The blind area surrounding the foundation is an important detail that is frequently disregarded when planning a house’s construction or renovation. This region, sometimes referred to as an apron or perimeter, is essential for shielding the foundation from soil shifting, erosion, and water damage. The durability and efficacy of this blind area depend on the choice of crushed stone, according to builders.
For the blind area, crushed stone is usually suggested by builders because of its drainage capabilities and stability. This layer’s main job is to effectively control water runoff and stop soil erosion. Crushed stone, which comes in a variety of sizes from gravel to finer particles, lets water escape from the foundation and lowers the possibility that moisture will seep into the building.
The kind and dimensions of crushed stone required can differ based on a number of variables, such as the terrain’s slope, climate, and soil composition. Gravel and other coarser-grade crushed stone are frequently chosen because they can maintain stability against soil movement and offer sufficient drainage. In places where a smoother finish is desired or where soil compaction is an issue, finer grades might be used.
Seeking advice from regional builders or construction specialists can give you important information about the precise crushed stone specifications for your blind area. In order to guarantee the durability and efficacy of the foundation protection for your home, they can evaluate the local soil conditions and make recommendations regarding the best kind and amount of crushed stone.
Recommendation | Details |
Type of Crushed Stone | Builders recommend using medium-sized crushed stone (10-20mm) for optimal drainage and support. |
Gravel Base | A layer of gravel should be laid first to create a solid foundation. |
Thickness | The crushed stone layer should be around 4-6 inches thick for effective stability. |
Compaction | Ensure the crushed stone is well-compacted to prevent shifting and settling. |
Drainage | Proper drainage is crucial to avoid water accumulation; use crushed stone with good drainage properties. |
Quality | Use high-quality crushed stone, free of debris and impurities, for the best results. |
Selecting the appropriate crushed stone type is essential when constructing a blind area around your home in order to guarantee longevity and efficient drainage. Medium-sized gravel, usually 20–40 mm, is what builders advise using because it offers good stability and keeps water from collecting around the foundation. This size ensures a long-lasting, functional blind area and allows for proper compaction and good water filtration, protecting the foundation of your home from moisture damage.
- Why is it important to choose the right raw materials??
- What are factions?
- Types of material
- Comparison of technical indicators
- Which one to use?
- Video on the topic
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- Which crushed stone to choose for the blind area?
Why is it important to choose the right raw materials??
The size of the stone has a significant impact on the final result for the finishing layer. In construction, crushed stone that is small to medium in size is used.
There are several factors to consider when selecting a material, including:
- The fraction of 5-20 millimeters is easy to compact, but there is no decorative layer.
- The fraction of 20-40 millimeters has an aesthetic appearance, and also produces an elastic and durable coating.
- Crushed granite has high technical performance. The material will provide high strength and durability.
- Large and medium crushed stone acts as a moisture condenser during temperature changes and when the dew point is passed. The area where the condensate zone forms increases and is transferred from the foundation to the blind area.
To ensure dependable installation, it is advised to dilute larger stones with small grains before beginning work. The building’s base and load-bearing walls do not exert critical loads on the blind area. As such, crushed stone with a particle size of only 20–40 millimeters can be used.
What are factions?
Small granules known as crushed stone are produced by crushing rocks in specialized equipment. Every stone has a unique shape. Granules are divided into smaller groups. The size of the granules is taken into consideration when selecting a material for a particular task.
The primary fractions are distinguished in compliance with GOST 8267-93, "Crushed stone and gravel from dense rocks for construction."
Order number | Fraction, millimeter |
I | Dropout |
II | from 5 to 10 |
III | from 5 to 20 |
IV | from 10 to 20 |
V | from 20 to 40 |
VI | from 25 to 65 |
VII | from 40 to 70 |
VIII | Rubble stone |
IX | Mixtures C1-C11 |
Types of material
The material can be limestone, granite, or gravel, depending on the type of rock.
Crushed granite is produced by blasting and then re-crushing rock. A by-product is fine fraction up to 5 millimeters. Grain is sorted using screens.
When performing:
- panel production;
- arrangement of paths for pedestrians;
- preparation of concrete mixtures;
- non-standard solutions for landscape design of the territory.
Fraction of up to 10 millimeters; sand and crushed stone combined. The material has good drainage properties and is sold at a reasonable price. The stone is used for setting up drainage systems and laying road surfaces.
Crushed granite that ranges in size from 5 to 10 mm is incredibly resilient to frost. There is a need for the material to build large structures. Fraction of 20 to 40 millimeters in the field of landscape design during the building of a multistory structure.
Strengthening is one of the characteristics of granite crushed stone between 40 and 70 mm. Application scope:
- Road construction.
- Construction of large objects.
- Construction of buildings requiring a certain amount of concrete solution.
The portion ranging from 70 to 120 millimeters consists of sizable fragments of asymmetrical stone. It is employed in the industrial construction of weirs and dams, as well as in the ornamental finishing of buildings. A material of choice for landscape compositions among designers.
Calcite is crushed to produce limestone crushed stone. Compared to other rocks, the stone is not as strong.
What sets it apart from other materials is:
- environmental safety, low level of radioactivity;
- ability to absorb and retain water (up to 2.2 percent);
- low flakiness – up to 10 percent;
- low weight (1.2 – 1.35 tons per 1 cubic meter);
- resistance to temperature changes.
For the construction of reinforced concrete structures, a small fraction ranging from 5 to 20 millimeters is required. The ideal fraction for paths, blind areas, and landscaping is between 20 and 40 millimeters. In the construction of roads, a large fraction between 40 and 70 millimeters is used.
Crushing sedimentary rocks yields crushed stone gravel. The material is less expensive because its strength is not as great as that of granite rock. It is on par with granite grain in terms of strength and resistance to frost.
Principal technical attributes:
- Strength – from M800 to M1000.
- Flakiness ranges from 7 to 17 percent. Cuboid-shaped material is in demand.
- Density approximately 2400 m/kg3.
- Frost resistance is 150 freeze-thaw cycles.
Crushed gravel is environmentally benign and non-radioactive, in contrast to granite material.
The following table enumerates the material’s application areas based on fraction:
Fraction | Size, millimeter | Application |
Small | 3 – 10, 5 – 20 | In the production of reinforced concrete structures, concrete mixtures, improvement of local areas, blind areas |
Average | 20 – 40 | In the field of road construction, airstrips. |
Large | 40 – 70 | As a drainage system, in landscape works of designers. |
Waste from the construction and manufacturing processes is used to make slag crushed stone (pieces of asphalt, brick, concrete). The original raw material determines the material’s properties. Technical specifications are displayed in the table for comparison:
Index | Crushed stone | |
slag | granite | |
Density, kg/m3 | 2950 | 2650 |
Water absorption,% | 0.4 – 7.3 | 0.2 |
Frost resistance, number of cycles | 15 | 300 |
Blocks and slabs for industrial buildings, mineral wool, and asphalt mixtures are all made from slag stone. The content is chosen with a particular purpose in mind. Crushed rock cannot be replaced by stone due to its low resistance to frost.
Comparison of technical indicators
The amount of needle-shaped and flattened grains in the material determines how flaky it is. A granule that is flaky (needle-like) has a length three times longer than its width. Plate if the length is roughly three times larger than the thickness.
Crushed rock It is categorized into the following groups based on flakiness indicators:
- I – up to 10 percent needle-shaped and plate-shaped. Used in the production of reinforced concrete concrete and road surfaces.
- II improved group – 10 – 15 percent. A universal material for all construction operations, including.h. blind areas.
- III middle group – 15-25%. Differs in quality characteristics and is not suitable for many jobs.
- IV is 25 35 percent. Used in glass making.
- Group V – 35 – 50%. The low quality of the material allows it to be used only in the construction of temporary objects.
Strength and density are dependent on the material’s place of origin. The crushed stone is more versatile the higher the strength value. Strength and density are correlated.
Granules’ strength describes their capacity to tolerate mechanical loads. The freezing and thawing cycles of stones are used to quantify frost resistance. The technical properties of the material must not be lost.
Comparable features of crushed stone are displayed in the table:
Performance characteristics | Crushed stone | |||
Granite | Gravel | Limestone | Slag | |
Strength M, kgf/cm2 | from 1200 to 1400 | from 800 to 1000 | from 400 to 600 | from 300 to 600 |
Frost resistance F, number of cycles | 350 | 300 | 150 | from 100 to 200 |
Bulk density, kg/m3 | 1.39 | 1.32 | 1.29 | 1.25 |
Flakiness, % | from 15 to 20 | from 20 to 25 | from 15 to 20 | from 20 to 25 |
Radioactivity, Bq/kg | 300 | 70 | 55 | 95 |
Which one to use?
Using grains of fractions ranging from 5 to 40 millimeters is advised because they offer the following benefits:
- high-quality drainage;
- easy to compact;
- convenient to walk on the surface;
- relatively low cost.
It is important to consider the stone’s purity. Use only cleaned crushed stone for work. Should clay be mixed in, the dirt will either be carried inside the house or stay on the garden paths.
On the kind of crushed stone, you can save money. Instead of paying too much for granite stone, go with gravel. It is preferable to create a soft blind area if the site has a lot of groundwater. Water flows through the stone easily.
Here you will find a wealth of useful and important information about setting up a crushed stone blind area around the house.
Building a functional blind area around your home requires selecting the correct kind of crushed stone. Medium-sized gravel, usually measuring between 20 and 40 millimeters, is what builders advise using. This size offers a stable base and optimal drainage.
Using clean, clear crushed stone that is devoid of dirt or clay is also crucial. Over time, water pooling caused by contaminants can weaken the drainage qualities and cause damage to your home’s foundation.
Smaller gravel or even sand can be used to create a smooth, polished surface for the top layer. It is important to firmly compact this layer in order to guarantee durability and avoid shifting.
Generally, by diverting water away from your home’s foundation, the proper crushed stone helps preserve its integrity. You can create a sturdy and dependable blind area by heeding the advice of these knowledgeable builders.