function correct blind area- divert and transport water a sufficient distance from the foundation towards the lowest place on the site or into a storm drain.

In addition to the function of a horizontal hydrobarrier, the blind area (especially insulated) reduces the freezing of the soil around the house, which reduces the likelihood of it swelling (rising), and also reduces the thermal conductivity of the building. A blind area without concrete does not prevent periodic moistening of the soil close to the foundation and, as a result, harmful effects which can be caused by hard plant roots. The protective device also gives the building an aesthetically complete appearance and can be used as a pedestrian path.

Requirements for the blind area and design rules

Diagram of a structure using reinforced concrete.

The encircling protective structure must have the same width, the value of which is 20–30 cm greater than the overhang of the roof eaves beyond the wall of the building. It is generally accepted that it is about 1 m (or more on subsiding soils). The blind area is buried to no more than half the depth of soil freezing in the area. Thickness concrete covering selectable within 7 – 10 cm (up to 15 cm if used as a path).

The recommended slope of the coating is 92 - 94 degrees relative to the wall of the building (or 10 - 100 mm per 1 meter of blind area width). The height of the base above the blind area at the junction of the structure is set to 50 cm. Its outer lower edge should be raised approximately 50 mm above ground level, which prevents the accumulation of water at the edge. The technology for creating a structure assumes the possibility of its integral movement following soil deformations relative to the foundation, which ensures near-wall.

How to make a blind area?

Markings are made on the area, the fertile layer of soil is removed. The underlying (clay) is laid. Geotextiles (for example, roofing felt) are laid. The formwork is formed taking into account expansion joints. The area is reinforced. Concrete for the blind area is prepared in the correct proportion and poured into the formwork. The coating surface is drawn out with the selected slope along the edge of the formwork and leveled. The concrete is given time to dry.

Preparation of tools and materials

The quality of the markings is checked by the building level.

For earthworks You will need shovels, a pick, twine, a tape measure, a tamper, and pegs. The required volume of geotextile (waterproof film) for the water seal should be calculated. Required in the right quantity and proportions of components for mixing concrete (washed sand, water, gravel, crushed stone of fractions 5 - 10 mm, cement) or (for example, grade M400 and higher). Tools also include a mixer (container) for forming the solution, buckets, carts (stretchers), and a measuring bucket. The laying of the underlying layer must be provided with sufficient sand (clay).

The formwork is formed from boards, but a hacksaw, level, nails, and hammer are also useful. (steel wire), which should be delivered. Will be needed welding machine, a tool for cutting pieces of reinforcement. Will help laying and leveling concrete long rule, trowel, spatulas. The construction of seams will require polyurethane sealant.

A trench is marked around the house with pegs and string. The level at which the blind area adjoins the plinth is marked with beacons in increments of 1.5 m. Layer fertile soil is removed around the building, taking into account the layout of the surrounding surface. The bottom of the trench is compacted and leveled with the already formed slope (herbicides can be added). The depth of the passage can be 500 mm (on heaving soils).

Creation and compaction of a sand cushion

The bottom of the trench is lined with sand, the surface of which is also profiled with a slope. The material is abundantly moistened and compacted. The operation should be repeated at least twice. The thickness of the layer can be up to 20 cm. Its surface is carefully leveled.

The use of rolled waterproofing materials for blind areas.

Its device involves laying two layers of waterproofing (for example, roofing felt) on a sand substrate, which are slightly folded onto the wall to create an expansion joint. At the joints the material is overlapped. Next, the geotextile is covered more thin layer sand, and then gravel (about 10 cm thick) with a slope of the top layer and compacted. It is advisable to place a drainage system close to such a water seal.

Creating formwork

Removable wooden mold protects the place where concrete is poured. It is reinforced with strong pegs with outside. The form provides for transverse expansion joints(after 2 - 2.5 m), which are installed, including at the corners of the formwork diagonally. Their tightness is formed by placing them on edge wooden blocks(butyl rubber belts), impregnated with waste oil and coated with bitumen.

The edges of the mold must be straight for the rule to apply. The difference in its height must correspond to the slope of the blind area. The height of the formwork corresponds to the thickness of the concrete. The expansion joint near the wall (10 - 20 mm wide) is filled with roofing material (hydro-swelling cord).

Reinforcement and filling

The process of pouring the blind area of a house with concrete.

Used metal grid 50x50 (100x100) mm, which can be linked to pieces of reinforcement driven into the base in increments of 0.75 m. The mesh is raised above the level of crushed stone by 30 mm. Concrete is mixed and poured with your own hands in portions into the formwork sections to the level of its upper edge.

There should be no air pockets in the concrete. The correct proportions of the concrete mixture for the blind area must correspond to frost resistance. The composition of concrete for the blind area is traditional (corresponding grade from M400 and above). Components that increase strength and durability can be added to the solution in proportion.

One way to protect the foundation is to create a blind area around the house. This design can prevent moisture from penetrating into load-bearing basis and protect the foundation of the house from deformation and destruction.

Blind area device and selection rules

The main elements of the blind area are the substrate and the covering, each of them is assigned a specific function.

The substrate creates a durable and level base, on which a protective coating is subsequently laid. The substrate is made of clay or a mixture of sand and crushed stone.

The second layer – the protective coating – can be made from any material that has high strength characteristics and excellent waterproofing properties. Therefore, in most cases you can find concrete, asphalt, stone or tiled blind areas.

There are several types of construction, each of which can be used on soil with certain characteristics.

Rigid blind area

This design is made of hard surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, which increases resistance to mechanical stress. It is mandatory to install a thermal insulation and waterproofing layer, so the service life of the rigid blind area in most cases is equal to the operational period of the main structure. This type can only be installed on medium or high density soils.

Soft blind area

A structure of this type is constructed using simplified technology and does not require large material and labor costs. To create it, several layers are poured bulk material. The average service life is about 5 years, so most often a soft blind area is used as a temporary option. Besides appearance this design is not attractive special attention. As for the type of soil on which a soft blind area can be laid, there are no restrictions.

Semi-rigid blind area

Already by the name we can say that this option is intermediate between the previous types of blind area. This applies to both material and physical costs. The protective layer can be made of paving slabs, stone or reinforced concrete slabs. This allows you to repair any section of the blind area without damaging the entire structure. A semi-rigid blind area cannot be installed in areas where there is a high location groundwater and deep freezing of the soil. In addition, it is used with restrictions on heaving soil.

Materials for making blind areas

As protective coating blind area can be used different material, its choice depends on several factors. In particular we're talking about about the following:

Construction budget. If the arrangement of the blind area is not limited by material costs, then it is best to use expensive materials. In this case, the emphasis is on the quality of the design. If you have a small budget, preference is given to cheaper options.
Specifications. If the structure will be constantly exposed to mechanical stress, then choose a material with high strength characteristics.
Aesthetic requirements. In some cases, the main criterion for evaluating a structure is its attractiveness, therefore, when choosing a covering for a blind area, the aesthetic characteristics of the material are taken into account.

In addition, the positive and negative sides the coating used.

Concrete paving stones

One of the popular types of covering for blind areas is concrete paving stones. The high demand for this material is explained by wide choice colors and shapes. In addition, the elements have different lengths and widths, which allows you to realize any design solution. Installing paving stones does not seem difficult, so it is possible to carry out the work process yourself. The main advantage of the material is its strength and resistance to low air temperatures.

Elements of this type of coating have a natural appearance, as they are made from natural materials, granite and basalt. It is worth noting that such a coating requires significant material costs, so it is used if there is a sufficient construction budget.

Concrete

A more economical option is a concrete blind area. The advantage of such a coating is maximum water resistance, the disadvantage is that it does not have a very attractive appearance. In some cases, to improve aesthetics, concrete is decorated with natural stone.

Paving slabs

This blind area has many positive characteristics, among them the following can be highlighted:

Different sizes of elements.
Wide choice of colors.
Different surface texture.
Possibility of replacement individual element without dismantling the entire structure.

Crushed stone

The simplest and affordable option– this is the use of crushed stone as the top layer of the blind area. In addition, this material is most suitable for high location groundwater and if there is a drainage system around the house.

Making a concrete blind area with your own hands

In most cases, private developers prefer concrete blind areas. Such a design can be made with your own hands if you follow the technology and listen to the recommendations of experienced craftsmen. The construction process is divided into several stages.

Excavation

To arrange a blind area along the outer perimeter of the house, they dig a trench about 30-35 cm deep. As for the width of the trench, it depends on the size of the eaves and gable overhang and should protrude beyond the edges of these roof elements. Experts recommend using a value equal to half the depth of the foundation, but not less than 0.6 meters. On subsiding soils, it is allowed to make a blind area up to 2 meters wide.

At the bottom of the finished trench, a clay castle up to 12 cm high is made; for this, high-fat clay should be used. A kind of cushion is formed on top of the clay, which will reduce the impact of seasonal soil movements. First, pour a layer of crushed stone 5-6 cm thick and compact it well. Next, sand is poured in a layer of up to 10 cm and also compacted thoroughly. In the process of creating the bedding, the level must be controlled; the thickness of the layer of sand and crushed stone must be the same at all points of the trench. Top level finished pillow should be located below the planned level of the blind area by 5-6 cm.

A groove is made along the outer edge of the trench, 2 cm wide and about 2 cm deep.

To prevent sand and crushed stone from mixing with each other and reducing the strength characteristics of the blind area, you can separate them with a cloth of geological textiles.

Creation of formwork and armored belt

To create the formwork, boards measuring 2*10 cm are used, they are knocked together into panels of two pieces and connected with jumpers every half meter. The structure is installed along the side of the trench parallel to the foundation. The height of the formwork must correspond to the final level of the blind area. To strengthen with outside Shields are placed with wooden stakes at intervals of 1.5 meters and covered with soil.

To create an armored belt, steel rods with a cross-section of 8 mm are used, from which a mesh with a cell size of 20*20 cm is made. The reinforcing structure is laid in one row on special substrates about 5 cm high.

Preparation and pouring of concrete

Before preparing the concrete mixture, the required volume should be calculated. You can do this in a simple way mathematical formula, multiplying the height by the length and the width of the blind area.

Concrete must have a strength class of at least B25, so cement, sand and crushed stone are taken in a ratio of 1: 2: 3.5 (read also our article about). In some cases, when preparing concrete, liquid is used detergent, adding it 1 tbsp. spoon onto a bucket of solution. Experienced craftsmen It is believed that in this case the frost resistance of concrete and its resistance to water absorption increases.

Concrete solution is poured immediately to the top level, then pierced over the entire area with a bayonet shovel to remove voids. You can use deep vibrators for this.

The formation of transverse expansion joints will prevent deformation and destruction of the blind area. This is especially true for areas located in the open sun.

After pouring, it is necessary to level the surface of the blind area and remove depressions in which water can accumulate.

The finished structure is left for 7-10 days to gain the necessary strength. At this time, the surface should be protected from the hot sun and precipitation by regularly spraying and covering the blind area with film.

Two weeks after pouring, the formwork is removed and wet ironing is carried out. To do this, take equal amounts of sand and cement, dilute with lime milk with the addition of liquid glass. Ready composition should have the consistency of heavy cream.

The ironing process is performed as follows:

The surface is moistened.
Using a metal brush, break the structure of the top layer.
The resulting dust is removed and the blind area is moistened again.
After drying, the mixture for ironing is poured onto the surface and leveled with a wide spatula, moving it along the structure.

Soft blind area device

Unlike a rigid structure, a soft blind area does not have a hard top covering. To make your own soft design, you must adhere to the following scheme:

Mark the area.
They dig a trench about 0.8 meters wide and about 0.4 meters deep.
A clay castle is made at the bottom.
The clay layer is covered waterproofing material, bringing its edges to the wall.
Pour a small layer of sand and compact it.
Cover the sand with geotextiles.
Set up a bed of crushed stone.
The geological textile is laid again and covered with sand.
Set up the top layer of the blind area from the selected material.

A blind area made with your own hands will not only protect the foundation from getting wet and cracking, but will also delight you with its appearance throughout its entire service life.

After erecting a house or any other structure, the first priority is to build a blind area around the perimeter of the building. This is a protective layer that encircles the building along its border and serves to drain water from the house to a certain distance. It performs a number of useful functions that ensure protection of the foundation and long-term operation of the structure as a whole. The purpose of this article is to show how you can make a blind area around the house with your own hands, choosing the most suitable option.

Foundation protection. When properly laid, the blind area prevents the penetration of rain and melt water to the foundation of the building. This helps maintain the integrity of the foundation, which can be damaged by moisture penetrating into the soil and freezing.
Increasing the thermal insulation of the foundation and the house in general. The blind area creates an additional insulating layer that reduces the impact of negative temperatures on the soil around the building.
The blind area complements the building, giving the house completeness. Often the appearance of the blind area is selected so that it is in harmony with the structure.
Practical application in the form of a pedestrian path. This ensures the possibility of convenient movement around the building or between neighboring buildings.

Types of blind area

Before you start making a blind area, you need to decide which type you will use. We list the possible options:

Advice: It is not recommended to use porcelain stoneware as a covering for the blind area. Being laid in top layer concrete, it will have a different coefficient of expansion under temperature fluctuations than concrete. The result may be rupture or cracking of porcelain tiles.

Construction rules

When constructing a blind area around a house, you should follow several mandatory rules:

Advice: Wood slats, used to make expansion joints, be sure to cover them with some kind of water-repellent material to prevent them from rotting. This can be bitumen diluted in kerosene, drying oil, mastic, etc.

We make a blind area from concrete

This is a construction classic that is used for most buildings. The concrete blind area around the house must be made in accordance with all the rules applicable to this type of structure. It is quite reliable and simple in design.

What is required for construction:

a bayonet shovel, which will be used to remove soil;
cord intended for marking;
construction level for correct placement of formwork and ensuring the angle of inclination of the pouring;
Master OK;
rule for smoothing the solution;
sand;
boards for formwork and production of expansion joints;
crushed stone;
water;
ready-made concrete mortar or cement;
roofing felt or bitumen for creating expansion joints;
container for mixing the solution, if it will be made independently.

The procedure for making a blind area from concrete

Now let's look at how to fill the blind area around the house using concrete mortar.

1. Marking the construction site. At this stage, pegs are driven in around the perimeter of the building, located at equal distances from the walls of the building. A distance of 1.5-2 m is maintained between the pegs. A cord is pulled, limiting the width of the future formwork.

2. Using a bayonet shovel, the soil layer is removed to a depth of 30 cm. As a result, a trench should form between the foundation and the tensioned cord. To improve the waterproofing properties of the blind area, it is recommended to lay a layer of clay at the bottom of the trench.

3. The bottom of the trench is compacted. For this purpose, it is best to use a rounded log.

Tip: If plant roots remain in the trench, the bottom of the trench is additionally treated with special chemicals to destroy them. This treatment will not allow plants to destroy the finished formwork.

4. Formwork is placed around the perimeter of the trench. To make it, you can use boards, pieces flat slate and other materials. Boards can be secured to pegs with self-tapping screws, and other materials can be secured with spacers.

5. It is ensured that sand is poured into the trench in a layer of 10 cm, which should preferably be moistened with water and compacted.

6. Crushed stone is laid on the sand, but gravel can also be used. The backfill layer is 6-8 cm.

7. Across the trench, in increments of 2 meters, boards are placed on the edge, which will compensate for the temperature movements of the concrete layer. In addition, the boards will play the role of beacons during concreting.

8. A reinforcing mesh is laid on the crushed stone or a frame is made from reinforcement with a cell of 10 cm. If reinforcement is used, then all joints are connected to each other by welded joints or wire.

9. The concrete solution is poured while maintaining the appropriate slope. Using the rule, the solution is smoothed between the wooden beacons.

10. While the solution has not hardened, iron its surface. To do this, the surface of the concrete is sprinkled with cement and smoothed with a trowel. This helps reduce the porosity of the finished surface.

Making a soft blind area

The so-called soft blind area around the house can be made independently using the following materials and tools:

bayonet shovel;
cord and pegs;
crushed stone;
clay;
sand;
rolled waterproofing material.

A blind area made of crushed stone around a house is usually done in cases where the owners do not plan to regularly repair this design, as well as with insufficient financial resources. She has enough simple design, and the time for its arrangement is reduced to a minimum.

Manufacturing procedure

1. The area is marked and the cord is pulled over the driven pegs.

2. A trench 30 cm deep is dug between the cord and the wall of the house.

3. The trench is lined with a layer of clay of at least 10 cm. The clay compacts well.

4. A roll waterproofing material is laid on the clay. Thick euroroofing felt is best. It must extend onto the wall by 10-15 centimeters.

Important: Do not lay the waterproofing under tension, as in the cold, expanding water and soil movements can tear it apart. Let better material is located freely and has several folds.

5. The waterproofing material is covered with a small layer of sand.

6. The rest of the space up to the surface of the trench is filled with crushed stone.

It is advisable to make such a blind area if water does not fall on it from the roof. Otherwise, the water will form holes in it.

We looked at how to do soft blind area around the house . If desired, you can refine the structure, making it more attractive. A layer of crushed stone on top can be covered with sand, and laid on top paving slabs.

Insulation of the blind area

Warm cover will increase the temperature in the basement, making staying in them more comfortable. For work, it is better to use extruded polystyrene foam, which is popular in the construction environment. He has high density and cuts well.

The insulated blind area around the house is made in the following sequence:

The formwork is installed by analogy with a concrete blind area.
The trench is filled with dry sand to a depth of 15 cm.
The sand is covered with roofing felt, which extends onto the wall.
Sheet insulation is cut with a knife to the specified dimensions and laid on top of the roofing material. There is no movement of the material. Insulation of the same thickness and same structure is used.
A reinforcing mesh is placed on top of the insulation.
The last layer is concrete.

Such insulation of the blind area with extruded polystyrene foam does not differ in appearance from conventional concrete pouring, but is more desirable for houses with heated basements or with shallow foundations, as well as for heaving soils.

Make a blind area around the house yourself - great way relatively inexpensively and efficiently protect your buildings from the harmful effects of moisture. When the work is done independently, there can be no neglect of the subject of construction.

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At the final stage of construction of a private house, developers have the feeling that the building is ready for use. Wanting to immerse themselves in solving issues related to the improvement of residential premises and quickly move in, many do not attach serious importance to some points. Important nuance- blind area around the house. It solves the problem of preventing waterlogging of the foundation around the building and ensures the durability of the building.

The blind area of a private house is an integral element of the building. You shouldn’t move in prematurely and celebrate housewarming by postponing its construction “to tomorrow.” After all, an unprotected foundation exposed to moisture gradually decreases in strength and uneven shrinkage occurs.

Experienced builders always construct an edging around the building, which can be made in various designs. Compliance with technological recommendations allows you to reliably protect the foundation of the building during the period of operation. Only by adhering to technology can you properly make a blind area around the house. Let's consider the purpose of the protective edging, parameters and designs. We will decide on the choice of building materials for the work, and also study how, in accordance with technological requirements, a blind area is made around the foundation of the building.

What is the purpose of the blind area around the house?

Protecting the foundation, the blind area of a private house is made in the form of a kind of edging around the building, which has a slight slope to the outside.

The blind area near the house, first of all, serves as a kind of protection along with decorative function

It is designed to solve serious problems:

preventing the impact of precipitation on the foundation of the building;
removal of moisture from the foundation to storm pipes sewerage;
reducing the depth of soil freezing along the contour of the building;
reducing heat losses along the perimeter of the building’s foundation;
protecting the soil adjacent to the foundation from freezing and swelling;
limiting plant growth, protecting the foundation surface from roots;
forming a transition around the foundation, improving the appearance of the building.

After completion of construction activities, begin making a blind area in order to have time to protect the adjacent soil from waterlogging and the foundation of the building from destruction before the autumn rains and winter frosts.

Blind area of a private house - operating parameters

In order to properly make a blind area around the house, follow the recommendations of professional builders.

Install a blind area around the house with your own hands after finishing laying the walls, when the time comes exterior finishing

They focus the attention of novice developers on the following nuances:

the minimum width of the site, which must be at least 0.6 meters. Increasing the size to one meter increases ease of movement around the building;
the need for free flow of precipitation onto the blind area. The width of the concrete edging must exceed the contour of the roof by at least 0.2 meters;
full coverage of the foundation along the perimeter of the building with a surrounding edging. The guard track configuration must not have gaps for reliable protection foundation;
ensuring a slope from the building to the ground from 1 to 10%. Exceeding the specified values, corresponding to the slope of a 1 m wide edge by 1–10 cm, can cause slipping;
pouring concrete mortar when making edging in a layer of up to 10 cm. To increase the load capacity in conditions wet soils layer thickness is increased to 15 cm;
mandatory construction along the perimeter of the protective curb. It additionally protects the foundation from damage by plant roots;
forming a raised edging above the soil level. With a difference of 5 cm above the ground surface, flooding of the protective contour along the outer edge is excluded.

Fulfillment of requirements building codes will create favorable conditions for long-term use.

What building materials are the blind area around the building made of?

Let's consider what building materials are used to make the blind area around the house. Popular:

artificial concrete paving stones. It is presented in construction supermarkets in an expanded assortment. Is different color scheme, texture and shape. The radius configuration prevents the edges from chipping. The dimensions and structure of artificial stone allow it to maintain its integrity under the influence of various loads that occur when moving along the track. Special edging improves appearance. The building material is not afraid of frost, temperature fluctuations, and is quickly installed;

In addition to his direct use the blind area “works” as insulation basements building

natural stone. Durable granite is used, from which paving stones are made required sizes. Finished products are standard shapes cut from a solid granite block in the form of a cube or parallelepiped, as well as chipped parts. Laying process natural stone similar to the technology for installing paving stones made of concrete. A sand and gravel layer 4–5 cm thick is preliminarily formed. Then stone paving stones are laid, the seams at the junction of the elements are sealed;
concrete. The use of a concrete mixture is a budget solution that allows you to create a surface with increased strength, as well as high water-repellent properties. Concreting is carried out in collapsible timber formwork on pre-prepared soil. To ensure the integrity of the concrete mass during deformations, expansion joints are made along the perimeter of the building. To improve perception, a layer of pebbles of pebbles up to 50 mm in size can be laid on the surface. This decoration gives the concrete an original look;
paving slabs. Significant advantage this building material - expedited replacement cracked elements. The dimensions and configuration of the tiles are regulated by the requirements of the current standard. Applicable square tiles With maximum size 50x50 cm, as well as products rectangular shape length up to 100 cm. Standard products differ gray. But there are also multi-colored products with decorative patterns. If the dimensions of the tiles correspond to the parameters of the edging, it is easy to quickly lay paving slabs without adjusting the dimensions;

The width of the strip should not be equal to the level of the roof overhang, nor should it be narrower than this overhanging edge

crushed stone. This building material allows you to quickly and easily minimal costs arrange a protective edge around the building. This option is used when aquifers are located closely and there are drainage communications around the perimeter of the building. Expanded clay granules or gravel can be used instead of crushed stone. The crushed stone layer should be thoroughly compacted by first laying geotextile fabric on the ground. It is easier to move on compacted gravel, and geotextiles will not allow weeds to grow and will protect the building material from mixing with the soil.

Most private developers perform concrete edging of the building. For its construction you will need the following building materials and tools:

waterproofing building materials for covering (roofing felt, geotextiles);
planed boards for formwork construction;
reinforcing bars or purchased mesh with a cell size of 100x100 mm;
fine sand, cleared of impurities, and medium-fraction gravel;
Portland cement with a marking of at least M300 and clay;
sheet expanded polystyrene for thermal insulation layer;
wooden stakes and marking cord;
bayonet and shovel shovels for earthworks;
compaction device to facilitate compaction;
bubble level necessary to check horizontality.

Having decided on the coating and prepared the building materials, proceed to further work.

Initially, marking of the future protective strip is carried out for the construction of concrete protection

Blind area of a private house - design options

The edging around the building differs in manufacturing methods, as well as design features. They include two layers that perform different functions:

underlying It is made of purified sand, fine crushed stone and clay. The working covering is laid on a pre-compacted base;
finishing. It is formed from moisture-resistant building materials that protect the foundation of the building from excess moisture. Provides a surface with improved appearance.

Answering the question of how to make a blind area around the house, we inform you that there are various solutions. The standard classification of blind areas includes the following types:

soft. Intermediate layer formed between external material and soil, made in the form of a special pillow. It includes several compacted layers. The greatest load is taken by the outer layer, made of fine gravel-crushed stone mixture. The use of bulk building materials reduces costs and significantly reduces the duration of work. Despite the significant drawback - low durability, soft version used for limited budgets;
medium hard. This is an option based on a sand-crushed stone mixture. For finishing finishing, various building materials are laid on the compacted pad - ceramic tile, natural and artificial paving stones, ordinary cobblestones, as well as porcelain stoneware. The design does not provide for thermal insulation and the construction of semi-rigid edging on soils prone to frost heaving. The acceptable level of costs and ease of construction are due to the lack of concreting. Attracts customers simple technology and low consumption of building materials;

In order for the future blind area of the house to be strong and withstand compressive and tensile loads, it must be reinforced

tough. It is constructed by concreting with the preliminary installation of a reinforcement cage to increase the strength characteristics of the massif. The rigid design allows for thermal insulation. Characterized by increased durability, equal to the lifespan of the building. Despite serious advantages, there are a number of disadvantages. This is the increased labor intensity of forming a rigid base, increased costs, as well as the need to use special finishing building materials.

Choice optimal option produced individually depending on capabilities.

How to make a blind area around the house - the main steps

Standard technology involves the following operations:

Site preparation.
Protection from moisture.
Performing filling.
Formwork assembly.
Laying the heat insulator.
Reinforcement.
Pouring concrete.

We will try to answer the question of how to make a blind area at home.

Preparatory activities

Sequence of preliminary work:

Vegetation removal.
Cleaning the outer layer of soil.
Performing markings.
Control of placement relative to the edge of the roof.
Extraction of soil around the perimeter.
Removal of fertile soil.

When performing work, pay attention to the horizontalness of the prepared surface.

Waterproofing protection

For the hydraulic lock device the following can be used:

waterproofing in rolls. Roofing felt, geotextile or polyethylene are used. They are laid without tension on a compacted and moistened layer of sand;
clay. On a 5 cm thick sand cushion compacted and spilled with water, an array of oily clay is formed, with a layer thickness of up to 12 cm.

These building materials provide high level waterproofing.

The poured concrete mixture should flow towards the house, slightly compressing it

Pillow device

The filling is done as follows:

Place crushed stone at the bottom of the pit with a layer thickness of 10 cm.
Add sand, pour water and compact.
Form required slope surfaces.

To install drainage, it is necessary to lay pipes under a layer of crushed stone, ensuring that the pipelines slope.

Making formwork

Algorithm for assembling a wooden frame:

Cut the wood pieces.
Soak the wood with an antiseptic.
Drive vertical supports into the soil.
Nail the boards.
Seal gaps.
Form an expansion joint.
Check that the formwork is assembled correctly.

When performing work, form transverse seams using thin strips spaced at 2 m intervals.

Do not build a blind area immediately after building the basement

Installation of heat insulator

Installing insulation is easy:

Lay down the foam sheets.
Seal the cracks with foam.
Cut off the hardened foam.
Lay polystyrene foam boards.

How to properly perform reinforcement and concreting

Laying reinforcement and pouring concrete is the final stage. Sequencing:

Tie the reinforcement frame from the cut blanks and place it in the formwork.
Prepare concrete mixture, fill, ensuring equal thickness.
Compact the array, forming the required angle of inclination.
Cover with plastic, support required humidity concrete.

After the final hardening of the concrete, dismantle the formwork.

Results

The builders' recommendations will help you make the blind area correctly. It is necessary to decide on the design, follow the recommended dimensions and technology. It is important to ensure harmonious combination edging and external finishing of the building.