Very often, in the construction of the fundamental foundation, novice builders make a lot of mistakes. Some do the work, not taking into account the time it takes concrete to gain brand strength. Others use low-quality mixtures for construction, as they are much cheaper. As a result, such savings can cost a pretty penny, as cracks will appear in the base of the house, which can lead to the complete destruction of the entire building. As a result, a novice builder will spend a lot of time and money on home restoration. Therefore, it is worth considering the recommendations of professionals on this issue.
Causes of Cracks
Foggy soils and high groundwater levels can adversely affect the foundation of the building. That is why it is strictly forbidden to build a strip foundation on such land. Only monolithic bases are suitable for this type of soil. However, many do not take this into account and as a result make a huge mistake.
Lack of blind areas can also cause similar problems. The fact is that the concrete paths around the house are made far from for aesthetic purposes, but in order to protect the fundamental foundation from overmoistening. Water is constantly dripping from the roof, which collects at the base of the house. Because the blind area serves as a reliable waterproofing. However, it is worth building it only a year after pouring the foundation, when it sags a little in the soil and occupies the most stable position.
In addition, many novice builders make mistakes in the process of designing the foundation. Calculations need to be done only armed with all the data on the state of the soil and the characteristics of the suburban area.
Unscrupulous construction companies try to do the work as quickly as possible. It must be understood that if, after the foundation is erected, it is not allowed to shrink for 1 year, and instead the walls immediately begin to be erected, this will lead to very rapid destruction of the entire building.
What is the danger of cracking?
If you close your eyes to the problem, it will not be solved. On the contrary, the situation will worsen every year. If you do not timely repair cracks in the foundation of a house in Astrohan, Moscow, St. Petersburg or any other city, then the doors and windows will warp, because of which the products will simply begin to burst. Brick buildings are destroyed even faster.
The methods for repairing cracks in the foundation differ depending on the complexity of the damage. Therefore, before starting work, you need to clarify the type of gap. To do this, the crack is cleaned of dirt and washed with water. After that, you need to install a beacon in it and remember the date of its creation. If for several weeks he does not change his position and remains intact, then this will indicate that you can use ordinary mortar to close the gap. In the event that the lighthouse bursts, it is necessary to resort to more serious reconstruction measures. To do this, you need to strengthen the base with piles.
Diagnostics
Before you start repairing foundation cracks with your own hands, you need to determine the cause of the appearance of excessive pressure on the foundation. This can be determined according to the external parameters of the cracks. If they:
- vertical and diverge to the upper part more, then most likely the reason lies in the fact that the soil swelled during snow thawing after a period of winter frosts;
- inclined, directed from the central zone to the corner, the backfill of one of the adjacent walls may have subsided;
- vertical, diverging from top to bottom, then, most likely, the whole thing is subsidence of soil under the central part of the house, or uneven freezing of the walls has occurred.
If there are several cracks at once and at the same time they form an arch, then this also indicates a subsidence of the central part of the fundamental base.
Having decided on the area that has suffered the most, you need to repair cracks in the foundation as soon as possible.
What measures should be taken immediately?
First of all, it is worth making a professional assessment of the soil, since it is precisely the features of the soil cover that cause cracking. It is also recommended that you try to fix the slots yourself so that they do not begin to diverge even more. To do this, you can perform temporary repair of foundation cracks with the help of metal angles. However, after this it will be necessary to carry out more serious restoration measures.
Mortar cracking
To do this, you can prepare a special mixture for sealing joints. For its preparation, it is necessary to mix 1 part of quick-drying high-grade Portland cement, 3 parts of sifted river sand and pour in a mixture of 2/3 parts of water. The composition must be thoroughly mixed to a pasty consistency. Apply the mixture immediately after its preparation. The fact is that, depending on the hardener, the solution can set in 10-30 minutes.
To properly repair cracks in the foundation of a house in Astrohan, Moscow or any other city, you must first rinse the cracks with water, remove dust from them and walk along the edges with a chisel. Only then can the solution be applied.
To do this, it is recommended to use a special trowel. After processing, the mixture should protrude slightly above the crack. As soon as it begins to set, the solution needs to be leveled and smoothed thoroughly, completely leveling the surface levels.
At the final stage of repairing cracks in the foundation, it is necessary to cover the treated surface with a damp cloth and soak it until the solution has completely hardened.
Epoxy application
Typically, this method is used when it comes to shallow slots with a depth of not more than 3-5 mm. Also, a similar method is optimal for repairing cracks in the foundation of a monolithic type.
Before starting work, carefully clean and dry the slots. It is best to use a building hair dryer for this. The surface must be completely dry. In addition, it is necessary to get rid of concrete chips. To do this, it is recommended to use air under high pressure.
At the next stage, special nozzles are applied to the cracks, which are installed at a distance of 30 cm from each other.
Epoxy is mixed with a hardener using a spatula. After that, the composition is applied to the lower surfaces of the prepared nozzles. Next, the elements are applied to the cracks.
At the next stage, another portion of the resin is prepared, which covers the entire surface of the gap. In this form, the patched area must be left overnight, after which the procedure is repeated. The curing time of the resin is 5 days.
It is worth considering that the repair of cracks in the foundation should be made in such a way as to avoid a recurrence of problems in the future.
Features of strengthening stone buildings
In order to slow down the sediment of weakened soil under the strip foundation, it is necessary to erect a special patch belt. For its installation you will need:
- Dig a trench along the perimeter of the strip foundation at an angle of 35 degrees. Its depth should be approximately 40-50 cm, but not less.
- Clean the base and the foundation itself of dust and dirt.
- Tapping the surface and removing all crumbling and weak fragments of concrete.
- Primer the foundation. It is recommended to give preference to deep penetration formulations.
- Drill 3-4 rows of horizontal holes at a distance of 60-120 cm from each other.
- Drive anchors into them and scald these elements with fittings, the diameter of which will be approximately 10-14 mm.
If the cracks are very deep, then it is recommended that they prepare a local formwork and fill the recesses with concrete mortar.
After that, formwork panels are installed around the fundamental base . They can be made independently from the boards or rent finished structures. You also need to make reinforcement, after which you can fill the trench with high quality concrete.
Features of repairing cracks in the foundation of a wooden house
Such damage is much easier to repair. The fact is that the log house quite simply rises to temporary supports for repair work. However, if we are talking about an old wooden house, then such manipulations can lead to sad consequences. The lower rotten crown of the base can simply fall apart. Therefore, before starting work, it is recommended to assess the condition of the log house and, if necessary, cut the affected wood.
Depending on the features of the building, it may be necessary to dismantle the roof. This will definitely have to be done if the chimney goes into the roof.
Nevertheless, the described means for repairing cracks in the foundation can be inactive if the thickness of the loose layer of the earth is too large. In that case, it is possible to increase the resistance only with the help of more serious measures.
Pile reinforcement
This technology is associated with certain difficulties, so it is used only in the most difficult cases.
Piles come in two types:
- Screw . Such elements are installed around the perimeter of the foundation. After that, the building is raised to the required level and its own are connected by a grillage. The result is a new foundation on which the house falls. This method is only suitable for wooden buildings.
- The Bulls. Such piles can be driven in or twisted at an angle at opposite corners of the foundation. After that, I-beams or channel beams must be welded onto their heads, which will take on the loads of the ground parts of buildings.
Features of repair of monolithic plates
This type of foundation is considered the most reliable, therefore it is destroyed very rarely. However, if this happened, then such a foundation is practically impossible to repair. In this case, it is necessary to make a partial or complete replacement of the plate.
If the cracks are not through
Such damage most often occurs during weathering. To close cracks of this type, it is enough to make shotcrete or plaster the surface. After this, it is desirable to cover the foundation with a waterproofing compound.
Shotcrete is a fairly simple procedure, which consists in spraying the base with a special solution of cement milk and silica sand. The composition is applied under pressure.