Foundation for a bath of blocks

Bath refers to light structures, and in order to save, instead of a massive monolithic tape, you can build a foundation for a bath of blocks. Advantages of the block foundation are obvious: its construction does not require the use of heavy equipment, reinforcement, mixing of cubic meters of concrete. Such a foundation easily can withstand the load of the bath, is quickly erected and does not require large expenditures.

The foundation of the blocks for the bath can be both tape and columnar, its design depends on several factors:

• Dimensions and material of the structure;
• The construction of a basement room and floors.

The wooden bath belongs to light buildings, so it is quite sufficient for it to have a column foundation of concrete blocks. Floors in such a bath, as a rule, perform on wooden logs.

If a bath is built of bricks, foam concrete, or it has significant dimensions, you should choose a shallow basement of concrete blocks. Also, the strip foundation is more convenient in the case when a continuous filling of the floor is necessary for sand preparation.

Column foundation for baths from blocks

Full-bodied concrete blocks for foundation have dimensions 390х190х180 mm and weight about 30 kg. For a shallowly buried columnar foundation of blocks, three to four rows of masonry are sufficient, that is, six to 12 blocks are needed per support column.

1. The territory for the construction of the bath is freed from debris and foreign objects, remove the top fertile layer of soil to avoid decomposition processes under the building. To stop the growth of grass, the area can be covered with geotextiles and covered with rubble or sand.
2. Make a marking with the help of pegs and twine, performing the outer and inner contours of the basement. The intersection of the string forms corners, along which the pillars are laid when laying. Check the horizontal alignment of the string according to the level. Mark the place of installation of pillars: in the corners of the bath, at the intersection of walls, as well as under walls at a distance of 1.5-2 meters. To support the floor slabs, additional supporting poles are installed in the center of the structure.
   

   Layout of the column foundation for the bath

3. In the places where the poles are set, pits are dug 30-50 cm deep and a little more than the size of the pillars. On the heaving of the soil, a pillow made of crushed stone or sand, not less than 30 cm in thickness, must be erected, for this purpose the bottom is carefully rammed and covered with crushed stone or sand. The padding is compacted by pouring water, after which a layer of rolled waterproofing - roofing material is laid on it.
4. Begin the laying of the pillars. Columns are laid with a bandage of rows, in each row - two or three blocks. The cladding is produced on cement mortar: 1 part of cement of grade M400 for 3-4 parts of sifted sand. The thickness of the seam is about 1 cm. During the laying, the level is used and orientated to a pre-tensioned twine.
   

   Process of laying support pillars under the foundation

5. After drying the columnar foundation must be waterproofed from the effects of ground moisture. The easiest way is to use for this purpose an oilproofing bitumen mastic. Before applying the mastic, the surface of the blocks is treated with a primer, dried, then applied to all surfaces two or three layers of mastic brush or roller. The horizontal top surface of the pillars is additionally waterproofed with a ruberoid, gluing it onto the top layer of bitumen mastic. The backfilling of excavated pits is done with sand or ordinary soil. After backfilling, you can proceed with further construction.

Belt foundation for the bath of the blocks

For a bath of foam concrete, a brick, or a two-storey bath with an attic, it is more reliable to use a strip foundation - it is able to absorb significant loads, while not much more expensive. Also, the strip foundation is performed in case of pouring the floor on sand preparation. Such floors are often performed with heating, for example, in a washing room or in a rest room. The height of the foundation in this case must take into account the height of the floor mark.

1. The site is leveled, spaced, the fertile layer is removed and a shallow trench is dug under the tape foundation a little wider than the basement so that it is easier to waterproof after the masonry.
   

   The process of marking under the foundation

2. The bottom of the trench is necessarily covered with sand or rubble - this improves the waterproofing of the bath and promotes the removal of moisture. On wet soils drainage is carried out. Backfill should be at least 20 cm, it is carefully leveled and rammed. When making a solid floor it is necessary to lay the foundation for communication - pipes for water supply, sewerage, power cable entry.
   

   Installation of concrete blocks

3. At the bottom of the trench, two layers of roofing material are placed in strips. Laying starts from the corners, guided by the markings. Clutch lead with a bandage, with a width of one block. Cement mortar for masonry is made of cement grade M400, mixing 1 part of cement with 3 parts of sand and water to medium density: the solution should not drain off the trowel, but at the same time have sufficient ductility.
4. For a bath, three to four rows of masonry are enough, between the first and second rows it is recommended to lay reinforcing mesh pre-cut into size. Reinforcement prevents deformation of the foundation with frost whipping, and since the soil under the sauna can be thawed and frozen many times during winter use, this measure will not be superfluous. If a basement is performed in a bath, ventilation is used for ventilation.
   

   The foundation is almost ready

5. The foundation waterproofing is carried out in the same way as in the case of a column foundation. If desired, it is possible to make the basement insulation with extruded polystyrene boards or polyurethane foam, as well as heat insulation.

The foundation for a bath of blocks is an economical and effective solution for most soils, but if a bath is installed on peat bogs or prone to flooding unstable soils, it is possible to erect a floating slab foundation with sand or gravel preparation.