Instructions for self-construction of a strip-pile foundation for a house made of foam blocks

Any house must have a sturdy foundation, and for a foam block home, a strip-pile foundation is a great option. Stability and durability are provided by this kind of foundation, which combines the benefits of pile and strip foundations. If you intend to do this project yourself, you must be aware of the procedures in order to guarantee that your foundation is constructed properly.

We’ll walk you through the process of building a strip-pile foundation in this article. You will discover what supplies you’ll need, what tools you’ll need, and the detailed steps you need to take. Our comprehensive instructions will assist you in building a sturdy and dependable foundation for your foam block house, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.

We will walk you through marking out the foundation, excavating the trenches, and installing the piles, starting with site preparation. Every step is described in detail and includes helpful advice to help you steer clear of typical pitfalls. You will have the skills and assurance necessary to construct a strip-pile foundation that will sustain your house for many years after finishing this guide.

Pros and cons of a strip foundation on piles

The properties of the soil, the groundwater table, and the viability of the project economically all influence the choice of foundation.

The following justifies the use of a strip-pile foundation in construction:

• the foundation is best suited for developing areas with uneven surfaces, high groundwater levels and heaving soils;
• clear methodology for constructing piles and grillages;
• low consumption of building material;
• the ability to design and build with your own hands;
• work can be carried out at any time of the year;
• high installation speed.

Construction costs can be lowered by up to 30% when utilizing pile-grillage foundation technology, which has certain unique features not found in strip foundation construction.

The following are some drawbacks of strip foundations on piles:

1. When constructing structures on soils prone to horizontal movements, there is a high risk of overturning due to failures of soil masses.
2. The design features of the foundation practically exclude the possibility of building houses with a basement and basements.
3. To ensure the reliability of the structure under construction during operation, it is necessary to first carry out a number of complex calculations and geological examination of the soil.

When is the best time to use?

Because foam concrete has a porous structure that effectively retains heat, you can lessen the overall weight of the house on the foundation by reducing the thickness of the masonry. For foam block structures, a strip, pile, or pile-grillage foundation is typically utilized.

The developer must examine the site’s attributes in order to select the best base.

For instance, the force of soil heaving is increased when groundwater is present nearby. This causes shallow foundations to settle and become squeezed during times of temperature swings.

Foam block walls are therefore vulnerable to point loads, increasing the possibility of cracks. Foam block homes require substantial material costs and are frequently not economically viable to build deep foundations for.

For lighter structures, it is best to set up a pile foundation when the site’s soil is wet and freezes deeply during the winter. The chance of the house being damaged is reduced because the supports are buried below the freezing point.

Owing to the unevenness of the soil at the location, individual piles may elevate or descend by a few centimeters while in use. The integrity of the entire structure is compromised as a result of the foundation’s plane being distorted, shortening its service life.

Despite the relatively light weight of foam concrete, these structures weigh twice as much as wooden and frame constructions. Therefore, it is advisable to select a more dependable pile-grillage foundation for the construction of foam concrete houses under specific conditions.

Because of the tape, the base’s design features guarantee that the load is distributed uniformly across all supports. The piles are then lowered onto hard rocks, where they maintain the structure firmly even in the event of unfavorable initial conditions like:

• uneven terrain of the site;
• loose, waterlogged soil;
• close occurrence of groundwater;
• deep soil freezing.

How to make it yourself?

Without using a construction crew, a buried pile-grillage foundation can be built using the technique described below:

1. Site preparation. At the beginning, they mark out the field for the foundation, driving in pegs and pulling the fishing line between them. Alignment is specified both along the perimeter and diagonally of the future structure.
2. Determine the height and horizontal of the base by studying the topography of the site. According to the marks of the laser level, threads are pulled, under the level of which the concrete mixture will be poured.
3. Digging a trench under the grillage to a depth equal to the sum of the height of the underground part of the tape and the sand cushion.
4. They drill holes for piles to a depth below the freezing point.
5. Lay a sand cushion at the bottom and fill the hole with concrete solution.
6. Build the top end on top of the well. To do this, you can use pieces of sewer pipe, sheets of roofing felt rolled into a pipe, or you can make formwork from planks.
7. A reinforcing rod is lowered inside each well with concrete and vibrated to remove oxygen bubbles.
8. After the solution has hardened, they proceed to installing the reinforcing frame into the tape.
9. Install panel formwork around the perimeter of the trench.
10. Line the panels, walls and bottom of the trench with waterproofing material so that the sheets overlap.
11. After the entire internal space of the structure has been covered with film, the formwork is leveled and spacers are placed for reliability.
12. A sand pillow is lined at the bottom of the trench and move directly to the pouring of the concrete mixture to the established level.

You will learn how to construct a tape-piece foundation by hand in this video:

A reliable and affordable option for homeowners wishing to take on a do-it-yourself construction project is to build a foam block strip-pile foundation for their home. From planning and excavation to concrete pouring and pile driving, this guide will walk you through every step of building a solid foundation that will support your house. You can tackle this project with confidence, save money, and have the satisfaction of building your own foundation by following these clear and concise instructions.

Errors during construction and how to avoid them

Prior to construction beginning, the master who works alone should be aware of common mistakes that result from a lack of training and experience:

Insufficient relationship between supports and reinforced concrete tape

Winter is a time when the weak link between the main components of the basic structure can show up.

Some pillars may move with respect to the horizontal axis due to uneven freezing of the soil beneath the structure. This could jeopardize the structure’s stability and cause the supporting walls to collapse.

Refusal of geodetic research of the site

It is hard to get accurate information about the soil’s bearing capacity without current knowledge of the soil’s geology.

As a result, the designer will lack the information required to determine the foundation’s fundamental properties. This raises the possibility of pile subsidence and a decline in the foundation’s performance attributes.

Soil geodetic research is conducted by special organizations. The project documentation needs to contain the outcomes they generate.

Reference books can provide you with information about the characteristics of the area being developed, but the information is likely to be erroneous.

Insufficient depth of supports

The pile pit’s height is chosen to ensure that the foundation is supported by thick rocks. There is never a point below the laid level that freezes.

If not, the structure under construction won’t have the required stability, and uneven subsidence of the structure might be seen very soon.

Wrong choice between mounted and recessed grillage

When building foam concrete homes on moist soils, the first choice is pertinent. The structure will experience a predetermined, uniform shrinkage while in use, but this won’t have an impact on strength. Select a buried reinforced concrete strip for dry soils.

Lack of air cushion under the tape

Land masses experience heaving forces at below-freezing temperatures, which puts pressure on the foundations. Cracks and deformations result from such loads.

Expanded polystyrene sheets, which serve as both insulation and a shock absorber, are positioned beneath the tape at the bottom of the formwork by experts.

Errors in pre-design calculations and technology processes will undoubtedly shorten the foundation’s service life and compromise the structural integrity of the entire house.

This section contains a wealth of pertinent and useful information regarding the construction of strip-pile foundations.

Although creating a strip-pile foundation for a foam block house may seem difficult, many do-it-yourselfers can succeed if they plan and execute the project carefully. You can guarantee a strong, dependable foundation that will support your house for many years to come by following the instructions provided.

Begin by picking the ideal location and appropriately labeling the foundation design. Make precise trench excavations and push the piles down to stable ground. To give the structure more strength and stability, don’t forget to install the reinforcement bars correctly.

Take your time when pouring the concrete to guarantee adequate compaction and even distribution. This will assist in avoiding any areas of weakness in your foundation. After the concrete has solidified, carefully check your work to make sure nothing is missing and no adjustments are required.

As with any construction project, building a foundation is essential, but you can build a solid base for your foam block house with perseverance and careful attention to detail. In addition to saving money, doing it yourself gives you the satisfaction of finishing a sizable portion of the construction of your home and invaluable experience.

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