How to make a blind area around the house with your own hands: rules and methods for arranging a low tide system

How to make a blind area of ​​concrete around the house

Material preparation:

blind area concrete. The brand is an indicator of the quality of concrete, its value is in the range from 100 to 1000. It indicates the proportion of cement content in concrete. The concrete class is in the range from B3.5 to B8 and indicates the strength of concrete. So, class B 15, indicates that a cube of concrete pouring with a size of 15x15x15 cm is able to withstand a pressure of 15 MPa.

What brand of concrete is needed for the blind area? To prepare the solution, cement brand M 200 (class B15) is used.

The parameters (properties) of concrete, depending on the brand, are shown in the table.

sand. What is needed? For the device of the lower layer of the pillow, river or quarry sand is suitable. The main thing is that it does not contain large impurities that can damage geotextiles;

rubble (gravel). For the blind area, crushed stone of fraction 10-20 is suitable;

clay or geotextile for a hydraulic lock. In practice, this layer is absent in the base cushion, because concrete drains water well;

iron cement.

The composition of the concrete solution for the blind area

If it is not possible to use ready-made concrete, you can knead it yourself. For this you need to prepare:

pavement cement. You should know that the brand of concrete is determined by the brand of cement and its specific gravity as a percentage of the components of the solution. For the blind area, cement M400 Portland cement is used. Cement must be fresh, with each month of storage it loses 5% of its properties. It is easy to check the freshness, just squeeze a little cement in your fist, if it shrinks into a lump - its expiration date is running out, if it crumbles freely - you can work with it;

Note. What kind of cement is best for the blind area? Naturally fresh and high brand. This will save on cement consumption and prepare a good concrete solution.

sand. To prepare concrete, you need to take sifted and washed from impurities and soil;

rubble. It is advisable to use crushed stone of a fraction of 5-10 mm. At the same time, crushed stone is better than, for example, small pebbles;

water. Should be at room temperature;

additives. Needed in order to give concrete frost-resistant properties.Liquid glass is often used as an additive.

From the tools you will need a concrete mixer or a container for mixing, a shovel, a bucket (it is better to take a plastic one, it is easier to wash), a measuring container (for water), a manual tamping log or a vibrating plate.

Preparation of concrete solution for the blind area

In practice, the solution for the blind area is prepared in portions, after all the preparatory work has been completed. We will give a ready-made recipe for cement mortar and how to mix it correctly.

The composition of the concrete solution includes: cement, crushed stone, sand, water and various additives that increase its strength. The durability and strength of the blind area depends on the ratio (proportions) of these components.

Note. Components are measured by weight only.

The proportions of the solution for the blind area

Concrete mortar components	Material consumption per 1 cubic meter	Material consumption per 1 sq.m.
Cement M 500	320 kg	32 kg
Screenings or crushed stone (fraction 5-10 mm)	0.8 cubic meters	0.08 cubic meters
Sand	0.5 cubic meters	0.05 cubic meters
Water	190 l	19 l
Additives Liquid glass or Superplasticizer C-3	2.4 l	240 gr

Note. 1 cubic meter of sand is on average 1600 kg, 1 cubic meter of crushed stone is on average 1500 kg.

Depending on the brand of concrete, the proportions will differ. SNiP 82-02-95 regulates the composition of the mixture for obtaining concrete of a certain grade.

The concrete mixture is very demanding on the amount of water supplied. Its excess reduces the strength of concrete, because. brings cement flour to the top layer of the solution. This leads to the fact that the fortress is distributed unevenly. In practice, it is calculated that water should be approximately half the amount of cement. More accurate data is contained in the table (water-cement ratio (W / C) for concrete).

The order in which the components are added to the solution is also important. Cement is first poured into a mixing tank or concrete mixer and water is poured. By mixing, the so-called cement milk is obtained. Then the rest of the components are added to it. First, sand is poured, in small portions, and then crushed stone (gravel).

Note. Professionals advise maintaining an interval of 5 minutes. between the supply of components. Thus, the mixture is better mixed.

How to make a blind area around the house

A blind area is a protective path with a hard or bulk coating, arranged adjoining the wall around the entire perimeter of the building. Its main purpose is the removal of rain and melt water falling from the roof near the foundation and contributing to its premature destruction.

In addition, it is used as a convenient pedestrian passage and decorative design for the improvement of the territory adjacent to the house. The use of dense or bulk insulation when constructing a blind area allows you to protect the foundation from the effects of low temperatures and reduce heat loss through the building envelope.

A fairly simple device of such a protective coating simultaneously solves several important tasks related to protection and improvement, without requiring large financial investments. At the same time, you can do it yourself, without inviting specialist builders for this.

For piled, deep columnar and screw foundations, the presence of a blind area is not mandatory, but it is often made as an element of landscaping and as a convenient footpath.

blind area design

A protective coating must be made around the entire perimeter of the house, since it is necessary to ensure the protection of the entire foundation array. The basic requirements on how to properly make a blind area around the house with your own hands are set out in SNiP 2.02.

01-83, which says that on normal soils its width should be at least 600 mm, and on subsidence - at least a meter. In general, the width of the covering should extend at least 200 mm beyond the protruding roof edge.

The maximum width is not regulated.

General drawing of the blind area.

A hard coating must be laid on a dense base with a thickness of at least 15 cm. The slope of the blind area from the building is not less than 0.03%, with the lower edge exceeding the planning mark by more than 5 cm. Storm water must be drained into storm sewers or trays.

A well-made insulated blind area should consist of three main layers:

• surface waterproof;
• underlayment of gravel or a mixture of crushed stone and sand;
• polystyrene foam insulation.

As an additional layer, geotextiles can be used, which will be sufficiently reliable waterproofing from groundwater rising in spring, as well as preventing possible germination of weeds.

Materials for coating the top layer

The materials used for the top layer when constructing the blind area are quite diverse and have their own distinctive features. The simplest and most inexpensive is ordinary clay.

With its help, you can create a fairly reliable hydraulic lock. Such protection is often found in rural areas.

However, modern developers have long abandoned such primitive materials and use more efficient technologies.

Options.

The most common option is how to make a blind area - a concrete pavement device. You can easily and quickly mount it yourself, without investing large financial resources. At the same time, concrete is characterized by high strength and durability, and also allows it to be covered with paving slabs in the future to improve its appearance.

Paving stones can be laid on a compacted sand cushion. It has a beautiful appearance, but is more expensive than tiles and somewhat more difficult to install. When using paving stones, it is necessary to ensure high-quality sealing of the seams to completely seal the top layer.

Sectional diagram of a concrete pavement.

The blind area device made of natural stone looks very beautiful and will last without repair for many years. However, the high cost of the material reduces the possibility of its wide application.

Asphalt is rarely used because of the unpleasant smell in hot weather. In addition, such a home-made material is not very durable, and buying a factory one is much more expensive than a concrete screed device.

Along the outer perimeter of the blind area, it is recommended to lay ceramic or asbestos-cement trays for organized water drainage from the building location area. A properly executed drainage system also plays a very important role.

Do-it-yourself concrete pavement device

For the installation of a protective coating of concrete, you will need the following materials:

• cement brand PC400 or PC500;
• river or washed sand;
• gravel or crushed stone fraction up to 40 mm;
• polystyrene foam insulation boards;
• board and bitumen for its processing from decay;
• reinforcing mesh with a cell of 100x100 mm;
• clay or geotextile.

Possible installation errors

A soft blind area is a good alternative to a concrete path, the cost of which is many times higher. With proper installation and care, it will last for many years.

During the construction of the structure, possible mistakes should be avoided:

1. The dimensions and location of the trench are incorrectly selected. The blind area should be located around the entire building, and be 20-30 cm wider than the roof canopy. If the building has a porch with a roof, then the blind area in this place should be wider to prevent moisture from entering the foundation area.
2. Water stagnation. Failure to follow the installation technique can cause water near the foundation to force itself, resulting in puddles. Therefore, do not forget about the construction of a transverse slope and drainage trays that will lead water out of the construction area.
3. Lack of insulation, especially on heaving soils. The fact is that prolonged frosts and thaws lead to oversaturation of the soil with water and its swelling. This leads to the fact that the load on the elements of the building becomes uneven, due to which cracks appear on the foundation, and it collapses.
4. Lack of waterproofing soft blind area. Gravel is usually poured onto the top layer of such a structure, tiles are laid or a lawn is planted. They easily pass water, so they need high-quality waterproofing. It will create an airtight layer and prevent precipitation from destroying the foundation. Waterproofing should be laid with an overlap on the foundation of the building.

What are the aqueducts?

The house path must have a slope of at least 2 ° from the wall of the building.In fact, thanks to such a slope, water should not accumulate on the surface of the blind area anyway.

But, if you do not install a drainage system, then all the water flowing down from the path will seep under the ground and penetrate into the foundation, basement or basement.

The drain must ensure that water is removed away from the building. As a water drain you can use:

Finished gutters

Typically, such structures are used when laying tiles (paving, clinker, ceramic) or with a soft blind area (crushed stone, gravel). These products are separate elements of small length, which are made in the form of a semicircular recess. They are laid out along or across the blind area.

If the gutters lead directly to a centralized sewer or a special drainage tank, then it is desirable that they be of a closed type, that is, a grate was installed on top. This will prevent leaves, debris and dirt from entering the sewer, eliminating the need for regular cleaning.

Metal gutters are durable, refractory, resistant to temperature extremes, inexpensive. But their minus is a lot of weight and possible manifestations of corrosion. Also, with heavy rain, a drum effect occurs - drops of water beat against a metal surface with noise.

Concrete gutters - resistant to corrosion, temperature extremes, rotting. The material is strong and durable. Although it is heavy in weight, this is a plus, because such a gutter will not budge, even with heavy rain. Minus - high price;

Creating recesses for drainage

When pouring concrete, you can immediately leave a small recess along the edges of the blind area to drain water. Or, in already hardened concrete, you can knock out a groove with a perforator and place a drain structure there.The advantage of this method is that it is cheap.

However, it doesn't always look pretty. Even sometimes, by one appearance, it becomes clear that the drain was not originally thought out and the owner does not have the funds to create a normal drainage system.

If there is a limitation on funds, then a sewer or asbestos pipe (Ø 25 cm) can be used as a groove for draining water. It is divided in half or mounted entirely (if one of its ends is connected directly to the downpipe coming from the roof).

The construction of the blind area

Before the construction of the protective tape, they are engaged in marking, which should take into account the location of all elements of the system. But first, the optimal width of the future blind area is determined. A prerequisite is a width greater than that of the roof overhang. To limit the perimeter, traditional pegs and fishing line are used.

Trench construction

A trench is dug inside the marked area. With soft ground, excavation is not necessary. The soil is simply rammed to the desired depth. It is determined by the material from which the blind area will be made. For traditional concrete, the depth is 70-100 mm, the minimum value is 50 mm. The thickness of the finish in these figures is not taken into account. Geotextiles are laid at the bottom of the trench.

Filling the blind area

Concrete for the construction of the blind area must be frost-resistant, grade - at least M200. This stage is almost no different from the arrangement of the strip foundation. Similarly, a formwork is constructed, into which a sand and gravel (crushed stone) pillow is poured, then a reinforcing mesh is laid.

A serious difference between the blind area and the classic tape is the need to guarantee a slight slope (3-5%) in the direction of the site. It is needed so that the water does not remain on the surface, but immediately drains. The biggest problems are brought with them by slanting rains.

The price of turnkey construction services

To calculate the exact cost of the necessary materials and work, you will need the help of a specialist. After all, this is the only way to assess the condition of the soil and choose the type of blind area.

Many factors affect the final cost of the work, among them:

• material used to build the structure
• building area,
• width and depth of the blind area,
• as well as some features of the soil (evenness, the need for dismantling, etc.).

For example, in the Moscow region, the cost of installing a structure using sand, membranes, geotextiles and crushed stone will vary from 1300 to 1600 rubles. depending on the width of the blind area. The more materials you use, the higher the final cost will be. In Novosibirsk, the cost of similar work varies from 1000 to 1600 rubles, in St. Petersburg - from 1200 and more.

We make a blind area on our own

The blind area device technology includes several stages that even a beginner in construction work can handle.

Training

In order to start creating a protective coating around the house, prepare:

• pick;
• twine;
• roulette;
• tamper;
• pegs for marking;
• waterproof film (geotextile);
• concrete mixture;
• formwork boards;
• hacksaw;
• level;
• nails;
• reinforcement material, welding machine and wire cutters;
• as a rule, trowel, spatula;
• sealant for processing seams (it is better to purchase a polyurethane composition).

markup

The arrangement of the blind area around the house begins with the preparation of the area for construction. At this stage, it is necessary to mark the perimeter of the future "tape", or rather a trench for it, with the help of a peg. There are several recommendations in this regard:

• The step between the beacons is 1.5 m.
• The depth of the trench will depend on the soil, but the minimum indicator for this value is 0.15-0.2 meters. If the earth is "heaving", then the depth increases to 0.3 m.

Marking for concrete blind area with pegs

The easiest way to apply markup is to act in the following sequence:

1. Drive metal or wood pegs into the ground in the corners of the house.
2. Install intermediate beacons around the perimeter of the building.
3. Pull the cord or rope, connecting all the pegs.

Healthy! Sealant can be used at this stage to separate the protective coating from the foundation.

After that, the slope of the system is formed, for this a trench is dug, in which the depth of one of its sides will be greater. To compact the resulting ditch, it is enough to use a tree. First, the log must be placed vertically, lifted and sharply lowered down with effort. Due to this, the bottom of the trench will be compacted.

formwork

Very often, in the recommendations for the construction of this type of coating, there is no description of the creation of formwork, but beginners should not neglect such a “helper”.

To prevent concrete from spreading, it is necessary to prepare the formwork

For formwork, you will need boards on which it is better to immediately mark the height of the future pillow. In the corners, fasten the impromptu “box” with metal corners (bolts on the outside).

Important! If you do not want to remove the formwork, after the concrete blind area is completed, be sure to treat the tree with an antiseptic compound and wrap the boards with roofing material. Formwork scheme for the blind area

Formwork scheme for the blind area

Creating a pillow

In order for the concrete pavement to be made according to all the "canons" of construction, it is imperative to prepare a sandy or clay base for it. The thickness of the sand layer can reach up to 20 cm. It is best to lay the pillow in several layers, moistening and carefully tamping each subsequent layer. At the final stage, the surface must be leveled.

Waterproofing

A waterproofing device involves laying several layers of roofing felt or other geotextile on a pillow.

In this case, it is worth paying attention to the recommendations of experts:

1. The material needs to be “wrapped” a little on the walls in order to get an expansion joint.
2. Roofing material must be overlapped.
3. A thin layer of sand is poured over the geotextile, and then 10 cm of gravel.
4. If it is planned to install a drainage system, then it is laid close to the resulting "water seal".

The waterproofing of the blind area is performed using geotextiles or roofing material

Reinforcement, pouring and drying

Above the level of 3 cm from the layer with crushed stone, it is necessary to lay a metal mesh with a step of 0.75 m. After that, you need to mix the concrete and pour it in equal portions into the resulting formwork sections. In this case, the composition to be poured must reach the level of the upper edge of the wooden "box".

Reinforcing the blind area for the house using a metal mesh

Healthy! After pouring, pierce the surface with an iron rod in several places to release excess air.

You can distribute the composition with a trowel or a rule.To increase the resistance of concrete, 2 hours after pouring, ironing is performed. To do this, the surface is covered with a layer of dry PC 400 3-7 mm thick.

Healthy! So that the composition does not crack, it must be moistened with water 1-2 times a day.

After pouring and leveling the mixture, it must be covered with polyethylene

In addition to how to properly fill the blind area, you need to make sure that it does not crack during the drying process. To do this, you need to protect the coating from precipitation and the sun with a plastic film. It is believed that the blind area completely dries out in 10-14 days. However, according to the regulations for drying, it is worth taking at least 28 days.

Knowing all these recommendations and the correct proportions of solutions, you can ennoble your home without the participation of specialists.

Paving technology

You have already made a pillow for the blind area. Further work is performed in the sequence shown in the table.

Table. Do-it-yourself tile blind area

Stage of work
Description

Sand filling

As you can see on one of
the above images,
blind area cushion with paving
tiles has an additional
top layer in the form of sand
backfill.
Pour 8-10 cm of sand over
gravel. Recommendations in
leveling and
material rammers are similar
previously equipped layer.

Laying tiles

Proceed to paving the blind area.
Tiles lay from any convenient angle. Move away from you. Place the elements according to the principle of brickwork, i.e. with offset seams in adjacent rows.You can choose a specific styling option from the previously proposed illustrations or come up with your own.

Tile fixing

A rubber mallet is used to ensure a snug fit of tiles / paving stones to the base

Working with the tool is carried out in the following order:
- tiles are laid;
- a wooden plank is placed on top of it;
- the performer carefully taps on the plank, trying hard enough, but gently, to press the tile with a mallet through the mentioned gasket.
Each tile is laid in this sequence. Checking the correct laying of tiles

Checking the correct laying of tiles

Using a spirit level, check the evenness of the tiles in relation to each other and the ratio of the rows. Sprinkle sand under the sagging trim elements, precipitate the protruding parts of the tile with a mallet, following the above guide, while maintaining the desired slope of the blind area.
Pave the entire site in accordance with the above sequence

If you need to cut tiles, do it with a grinder.

If, due to any circumstances, a blind area without the use of a cement screed is not possible, after filling the sand layer, do the following:

• prepare a mixture of 1 share of cement (from M400), 3 shares of sand (sifted, fine-grained, river) and clean water in an amount sufficient to obtain a homogeneous plastic solution of medium density;
• spread the solution over the surface of the site to be equipped with a trowel or any other suitable tool, then level it with a mop or a long straight rail (rule). The final thickness of the cement layer should be 30-40 mm.

Production of concrete pavement

After waiting for the cement to dry, proceed to laying the tiles. It is most convenient to use an adhesive designed specifically for fixing the finishing materials in question. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the preparation and proper use of the adhesive - for different compositions, these points may differ.

Some developers even accept a cement-filled structure without subsequent finishing as a finished blind area.

This option is possible, but its appearance does not satisfy everyone. If desired, special coloring pigments can be added to the cement composition - the surface will take on a more attractive appearance.

Protection of the concrete blind area from destruction

The device of the blind area around the house of concrete provides for a snug fit of the structure to the basement of the building. In the presence of the slightest cracks, the tightness of the coating is violated, as a result of which water penetrates into the foundation of the house. To prevent destruction of the concrete layer during temperature changes, expansion joints are necessarily created. According to SNiP, they are located in increments of 170 to 200 cm, as well as at the corners of the track. Expansion joints perform the function of separating elements between sections that are independent of each other in tension, subsidence.

For the manufacture of expansion joints, laminated plywood is used, which is cut into strips with a length equal to the width of the blind area and a thickness of 10 cm. Instead of plywood, wooden slats 2-3 cm thick can be used. Before installation, the surface of the slats is covered with bituminous mastic or used oil, which protects the wood from decay .

Compliance with the technology when pouring the blind area, is also a decisive factor in its durability

It is possible to prevent the destruction of the concrete layer with the help of internal waterproofing. This blind area device technology involves the use of rolled or coating materials that create an additional layer under the concrete screed. At the same time, waterproofing materials protect the wall from getting wet.

It is very important to comply with all requirements when working with roll and coating materials.

The most effective method of hardening concrete pavement is ironing, which is carried out in 2 ways:

• The surface of freshly laid concrete is covered with dry cement M300 or M400, after which grouting is performed. Polishing is carried out on hardened concrete. The strength and durability of the coating depends on the selected brand of cement. Here the principle works - the higher the better.
• A liquid cement mortar is applied to the concrete of a 2-3 week laying, after which it is smoothed out.

Thanks to the blind area insulation technology, additional protection against soil freezing is created for both the foundation and the plinth path. A special heat-insulating material is located between the lower and upper layers.

Scheme for the manufacture of a blind area with insulation

With strict observance of regulatory requirements, the operational period of the house increases, comfortable living conditions are created. Otherwise, the house path will not perform the function of draining water from the foundation. It should be borne in mind that the use of the thermal protection method increases the width of the blind area.

How to concrete yourself: device technology with a photo

The manufacture of this design begins after the completion of the construction of the house and its decoration, while it should not be tightly adjacent to its walls. It is required to provide a technological gap from the base - 20 ml, which will allow 2 strong structures to settle with different indicators and this will not lead to surface fractures.

Professional concreting of the blind area is carried out in the technological sequence:

1. The marking of the future structure around the perimeter of the house is being done.
2. Excavation is carried out with a depth of more than 0.30 m, taking into account the thickness of all layers and concrete.
3. The base is carefully rammed.
4. Formwork is installed in the form of a solid and durable structure.
5. Do the laying of the cake fillers: crushed stone and sand, with the compaction of each layer with irrigation.
6. Gather formwork.
7. Fitting reinforcement.
8. Install boards for expansion joints with a step of 2 m.
9. Concrete the structure with a layer of at least 10 cm.
10. Ironing of the upper surface of the structure is carried out to protect it from moisture.

How to pour evenly?

Levelless construction is practically not performed anywhere, as this contradicts the requirements for draining water from the house. The minimum percentage of slope located transversely is 1%, which is not visible to the naked eye.

A drainage groove is arranged along the edge, along which water will leave along the house, heading to the common drain.

Fill with slope

The slope of the structure of 1-10% fully ensures the removal of natural water from the foundation and basement. Perform it in several ways. The most traditional way is to first fill the horizontal level with 80% concrete mortar.

After the base layer has hardened, the transverse slope is marked by installing inclined rails fixed to the formwork. Further, the remaining concrete with a thicker composition is laid out in sections, leveling along the rails.