Practical recommendations on how to close a columnar foundation from the outside with your own hands

It can be gratifying and economical to do it yourself if you want to improve the strength and appearance of the columnar foundation in your house. A columnar foundation can be made to look better and be protected from the weather by closing or cladding it. Here, we’ll look at doable actions you can take to accomplish this on your own.

Start by evaluating the state of your foundation. Before enclosing it, make sure it’s structurally sound and free of any damage that might require repair. This initial inspection guarantees a smooth application of the cladding materials and helps you schedule any necessary repairs.

Next, decide which cladding materials are appropriate. Typical choices are brick, stone veneer, or specialized cladding panels. Take into account your home’s aesthetic choices and climate. For instance, stone veneer offers durability and a natural appearance, but cladding panels are more adaptable and simple to install.

Thoroughly clean the foundation surface to prepare it. Clear away any loose materials, dirt, or debris that might compromise the cladding’s adherence. For difficult-to-clean areas, use a wire brush or pressure washer, and give them enough time to dry completely before moving on.

Cover the foundation surface with a mortar or adhesive that is appropriate. Use the adhesive or mortar according to the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing and application. In order to guarantee a solid bond between the cladding material and the foundation, this step is essential.

Beginning at the base of the foundation, apply the selected cladding material upwards. Make sure the material is evenly covered and aligned by pressing it firmly into the mortar or adhesive. Maintain uniform space between pieces, particularly when using stone or brick cladding, by using spacers or shims.

Apply the cladding material row by row until it covers the whole foundation. Regularly check for levelness and make any necessary adjustments. Take your time to ensure a tidy and polished finish that improves your home’s overall look.

Lastly, let the cladding material cure in accordance with the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. This curing time guarantees that the mortar or adhesive sets correctly, giving your columnar foundation a strong and long-lasting finish.

With confidence, you can close or clad your columnar foundation by following these doable tips, and the end result will improve your home’s appearance and functionality.

Recommendation	Details
Measure the Area	Accurately measure the perimeter and height of the foundation to determine the materials needed.
Choose Materials	Select durable materials like brick, stone, or treated wood for longevity and aesthetics.
Prepare the Surface	Clean and level the ground around the foundation to ensure a stable base for the covering materials.
Install a Frame	Build a frame using treated wood or metal to provide support for the covering materials.
Attach Covering Materials	Secure the chosen materials to the frame, ensuring they are properly aligned and fixed.
Seal the Edges	Use sealant or caulk to fill gaps and prevent moisture from entering the foundation area.
Inspect Regularly	Periodically check the covering for any damage or wear and perform necessary maintenance.

Why close?

A columnar foundation prevents buildings from having a fully finished basement. The spaces between the supports stay open.

A fence is used to make them appear more aesthetically pleasing and to stop water from flowing in and debris from being blown into the space between them by the wind.

Since its primary function is to shield the base from moisture, brickwork or basement siding are preferred. Lumber is utilized less frequently than sheet materials.

The entire budget greatly influences the choice of fence and how to decorate it. Regardless of the materials used, waterproofing must be done, and ventilation must not be overlooked.

Types of collection

The height of the grillage from the blind area and the size and thickness of the cladding materials are taken into consideration when creating the false base. For a false base, the following can be applied if the latter rises 0.6 meters above ground level:

• basement siding with panels up to 47 cm;
• brickwork with a standard joint thickness and an underlying layer to protect against winter swelling;
• asbestos cement sheet with additional finishing with porcelain stoneware, tiles, artificial stone, etc.d.

Outside columnar foundation assistance close:

• tongue and groove or regular boards and timber;
• composite panels;
• building blocks and concrete;
• corrugated sheeting and flexible tiles;
• DSP and other sheet materials.

Brick or natural stone can also be used to fill the void left by the supports.

Closing the empty space is possible with asbestos cement sheet, which is simple to install and fastened with bolts to the wooden frame or lathing. It is the best method for producing a false base in many ways. But other materials will have to be used for better aesthetics.

Because DSP has a high degree of adhesive adhesion, clinker tiles and porcelain stoneware can be used to decorate the finished backfill. Sheet materials need to be sealed further to stop water seeping in during periods of heavy precipitation or after snowmelt.

The fact that basement siding has extra features makes it appealing. It’s simpler to use as a pick-up because of this. The quantity of parts generated enables you to completely seal the building’s base.

Brickwork serves as decoration as well as protection. Use of half-brick masonry without reinforcement and with a standard dressing of vertical seams is sufficient. A waterproofing layer needs to be installed in the bottom row.

Typically, outbuildings are made of lumber and fastened with overlap. You can also use corrugated sheets for this. This option is the same as the others listed in terms of the attributes and principles of fastening.

The ventilation ducts must be left in place, regardless of the pick-up option selected. The area of the required service openings to guarantee adequate base ventilation is calculated by dividing the total area of the false base by 400. Grilles are installed over ventilation outlets to keep animals and debris out.

What is required: tools and materials

Two approaches can be used to fix the fences:

1. With support on the ground.
2. Based on the building.

The type of fastening for the fence is chosen and the necessary materials are prepared based on the design option that has been selected.

A traditional wooden plinth is fastened with tongue and grooves and is constructed of logs or timber. Make a sheathing out of wooden frames or galvanized profiles to attach the basement siding. Another good option is galvanized pipe.

Ground-level excavations necessitate preparation work; a trench up to 50 centimeters deep is dug, a sand cushion is built at the bottom, and the trench is then filled with a concrete mixture.

Suspended pick-up is thought to be the easiest option. It needs a frame, which is made out of a wooden beam or a metal profile.

An easy way to improve insulation and the look of your home is to close a columnar foundation from the outside using your hands. The right materials, like siding or stone veneer, must be chosen for this process, and simple installation procedures must be followed. You can achieve a professional-looking finish that safeguards your foundation and raises the value of your home with the correct equipment and a little do-it-yourself expertise.

Pick-up device: step-by-step instructions

There are multiple options for pickup. The most well-liked ones are:

• wooden;
• with the use of basement siding;
• concrete or brickwork.

Wooden

Support from the ground is necessary for this option. The following is the working principle:

• a trench is dug, the depth of which is up to 50 centimeters;
• if the soil is clayey, provide a sand cushion (about fifteen centimeters); if the soil is sandy, the bottom is thoroughly compacted;
• Logs are secured between the pillars of the base, the groove is directed upward – this is how jams are arranged;
• logs, the length of which is equal to the height of the pick-up, are secured with a tenon in the prepared grooves;
• plantings are installed on the spikes – logs directed horizontally.

The wooden fencing device with the timber has a similar appearance. It’s critical to remember to receive additional antiseptic medication treatment.

Modern materials, such as tongue-and-groove boards and imitation wood, require a fastening technique that supports the building, resulting in a suspended structure.

This is a low-weight false base that needs to have a frame made and fastened to the foundation pillars directly. In this instance, the blind area is where the bottom of the fence lies.

Working with basement siding

The process for making a fence out of basement siding is as follows:

1. A frame is created from wood or metal profile. The sheathing is aligned in a single plane. If the pillars are reinforced concrete, provide waterproofing with roofing felt.
2. A starting bar is installed above the level of the blind area.
3. Siding panels are installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
4. The ebb is fixed to the top of the base.

In the event that a wooden frame is selected, an antiseptic is applied beforehand. This option for pick-up is also categorized as mounted.

Made of brick or monolithic concrete

Brick walls can be constructed with facing bricks or regular bricks plus extra cladding. When that happens, extra decoration won’t be necessary.

Mechanism of action:

• a trench is dug with a depth of up to 0.5 m and a width of 0.3 m;
• the bottom is carefully compacted, creating a sand and gravel cushion at least fifteen centimeters thick;
• a geomembrane or polyethylene film is laid out as a separating layer;
• formwork is installed, a reinforcing frame is knitted (you will need wire with a cross-section of five millimeters);
• the concrete mixture is poured – you will need to wait for it to fully mature;
• the formwork is removed, after which a half-brick wall is laid out;
• vertical waterproofing is installed.

It is appropriate to remove from natural stone and cinder blocks using a similar working principle. The latter is harder to change in size, but it won’t need to be decorated anymore.

Concrete scaffolding is a substantial kind of plinth that requires a ground support. The arrangement instructions perfectly align with the stated brick pickup’s operating principle.

The last step is cladding, which can be done with tiles, siding, plaster, or corrugated sheets.

The compatibility of materials must be considered when designing a pick-up. For instance, porcelain or clinker tiles cannot be used to adorn DSP false plinths. Humidity variations throughout the seasons will have detrimental effects.

Building with concrete or brick frequently proves to be too costly. might cost more to install than a columnar foundation.

Insulation of false base and material compatibility

Based on the general purpose of the building and the climate, the insulation of a false base must be addressed.

An insulated floor is adequate if the house will only be used in the summer or in a mild climate.

It is advised to use external insulation for false plinths because it retains heat and moves the dew point to a material that is more suited to temperature changes and the formation of condensation.

Insulation materials can be used for a variety of insulation options, but their application requirements vary:

1. Frame false plinths are insulated on top, after which they can be decorated with a finishing coating, for example, siding.
2. The brick lining is pre-sealed, if there are cracks, covered with a primer, and then the insulation is glued or otherwise mounted. Next you will need to stretch the polymer mesh and plaster the surface. The final finishing is carried out with tiles or the surface is painted.

If the process is done from the inside as well as the outside, the highest insulation efficiency will be obtained.

How to avoid mistakes?

Please remember the following advice to prevent issues with pickup:

1. When choosing the type of closure for a columnar foundation, first a load calculation is carried out, which allows us to assume how much the structure may sag in the future. The type of soil is taken into account.
2. High-quality materials should be used; they are not only more durable and aesthetically pleasing, but also more resistant to negative factors – fluctuations in temperature, humidity, etc.d.
3. Waterproofing is an important point that should not be overlooked. Moisture removal will increase the service life of structures.

This page contains a wealth of significant and practical knowledge regarding columnar foundations.

Video on the topic of the article

This video will demonstrate how to close and insulate a frame house on stilts (pillars) from the base:

One useful way to enhance your structure’s appearance and functionality is to close a columnar foundation from the outside. You can improve the overall appearance of your building and shield your foundation from pests and the elements by taking the proper precautions and using the right materials.

Start by selecting the appropriate building materials that complement the exterior of your structure, such as siding, stone, or brick. Before starting the project, make sure you have all the required equipment and supplies. A neat and efficient job requires careful planning and accurate measurements.

Next, level and clean the area surrounding the columns to prepare the foundation. It is essential to have adequate ventilation and insulation to avoid moisture buildup, which can cause long-term harm. To preserve ventilation, install vents and insulating boards as needed.

Install the chosen covering material last, making sure that every piece is positioned and fastened securely. Your foundation covering will last longer and look better with regular maintenance, such as replacing joints and looking for cracks.

You’ll improve the longevity and aesthetics of your building and increase the value of your land by taking the time to close your columnar foundation correctly. With these doable suggestions, you can take on this project with confidence and reap the rewards for years to come.

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