Guide to arranging a cellar in a house with a strip foundation

In addition to offering much-needed additional storage space, a cellar can be a refreshing haven on hot summer days. Setting up a cellar on a strip foundation requires careful planning and execution to guarantee that the space is both structurally sound and functional.

A continuous concrete strip serves as the foundation for a strip foundation, bearing the weight of the walls and eventually the entire structure above it. When integrating a cellar, you’ll need to take into account the foundation’s depth and dimensions as well as any utilities that may need to be rerouted or adjusted, such as plumbing or electrical lines.

Excavation beneath the surface is required to create a cellar, so the foundation’s structural integrity must be maintained. To prevent jeopardizing your home’s stability, this procedure usually calls for professional experience. To guarantee compliance and safety, adherence to local building codes and regulations is essential.

After the excavation is finished, walls must be built for the cellar, and depending on the depth of the excavation and the state of the soil, they may need to be reinforced. To keep the cellar dry and at a consistent temperature, proper insulation and waterproofing are necessary.

Room arrangement

This kind of room is set up according to its intended use. Additionally, this will rely on:

  • base tape height,
  • presence of openings for technological purposes,
  • the need to install embedded parts or enhanced waterproofing, as well as insulation.

The digging of a pit is the first step in building a cellar. The ceiling height for basement levels is 2.5–3 meters. Since a cellar is a non-residential, semi-basement space, this value can be lowered to 1.8 meters.

In order to install a cellar correctly on your own, you must first draw out the structure on a strip foundation. The following criteria for the calculation must be met:

  1. To calculate the total area of ​​the formwork, you need to multiply the outer perimeter of the future building by the height of the walls. The resulting figure must be multiplied by 2 and added 10% for ties, spacers and other elements.
  2. The presence of a reinforcing frame depends on the expected loads that will be exerted on the foundation.
  3. The strip foundation design must have at least 3 pairs of reinforcement bars that are laid around the perimeter of the cellar.
  4. To calculate the amount of concrete mixture required, it is necessary to calculate the volume of internal space inside the formwork and add 5% to the value.

Step-by-step construction instructions

Building a pit is the first step in the cellar construction process. The parameters of the soil (heaving, freezing depth) determine its depth.

The pit’s depth can be lowered if needed. The next step is to level this layer and add more sand and crushed stone to the pit’s bottom.

Features of creating a reinforced frame

Building a reinforcing frame is required once the cellar’s foundation is prepared for construction. In order to achieve this, reinforcement bars are positioned throughout the interior of the foundation.

After that, mounting wire is used to knit the reinforcement. As it happens, there is just one frame.

For the cellar, a two-tier frame should be constructed. Its levels must all be at least 5 cm apart from the concrete slab or the earth.

Installation of formwork

Making formwork panels separately, as opposed to inside the pit, is more practical. It is especially important to connect the boards. It is preferable to avoid using old, delaminated lumber because there shouldn’t be any spaces between them.

Generally, the formwork structure’s frame is made of 20–25 mm boards, while the screeds and stops are made of 40–40 or 50–50 mm wood.

The following is the order in which the formwork is laid:

  • first, the outer perimeter panels must be lowered into the pit – they must first be securely fixed;
  • at the next stage, the previously prepared reinforcing frame is laid – in order to comply with the requirement of indentation from the ground, bricks or spacers must be laid under the structure;
  • the panels that were prepared for the inside of the formwork are lowered into the pit;
  • the formwork is leveled in accordance with the plan;
  • internal and external panels are connected using upper crossbars;
  • the lower parts of the shields are fixed – to prevent spreading, wedges will be required, the design is also complemented by stops that are installed outside, they rest on stakes that are driven in at some distance.

Using self-tapping screws and nails, you must firmly fasten all ties, stops, and other components at this final step. Adding a few extra stops is preferable to taking a chance on the formwork corroding during the concrete mixture pour.

Further information is available here.

Pouring concrete

Pouring the concrete solution into the formwork is the only thing left to do. It must be poured out all at once. If not, the concrete will start to solidify unevenly, which may cause more cracking. To stop pores or voids from forming in the concrete mass, it is advised to use a deep vibrator during the operation.

Use cement grade M200 or higher to get the best possible mixture. M300 cement will be used to create the best base. However, the cost of such a composition varies depending on the building’s dimensions.

Concrete should be covered with polyethylene after it has been poured, particularly in extremely hot weather. You must ensure that the mixture does not dry out on top during the first few days. As a result, water must be added to the base on a regular basis. About six days pass before full hardening occurs.

Although additional construction work can be completed in a week, the full set of brand strength concrete takes place in 28 days.

Basement floors

Building walls and ceilings starts when the concrete reaches the necessary strength parameters.

Brick with greater resistance to frost is typically advised for basement walls. The most costly but also the most resilient choice is this one.

It is acceptable to use prefabricated buildings if doing so will result in a less expensive structure.

Typically, boards are used for insulation and flooring; they are coated with unique polymer compounds to boost their strength.

Using waterproofing protection, the ground floor, cellar, or basement must be "cut off" from the foundation tape.

Possible errors and recommendations

Several other suggestions can help prevent errors from occurring when building a cellar in a home with a strip foundation:

  1. If the area is dominated by heaving soil, then it is better to remove this layer and replace it with coarse sand or a mixture of sand and gravel. This will eliminate the negative impact of moisture on the concrete strip.
  2. To reduce heat loss, it is necessary to insulate the cellar doorways. As a rule, for this it is also worth constructing such buildings under a shed or technical premises.
  3. If there is additional space under the ceiling for ventilation, then the underground storage will be better dried.
  4. To ensure constant ventilation, it is necessary to create ventilation purges in the walls.
  5. The optimal size of the underground storage is 3×3 m. This allows you to install high racks and place everything you need.

When designing a cellar in a home with a strip foundation, homeowners can increase storage options and maximize available space. Through comprehension of the procedure and essential factors involved, you can make efficient use of this subterranean area.

First and foremost, make sure that all construction is properly planned and prepared. Examine the soil properties and speak with a structural engineer to ascertain whether digging close to the foundation is safe and feasible. This is a critical step in keeping your home structurally sound.

Next, decide which building materials and techniques best fit your needs and budget. Take into account elements like insulation to control humidity and temperature, providing a comfortable storage space as well as possible uses like a wine cellar or extra living area.

In addition, make sure the cellar has enough lighting and ventilation to preserve accessibility and air quality. Sufficient lighting improves safety and usability and helps prevent mold and mildew, especially in darker underground spaces. Proper ventilation also helps prevent these problems.

In summary, designing a cellar in a home with a strip foundation necessitates meticulous planning, thought through structural ramifications, and attention to material and design details. These tips will help you build a useful cellar that will increase the value and utility of your house.

We cover all the necessary steps and things to think about when setting up a cellar in a home with a strip foundation. The end result will be a long-lasting and useful cellar space. This article attempts to offer homeowners useful guidance for maximizing their home’s storage and utility potential, from comprehending the advantages of a cellar to choosing appropriate locations and laying the foundation. This guide covers important topics like insulation, ventilation, and moisture control, so your cellar is safe and suitable for its intended use—whether you’re planning it for storage, a wine cellar, or extra living space.

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Milan Yashina

Design engineer, specialist in development of design documentation. I will help you correctly design your home or other building.

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