The foundation for the bath: tips and tricks

The foundation performs one of the most important functions, as it assumes the main load and is responsible for the bearing capabilities of the future building. Such a structure as a bathhouse (or sauna) does not require a monolithic foundation, since it is rarely multi-story. However, to select the type of foundation, it is necessary to take into account a number of soil characteristics and the design for the construction as a whole.

Soil requirements

The soil (soil) for construction can be different. When choosing a site for construction, it is better to give preference to places with the most dense, uniform and dry soil. However, if the soil with low bearing characteristics was chosen for construction; namely, silt, clay soil or a high level of water, it is necessary to cultivate the soil and strengthen the construction of the foundation.

Strengthening the soil for the construction of the foundation of the bath is carried out in stages:

• digging trenches (from 0.5 to 1 meters);
• the first layer is coarse sand;
• the second layer is watery clay;
• ramming with a deep vibrator.

Note: Instead of watery clay, you can use water. This is done in order to soak the soil and compact it as much as possible. The deep vibrator must be selected solely for the construction of the foundation, since it includes the function of ramming fine-grained soils.

For dry soil, such a strengthening is not required, so the phased steps are much simpler:

• digging trenches (from 0.5 to 1.5 meters);
• soil leveling.

Note: In order to minimize the risk of settling of the building, as well as to prevent various "movements" due to freezing of the soil, you can make a preliminary layer of fine gravel.

Territory marking

Before you start marking, you need to measure the entire area with a level. The foundation of the bathhouse, like the whole building as a whole, should have a slight slope from the horizon. This is necessary to equip a complete sewage system.

To mark the territory you will need:

• roulette;
• rangefinder;
• cord (from 7 meters);
• level;
• count (4 pcs. at 0.5 meters);
• right triangle (legs 60/30 cm.).

Note: In general, you can do without additional tools, using only roulette and level. But, this will significantly increase the amount of work and may affect the accuracy of the calculations.

Action plan

The marking begins with the internal contour of the future structure. We outline the first corner and drive in a count. In order to make two adjacent corners equal, we put a triangle on the hammered stake. On the first outer side, we calculate the size equal to the length of the longitudinal wall of the building. On the other - the size, which is equal to the length of the transverse wall in the center lines. At the intersection of the axes we drive in the second and third count.

Note: You can check the angles by comparing the diagonals in the resulting rectangle. The maximum difference should be less than 2 cm.

The next stage of marking is a castoff, which is indented 1-2 meters, from pegs, and at a height of up to 1.5 meters. The outcrop consists of boards and pillars (in place of the pegs). Next, it is necessary to note the axial dimensions of the foundation along the upper edge of the castoff using a cord. It is important that the cord runs strictly above the stakes.

Note: To increase the sound insulation of the bath, you can use the reflective properties of the walls. To do this, it is enough to break the parallelism of the walls in relation to each other by 2-3 degrees.

Types of foundations for a bath

For the construction of the bath, a columnar or strip foundation is used. Each of them has personal advantages that satisfy the construction plan.

Tape.The foundation of such a top is laid over the entire area. To prepare the solution, the following materials are required:

• fine sand;
• gravel;
• cement;
• water.

Note: The quality of the solution largely depends on correctly proportioned proportions. Water should be one third less than the mass of cement, gravel two times more than fine-grained sand. The order of adding components is also important. It is necessary to start with sand, then add cement and mix until smooth, and only then can gravel be added, and finally water.

For the construction of the strip foundation, it is necessary to erect the formwork as a priority. Sheets of slate are used, which are installed in the trench. It is necessary to establish an overlap, securing each fox at the upper edge. The space between the slate and the walls of the trench is filled to half with sand and / or gravel. For tamping fill the water. After we fill the top with concrete. Layers of concrete should be 15-20 cm, each of which should be compacted.

To complete the construction, it is necessary to overlay the formwork with sawdust or burlap and wrap it with foil.

Better to see once than to hear 100 times

Column foundation satisfies the bearing characteristics of the frame, timber and chopped baths. But it is worth considering that a columnar foundation requires exceptionally dry and dense soil.

For poles can be used:

• metal piles;
• asbestos-cement pipes;
• brick;
• a rock;
• wood or timber.

If wood is used for construction, it must be treated with antiseptic materials to reduce the risk of decay. During the construction of brick or stone (close in shape and weight to a brick), two bricks are erected - with a layer of 15 cm.

Piles and pipe - this is the easiest way characterized by durability and economy. It is enough to make wells up to 0.5 meters deep and up to 30 cm in diameter, in order to install pipes (piles) with a diameter of not more than 25 cm and a length of up to 1 meter in them. The cavity in the well is filled with concrete.