Zero, but very important

Vladimir Mikhailov So we ended up with a theoretical construction phase of a country house. All approvals behind, working documentation on hand, then it's time to start building practice. The first practical step will be the so-called "zero cycle". A person unfamiliar with the construction, a zero cycle associated with excavations, which is poured concrete. That is, with the laying of the foundation. Meanwhile, this same installation may be preceded by a number of other works, which also includes a range of activities under the general title of "zero cycle". Making space Firstly, who said that the benchmark will be an open field, which may be safely excavate? And suddenly, on a dedicated site already has some kind of construction? In this case, before embarking on construction of the foundation, will require a clearing of the territory, and to ensure removal of the resulting debris. In this state of the territory may be different. The hard way - when the site is a dilapidated building or unfinished, which is in no way can be rebuilt and once used. Here the solution is clear: to demolish and remove to a landfill. If the "doomed" to demolish the building easily and stands on a simple, pile foundation, is the easiest case, and the worst - the presence of a demolished structure of a monolithic concrete slab. Break this monolith into parts, and even take out - zadachka not simple. I must say that some old barn you can quite eliminate on their own, at least with the help of friends. If you also have to carry a thorough brick building, here without the professionals can not do. As a rule, the dismantling of old buildings, as well as garbage removal, requires the participation of technology. Foundation also hands not to destroy, here again are needed hardware. And the use of machinery, of course, costs money, as well as work "dismantlers. Those who have faced similar problems, know: the destruction of old buildings and getting rid of garbage usually flies in a pretty penny. However, the exact cause prices for such work does not seem possible. Specialized companies are costing depending on specific conditions and these conditions can vary dramatically. Clear the site has not only on man-made, but also from natural objects. For example, sometimes you want to cut down and removed a few trees. The current trend is that logging in the area is minimized, but without a "green" home building victims almost never manages. In addition, the construction could disturb the stumps and stones. Sometimes you need to undertake some complex land reclamation. In addition to clearing the site, the zero cycle includes laying of the very first communication - the road leading to your site. There may be various options, which are dictated by the holding of a range of works. It is not excluded that the entrance to the site has already been made by previous owners - if one counts the cost is less. If the site is located somewhere in the backwoods or in the open field, a minimum of road construction works will have to perform. This may require the services of professional loggers, you might need to use road equipment. Often required to bring a few cars of sand, gravel, etc., of materials to make quality, not smeared by rain the road. During the zero cycle paved road would not normally do - a few months it will drive trucks and other heavy machinery, so that by the end of the construction of asphalt will be laid again. Most often limited to high-quality primer, which provides equipment to the construction site. Expenditure on road works are determined primarily by the length of the driveway, which can be 50 meters, and half a kilometer. Excavate Well, finally the future building site cleared, her been placed on high quality roads, and can seem to start construction work. Footing preceded by earthworks. Of course, with shovels in our time no one is digging pits not - this is done with special equipment. Therefore, your contractor must ensure that such equipment, and select a location where it will be stored excavated soil. If you do not, the site runs the risk of purchase "hilly terrain", to live that does not always convenient. Tools, equipment, machinery and equipment - all of which should be available to builders and other unavoidable delays. Likewise, need to be reserved in advance the necessary materials for work. At the zero cycle, in particular, require lumber that is used for boarding. Although sometimes the board in large quantities and are not required. Some homeowners do not want to communicate with liquid concrete, and prefer to buy and put in a foundation of concrete blocks. From the materials also need gravel, gravel, sand, metal fittings, as well as concrete. It can knead directly on site, utilizing a concrete mixer, or use a ready-made, which brought special Concrete truck. This entire process must be carefully thought out, otherwise you'll be sitting "at zero" oh, how long! Naturally, during the excavation work should observe some safety rules. Possible collapse of the soil, break ground water in the bowl of excavation, as well as landslides, if the slope or hill. Landslides are especially dangerous, so complicated relief must necessarily strengthen the wall foundation hole. Typically, excavation under the foundation of conduct, if not during the summer, when zero temperature. You can, of course, bite into the ground and with a serious "minus", only about productivity in this case, you will forget. Although the last couple of years, I should say winter favor builders. Dirt at the site enough, but the ground can easily be selected bucket, and concrete is not grasped instantly, as often happens when cold. If you are building the foundation of all materials and equipment delivered to site, and excavation has been prepared, then you can begin to lay the foundation. Type of foundation should be determined in advance, even at the design stages of construction, based on the design and weight of the house. At the level of documentation to this point should be worked out absolutely everything - so that workers could promptly and fits do the trick. Nevertheless, we recall some elementary truths. Thus, the cost base should not exceed 20% of the total cost of the box at home, or building becomes unprofitable. This problem is particularly relevant for precast foundations of pre-cast concrete blocks. If suddenly the course of construction, the idea to abandon pouring concrete in the formwork and precast foundations do, it must be borne in mind that costs will rise, significantly. First of all, unnecessarily increasing consumption of concrete and hence increases costs. If we also transport costs due to remoteness of the manufacturers of such units, payment of services of hoisting equipment, the prefabricated foundations are about half as much solid and may exceed that limit is the most reasonable cost. In addition, a large number of joints and, consequently, terminations, implies an increase in labor costs and timing of the zero cycle. Prefabricated foundation hampers the fight against the penetration of groundwater into basements and requires more expensive waterproofing. Finally, the typical pre-fabricated units are designed for installation of foundations of multi-storey buildings, so when building low-rise buildings of their carrying capacity is used by about 10-20%. That is why at present the construction of country houses in most cases, choose solid foundation profile belt type. Recall that the bases are divided into banded, columnar (pile) and the slab. In addition, they can be shaped, that is buried below the soil freezing, and shallow-buried - at a depth of 0,5 meters. Lightweight construction - wood or panel - can be installed on the shallow-buried foundations. However, any low-rise capital construction already requires a profile of foundation, particularly in our region, where the soils are predominantly clay and during the freezing depths. In most cases, is the foundation of the belt type. For its construction initially make the formwork of the planed boards, and then it is poured concrete, which can be strengthened steel reinforcement. According to the adopted our technology works zero cycle before being built strip footing, and then arranged a concrete basement floor under preparation. Preparations made for backfill, as the floor level is usually at 70-90 cm above the foundation base. Such a procedure entails higher labor costs, as required backfilling of excavation and then sealed. For compaction is desirable to use special tamper Otherwise there is risk of soil subsidence Charging, and then by the concrete floor. Backfill, etc. can be avoided by using as a foundation for monolithic concrete slab. I must say that slab foundation - the most reliable, but is associated with greater consumption of materials, so that no economy will not work. Construction of the foundations of the proposed construction starting from the device supporting a reinforced concrete slab (the sex of the basement), which supports the walls of the building. Concreting slabs produced on concrete preparations (100 mm), which prevents lifting of capillary moisture and prevents leakage of grout from the concrete mix. Thickness of basement walls set depending on the climatic region, but not less than 300 mm. Basement walls perform better in-situ concrete. Application for concreting soundly planed shuttering to avoid leveling plaster walls after stripping. For waterproofing exterior vertical surfaces using bitumen mastic, which is applied in two steps. To reduce heat loss and de-freezing basement walls are recommended to insulate the outside sheets of extruded polystyrene foam with a minimum thickness of 20 mm, laid on a bitumen mastic and plastered on a steel grid. Build the foundation should be in a very short time and mainly in spring and summer, while respecting the base of the soil moisture. Construction of foundations in winter is highly undesirable due to the inevitable freezing ground and a significant appreciation of the work. If the next phase of the project - the erection of walls - will begin after a considerable time, laying the groundwork desirable to somehow protect, primarily from exposure to atmospheric moisture. In conclusion, the importance of the zero cycle is difficult to overstate. Foundation - the foundation of future construction, and depend on its quality and durability, and longevity of your home. Even superfluous to remind that this phase of construction should be treated very responsibly.