Old wooden house solves the problem of a damper belt between a constantly changing earth's crust coupled with the external environment under weather conditions and a man-built house that provides peace and stability.
This structure is under constant pressure from all sides. Time is inexorable for him.
For the long service life of the house, control over the condition of the supporting structure is necessary. If the development of destructive processes is stopped in time, then housing will serve as a fortress for a long time. This problem can be solved by renovating the house.
Factors that bring changes to the foundation design
The foundation is the first to bear the full force of the impact of human activity and the external environment.
During operation, constant changes occur that affect it:
All these actions inevitably lead to wear and tear of the load-bearing part of the building.
Methods for examining the foundation for structural wear
- Visual method. It consists of periodic inspection of the building and foundation structure. Detecting the presence of cracks in the walls, peeling of plaster or finishing materials, deformation of the dumping lining between the base of the wall and the foundation, level subsidence in .
Inside the building, there may be distortions of openings and doors, leading to difficulty in closing the doors and leaves. The appearance of cracks and cracks in. The appearance of a change in the level of the floor covering.
- Instrumental research is carried out using a water level, spirit level, theodolite or level.
Paper beacons are used, with which you can identify the dynamics of the violation.
The obtained data is processed and the indicators are compared with the design figures that were used during the construction of the building.
In case of minor deviations, no measures are taken. There is no need to hesitate as you approach critical indicators. The sooner the problem is corrected, the longer the building will last without the need for major repairs at great expense.
Main types of foundations for a wooden house
Buildings from wooden materials have little weight compared to houses from and. Therefore, shallow foundations of mainly several types are used for them:
Foundation repair activities
Types of foundations
In general, columnar foundations and strip structures are more susceptible to destruction.
If a decision is made to repair the foundation of the house based on the results of the inspection, it is necessary to identify the place with the greatest damage. This is determined by comparing the nature of the damage, lesser to greater. Then it is determined possible reason, resulting in violations.
For example! The subsidence of the soil led to the appearance of a foundation. The reason may lie in actions groundwater, disruption of the drainage of melt water and sediment, construction of an extension or digging of an additional pit, which resulted in formation movement.
Based on the results of the inspection, an assessment is made of the condition of the foundation structure of the house.
- Small damage with a lack of development dynamics for the worse. Subject to cosmetic repairs and further monitoring
- Strong damage. There is dynamics of development. Cracks are visible visually and have the character of deep horizontal or vertical lines. You can also see the presence of small cracks running along the sides. Peeling of plaster over the entire area of the affected area. At this stage, a decision is made to repair a local area with partial replacement of the damaged area or strengthening it. It is possible to completely replace the entire perimeter of the foundation of the house in stages.
- Complete destruction half or most of the foundation. In this case, it is proposed to demolish the house or dismantle it to build a new foundation and a new building. This option is often cheaper than repairing the foundation.
Progress of work to repair the damaged section of the base
Pillar foundation repair
To repair the structure of the foundation of a house, jacks with increased load capacity are used. The process begins with freeing the building from heavy and fragile things, furniture, appliances, dishes, mirrors. In special cases, window sashes are removed to prevent deformation. Next, the main repair activities begin:
- The bundle of pillars that serves as protection for the underground space is removed.
- At least 4 jacks are installed under the walls of the house.
- Slowly, with the help of hydraulic installations, the entire house is raised above the level of the existing piles by 10 centimeters.
- To prevent sagging of the lower crowns along the perimeter of the building, they are knocked together with the above parts using long boards.
- Damaged parts are dismantled, and lopsided pillars are leveled. Soil is dug up around them and poured into the pit.
- For new piles, pits are dug, new parts are installed in them and filled with concrete. Their upper edge should correspond to the level of previously installed supports.
- After the concrete gains strength over time, the house also slowly lowers to its original location.
- Finally, a bunch of posts made of new material are installed.
Strip foundation repair
This action consists of several processes:
- Repair of damaged part support base with its partial replacement and strengthening along the entire perimeter of the foundation. This is a more complex process that requires complete dismantling of the damaged section of the foundation. It is necessary in the future to dig out the trench again and install the formwork.
Pour the concrete and give it time to gain strength.
If the cause of the damage is identified, for various reasons, it is necessary, in addition to repairing the area, to strengthen the entire perimeter of the base.
To do this, dig a trench along the entire perimeter of the existing foundation. Clean it of plaster and soil. Install adhesive reinforcement pins into the walls of the old foundation. A reinforcing structure is tied to them with wire. They are exposed and filled with concrete. After seven days, the formwork frame is removed. The new reinforced foundation is subject to finishing and further operation.
Complete replacement of the entire foundation
Large-scale restructuring involving complex processes:
Dismantling sections of the base for installing jacks.- Slowly raise the building at least 15 centimeters from the previous level.
- Complete dismantling of the emergency foundation.
- Device with strengthening of the trench for a new foundation. Providing measures for the diversion of soil, melt water and precipitation.
- Installation of formwork around the entire perimeter with reinforcement with steel cores with a diameter of at least 12 mm. It is planned to construct a larger foundation to increase the safety margin.
- Then concrete is poured using deep concrete to remove air bubbles. Time to gain strength is given for at least 14 days.
- The formwork is dismantled. The foundation remains in this condition for another 10 days.
- Next, coating and pasting is carried out vertical waterproofing supporting base with materials followed by backfilling with soil.
- To protect the walls of the house from getting wet, it is placed under the crowns on the foundation.
- The house is slowly lowered to its original location.
- Finally, the exterior is finished.
Conclusion
All types of work on repair and restoration of foundation structures require processes involving the use of water. As a result, it is necessary to plan repairs for the warm summer months. It is necessary to prepare all materials and tools in advance.
Old wooden houses go to new owners in different situations. They can become property by inheritance; some citizens deliberately purchase cheap housing as a summer cottage. Both of them subsequently face the same problems. Due to the influence of time or lack of maintenance, wooden houses require major repairs. First of all, it is necessary to fix the foundation, insulate the walls, repair the roof, replace windows and doors. And after that you can move on to internal work. The foundation is the basis of any structure, so the restoration of a wooden house most often begins with it. Repair work should be carried out in warm and dry weather.
Common foundation damage.
Depending on the area and era of construction, buildings can be found different types foundation.
The oldest houses stand on ordinary stones, the cracks between which are sealed with cement-sand mortar. Over time, numerous cracks appear, which increase annually if the owners do not carry out timely maintenance.
Monolithic foundations replaced stone foundations a little later. However, they were made by their ancestors without taking into account the depth of soil freezing and without a reinforcing frame. Therefore, the corners of the house often sag, and wide cracks appear in the foundation.
Any of these foundations can be repaired on your own by spending money on materials and devoting your free time to the activity.
Repairing cracks and crevices in the foundation
To restore the strength of the foundation of the house, you must first consider the next steps to repair the entire structure. It’s one thing if you just need a cosmetic update to the appearance (plastering, painting). In this case, you can use reinforcing mesh and plaster to restore the foundation. But if you plan to insulate the house, decorate the walls with siding or relief plaster, then you have to increase the thickness of the base. The technology for such repairs looks different.
First, an excavation is made under the base of the old foundation. This is necessary to increase the adhesion of the new concrete layer to the old one.
Next, reinforcement of sections of the foundation with cracks is carried out. To do this, holes are drilled with a hammer drill into which pieces of reinforcement with a diameter of 8-10 mm and a length of 150-200 mm are hammered. They should protrude outward by about 3-5 cm.
The individual steel pins must be connected to each other with binding wire.
The next stage of repair will be the installation of formwork. The distance between the plank structure and the concrete base is selected taking into account the increase in the width of the walls. The formwork must be securely supported with supports from the outside, and wooden partitions are installed inside to fix the width.
The fastest stage of work will be pouring the cement-sand mixture into the formwork. To speed up the preparation of concrete, you will need a concrete mixer, and work with construction mixtures you will have to use shovels.
So simple, but effective way it is possible to restore 2-3-meter sections of a cracked foundation.
Complete replacement of the concrete base
In the case of a stone foundation, as well as in case of subsidence of corners with complete spalling of large sections of concrete, it will be necessary to completely replace the foundation. This work must be done in stages, using the following scheme.
The first step is to remove stones or a piece of concrete from under one of the corners. To do this, a certain layer of earth is selected and the remains of the old foundation are removed. At this stage, you can lift the sagging corner of the log box using a jack.
If the soil is loose, then it is necessary to install internal formwork and secure it. The length of the section is limited to 2-3 m.
Using steel reinforcement or rods, a reinforcing frame is made. It must extend beyond the area being restored so that the reinforcing belt can be tied into a single metal structure.
The individual rods are connected to each other with binding wire.
After this, you can begin installing the external formwork. To fix the wooden structure, internal struts and external supports are used.
Stones from the old foundation are placed on the bottom of the formwork, and concrete is poured.
It is important to compact the concrete mixture thoroughly to eliminate large air pores. It is best to break old pieces of concrete with a heavy sledgehammer.
After a day, the formwork can be moved to another area, where an internal plank wall has been pre-installed and a reinforcing frame has been created.
When the entire foundation around the perimeter of the house has been restored, you can start decorating it or start repairing the walls. Now you don’t have to worry about the foundation of the house.
You can determine whether a foundation needs repairs by taking just one look at it. The fact that the days of the foundation of the house are already numbered is indicated by the skew of the building, cracks on the walls and subsidence of the house. It is impossible to insure a building against such deformations, because over time the foundation materials deteriorate. Therefore, one day the time comes when the owners of a wooden house have to decide what type of repair to do - partial or complete.
Conditions for partial and major repairs
In order to find out the extent of damage to the foundation and determine the necessary measures to restore it, you need to carefully study Current state foundations and identify characteristic defects that may affect the strength and integrity of the building or its individual elements.
If cracks appear on the foundation, then you need to think about the need to repair it.
The foundation is restored in fragments if it has sunk lower but has not begun to collapse. Complete repairs are resorted to when cracks and other damage are detected.
The decision on what basis to replace a completely damaged structure is made taking into account the type of soil, the terrain and the type of foundation originally created.
If the foundation of the house has sunk into the ground, it’s time to repair it
With a strip base, they often proceed as follows: the destroyed areas are dismantled and the structure is reinforced along the entire perimeter. In case of serious destruction of the foundation strip, it is decided to completely replace it.
For serious defects strip base at home it makes sense to think about replacing it completely
Repair columnar base almost always carried out completely: all the old supports of the building are replaced with new ones. To do this, the house is raised to the height of the pillars using jacks. New reliable supports are fixed on reinforced concrete “pillows”.
The columnar foundation is most often completely replaced with a new one
A foundation made of wood, which has already been slightly damaged by fungus, is usually replaced with a strip or columnar structure. To do this, the building is raised to a certain level and concrete blocks or bricks are placed under it.
Strengthening the foundation of a wooden house
When repairing the foundation, it makes sense to immediately strengthen it. This can be done if you are confident in the stability of the soil, which is below the foundation level of your house. Strengthening the structure under the building may also be required in the case where it is planned to add another floor to the house, but there is a suspicion that the previously installed foundation will not withstand the increased load.
You can strengthen the foundation in two ways, depending on the load it has to withstand.
Instructions for strengthening the strip structure
To make the foundation more durable, perform the following work:
- A trench is dug along the perimeter of the base. The hole must be wide, otherwise it will be inconvenient to work. In addition, we must take into account that the new foundation will become stronger.
- The soil is removed from the excavated foundation. To do this, use a metal brush.
The trench must be wide enough to make it comfortable to work in.
- Holes are made in the old base with a drill. It is important that their diameter exceeds the thickness of the purchased reinforcing bars by no more than 1 mm. In this case, the metal elements will be installed securely and without gaps.
- Reinforcement rods are inserted into the drilled holes using a hammer. They will help connect the new foundation to the old one.
IN drilled holes the reinforcing bars to which the vertical grille is attached are clogged
- Further metal elements are welded to the hammered rods, forming a reinforced belt. It is better to solder the reinforcement with already installed rods only in a few places. For the most part, it is wiser to tie metal elements with wire to avoid deformation of the reinforcing belt during pouring and hardening of concrete.
The reinforcement cage will firmly bind old foundation with reinforced concrete structure
- The formwork is installed and filled with concrete. After waiting for the solution to harden, the structure of the boards is dismantled. The new foundation is left untouched for several days so that it becomes even stronger.
Formwork is installed around the reinforcement frame and concrete is poured into it. After the reinforcing layer has hardened, the formwork is removed
- The created base is covered with waterproofing material. An asphalt strip is created around the foundation at an angle.
Thanks to the reinforcement, the weight of a wooden building is distributed over a larger area. This method allows you to stop subsidence and destruction of the house.
Video: how to strengthen a strip foundation
Replacing the foundation under a timber building
The method for replacing the base depends on its type.
Replacement of strip foundation
Overhaul of the base in the form of a tape is carried out in stages:
- In order to reduce pressure on the foundation, furniture is removed from the house, floors are dismantled, and the stove is dismantled. Only heating equipment located on a separate concrete platform is not subject to dismantling.
- The building is raised slightly. If the house is small, then its level in relation to the ground is changed using a kind of lever for lifting weights - a beam measuring 8x8 cm, placed at the corner of the building. A log will serve as a support for it. For heavy construction, it is better to choose thicker lumber. The wooden structure is raised by applying pressure to the timber.
The house is raised on jacks and temporary supports are placed under it.
- A trench is dug around the house or only in areas where the wooden building needs to be raised.
- A jack is placed under the old foundation. There may be several mechanisms for raising a building. The number of jacks is determined by their load capacity and the weight of the house. The mechanisms can only be installed in areas where there is no damage.
- Using a jack, the house is slowly raised to the desired level. It is important that it rises evenly above the ground. Since there is a risk of unsuccessful installation of the jack, it is advisable to play it safe - place wooden wedges between the structure and the base pad.
The house is raised evenly on several jacks. For insurance, wooden blocks are placed under the load-bearing beams.
- The lower crown of a raised wooden structure is tied together with a steel hoop or hammered in with strong boards. This technique will protect the overloaded lower beams of the house from damage.
- The house is freed from the very surface of the earth former foundation. If you are not ready to spend a lot on repairing the base, then you can partially disassemble the structure - remove only the damaged areas.
A hammer drill is used to destroy the old foundation.
- A cushion of sand-cement mixture is made under the reconstructed base of the house. Supports made of concrete or bricks are placed at the corners of the building. Instead, you can use piles. Thanks to the installation of supports, the size of which must correspond to the height of the foundation being constructed, in the future the foundation will be able to withstand increased pressure.
- Construct a reinforcing belt necessary to strengthen the base. Elements metal structure They are connected not by welding, but by wire.
- Formwork is made from boards. The finished structure is filled with concrete mortar.
Formwork with a reinforcing frame inside is reinforced with side supports and filled with concrete
- After 3 days, the concrete hardens, so the formwork is removed, but no further work is carried out yet, waiting for the foundation to strengthen.
- A few days after dismantling the formwork, the new base is covered with a waterproofing sheet, for example, roofing felt.
A few days after the formwork is removed, the foundation is covered with waterproofing material
- The house is lowered, acting as slowly as during the raising of the building. The front side of the base is covered with waterproofing and facing materials. A blind area is made around the house, which will not allow rainwater to seep into the foundation.
Video: how to repair a strip concrete base
Repair of support pillars
To replace a columnar foundation, proceed as follows:
If it is necessary to replace just a few pillars, they act differently: they make tunnels in the area where they are located, and pipes are immersed in them and filled with concrete. Old supports are dismantled after the solution has hardened.
Video: replacing a columnar foundation with your own hands
Converting a rubble or brick foundation into a monolith
Since the brick foundation is characterized by increased fragility, it is more advisable to replace it with a concrete foundation.
To build in place of a brick or rubble foundation concrete foundation, perform the following actions:
Video: brick foundation repair
Repairing the foundation of a wooden house with your own hands
The wooden foundation is mainly made of pine or larch. A wooden structure always requires complete replacement, since over time it becomes completely covered with fungus and rots. Replacing old elements of such a base with new ones is carried out as follows:
The damaged foundation of a dilapidated wooden house can be put in order. To do this you need to get necessary knowledge and choose a repair or replacement technology. You can do the reconstruction of the foundation of a house yourself, if you have the desire and at least a little experience in construction work.
Violation of the integrity of a dilapidated structure over time is a natural phenomenon. Old wooden houses are especially susceptible to this fate. The cause of warped doors and windows, cracks in the walls is the destruction of the foundation. Timely elimination of factors that directly caused deformation supporting structure and wood, will extend the period of operation of housing. Let's look at how to repair the foundation of a wooden house in detail. Depending on the extent of the changes, partial or complete reconstruction of the base is carried out. In some cases, a complete replacement of the old foundation is required.
Causes of destruction
The development of a foundation repair plan is preceded by identifying the reasons for the violation of its integrity. There are several factors that provoked the deformation:
- Increased load on the foundation. For example, they completed the construction of an attic or sheathed an old wooden building.
- Raising the groundwater level or poorly equipped rainwater drainage, resulting in soil erosion.
- Construction of other objects near the old wooden house that increase the load on the ground.
Such situations change the bearing capacity of the soil, which leads to distortion of the structure or its subsidence. Repair of the foundation of an old wooden house may be required as a result of loss of strength of the foundation material itself. This happens due to:
- incorrect choice of foundation type;
- incorrect proportions of the solution or inappropriate grade of concrete;
- violations technological process when bookmarking;
- incorrectly determined level of soil freezing;
- unexpected exposure to water.
Correctly identifying the source of the problem is the starting point for planning the repair process. Assessing the condition of the support and identifying weak points will determine whether partial restoration or full-scale restoration of the base is necessary.
Determination of the degree of deformation
The degree of deformation of the support of an old house directly affects the content of the renovation plan. Conventionally, defects are divided into four levels. Partially peeled off finishing refers to minimal deviations and does not have a noticeable effect on the load-bearing performance of the base. This defect is visible without deep analysis and can be eliminated without difficulty.
Moderate severity
Extended repair of the foundation of a wooden house is required if there are cracks that appeared as a result of subsidence of the support or destructive processes in it. The following points deserve attention:
- The direction of the crack is determined. Horizontal cracks pose less danger.
- A vertical or zigzag fault is a serious defect requiring speedy repair foundation.
- What is the nature of the subsidence of the foundation under an old wooden house: temporary or progressive.
Advice! The installation of beacons in places of crevices will help to indicate the nature of the destruction of the foundation under a wooden structure.
The function of beacons will be performed by ordinary paper strips; in this case, to obtain a reliable picture, you should avoid getting them wet. Plaster plasters will also help. Most reliable way How to make beacons - apply a small amount of putty to the wall and mark a straight line. With a slight vibration, such a beacon will break. This technique allows you to record the growth of a crack and find out the rate of development of defects.
The subsidence of the foundation under wooden housing was temporary if the beacons were not damaged and remained motionless. This happens with a single shift of soil under the support of an old house. Foundation repair will consist only of eliminating existing cracks. The repair process includes the following steps:
- fault jointing;
- cleaning the gap from falling fragments and dust;
- treatment with a primer;
- sealing joints with cement mortar or a special compound.
The destruction of the beacons signals progressive faults in the foundation of the old wooden housing. Therefore, repairs to eliminate cracks will not be enough. This type of deformation is characterized as catastrophic and requiring urgent action.
Serious damage and permanent deformation
Serious defects can provoke the destruction of the old wooden dwelling. The repair plan depends on the type of supporting structure; the most common are strip and column options. In some cases, it is not advisable to strengthen the foundation; it is better to completely change the foundation under standing house. If it is not possible to eliminate the deformations, the dwelling must be demolished.
Strengthening the strip base
Foundation under wooden house can be strengthened if its defects are removable and the soil is stable.
Comment! The need for reinforcement also arises when it is planned to build a superstructure, and the supporting structure is not designed for additional load.
Let’s consider in detail how to strengthen the foundation for an old wooden house:
- Prepare a trench along the perimeter of the base, allowing for further pouring of the foundation.
- The old surface of the base of a wooden house is cleared of soil.
- Repair begins with drilling holes with a diameter exceeding the size of the reinforcement by 1 mm.
- The reinforcement hammered into the holes acts as a connecting link between the old supporting structure and the additional new one.
- The next step in the repair is the formation of a reinforced belt. Welding is used only at a few points, most The bindings are made with wire. Such fixation will prevent deformation of the reinforced belt during the process of pouring and hardening of the concrete solution.
- Do-it-yourself repairs to the supporting structure of a wooden house continue by installing formwork.
- At the final stage of repair, concrete is poured to strengthen the old foundation. After it hardens, the formwork is removed, and the new foundation settles for some time, depending on temperature regime and humidity levels.
- High-quality repairs to the foundation of an old wooden dwelling include waterproofing a new foundation and forming a blind area to drain water.
Strengthening the supporting structure helps redistribute the load of the old structure over a larger area.
Attention! When repairing the strip foundation, do not forget to form vents in the foundation of a wooden house. This will ensure high-quality ventilation of the basement level.
The following video will demonstrate how to pour a rubble stone foundation:
Pile foundation repair
Piles driven under an old wooden house may become askew. Minor deviations can be corrected by straightening. To do this, a dig is made, the pile is given a strictly vertical position, and the space around the support is filled with a mixture of cement and gravel.
If the piles under an old wooden structure have collapsed or become severely deformed, surface repairs will not be enough. To replace old piles, asbestos-cement pipes with a diameter of 200 mm are suitable. Foundation repair consists of the following:
- To install a new support, a place is prepared under the old wooden housing.
- In addition, an inclined gutter is formed under the house for installation.
- In order for the pile to maintain a vertical level, its cavity is filled with a cement mortar of liquid consistency.
Important! The concrete mixture should saturate the sand and gravel bed prepared under the pile.
The next stage of repairing the old foundation by replacing the piles also includes strengthening the new pillars from the outside. A solution of cement and gravel acts as a fixative. Expanding the well below according to the mushroom cap principle will increase the stability of the pile and the strength of the foundation under a wooden structure several times.
Restoration of a columnar foundation
Repair process columnar foundation consists of the following steps:
- The old wooden structure is raised to a certain height. Correct calculation of the required height allows you to carry out repairs and prevent the lower crown from sagging.
- The lopsided pillars are dismantled. If the support has become dilapidated, it is replaced with a new one. In other cases, the repair consists of aligning the pillars.
- The soil is removed at the installation site. Mandatory points for mounting supports are the corners of the old wooden structure and the junction of the internal walls.
- A cement-sand cushion is placed under the pillar.
- The repair continues by reinforcing the pillar, after which the concrete solution is poured.
Foundation repair is a costly and complex undertaking; to do it correctly, you need to know the principle of the structure, the causes and signs of foundation failure. Wood a private house It is very common in our area, which is not surprising, because wood is an affordable material, construction costs are relatively low, and the completed house will be environmentally friendly and warm. These are the absolute advantages of a wooden structure. There are also disadvantages, but they do not appear immediately, but after some time of use.
Most often the owners wooden houses They are faced with the fact that the house is “bursting at the seams.” Windows and doors warp, walls sag, and cracks appear. All these visual defects are caused by one reason - the destruction of the foundation. To extend the life of the house, it is necessary to eliminate this destruction in a timely manner. This will require strengthening or reconstruction of the foundation (restoration), complete ( major renovation) or partial (removal of cracks).
It is worth noting that repairing the foundation of an old wooden house is not an easy undertaking, so it is advisable to entrust it to professionals. But, you can do the work yourself. The main thing here is the time factor. The problem must be fixed as soon as it is discovered.
Causes of foundation destruction
Before you begin a detailed study of how to repair the foundation of a wooden house, you need to understand what caused its deformation. Two factors can contribute to this:
change bearing capacity soil. This occurs due to an increase in the load on the foundation, and therefore on the soil underneath it. The reason may be improper drainage of rain/melt water or an increase in groundwater levels, which leads to soil erosion. The construction of other buildings near the house also increases the load on the soil. As a result, the soil seems to be squeezed out from under the foundation of the house, which can ultimately lead to subsidence of the house or its warping.
loss of strength of the material from which the foundation is made. Among the main reasons are the following: incorrect choice of foundation type, exposure to water, incorrect brand of concrete used during construction, incorrect calculation of the depth of soil freezing, violation of construction technology.
Identifying the cause of foundation failure provides a starting point for investigation.
Types of foundation deformation
The second point to consider is identifying the extent of damage to the foundation. According to the criterion of maintainability, they can be divided into 4 types.
1. Minimal damage.
These include partially exfoliated finishing of the foundation of a wooden house. Such defects do not have a significant effect on the bearing capacity of the foundation. In addition, they are visible to the naked eye and can be removed without any problems.
2. Moderate damage.
These include the appearance of cracks in the foundation of a house due to subsidence or destruction of the foundation. In this case, you should be careful, because... crack crack discord. First of all, its direction is determined. As a rule, horizontal cracks in the foundation are the least dangerous, but vertical or zigzag cracks should alert you. It will also be determined whether the subsidence of the foundation is temporary or whether it is progressive.
The nature of the destruction can be determined using beacons installed on the crack (see photo).
You can use ordinary paper as beacons, but it is worth remembering that when moisture gets in, the paper gets wet and will no longer give a complete picture of the behavior of the crack. Plaster plasters are suitable for use. But the easiest way is to apply a little putty to the wall and use a spatula to draw a straight line and make a mark. Such a beacon is good because it breaks at the slightest movement of the surface. Installing a beacon will not only allow you to notice the enlargement of the crack, but also determine the rate of destruction.
Important. The beacon must be installed on a clean, dry wall to prevent it from moving. The thickness of the beacon should not exceed 5 mm.
If the foundation temporarily settles, the beacons will remain motionless. That is, there is a high probability that the soil under the foundation has moved a little, has taken its place and does not intend to move anymore. Therefore, you only need to perform routine repairs to foundation cracks.
Repairing cracks:
- widen the crack;
- clean it from falling parts and dust;
- treat with a primer;
- seal the seam with a special mixture or cement mortar.
The destruction of beacons indicates that the fault in the foundation or wall is increasing. This means that sealing cracks will not help, it’s time to take urgent measures - this type of deformation can be classified as catastrophic.
3. Catastrophic damage.
These are foundation defects that can lead to the destruction of the house. Of course, it is advisable to repair the foundation under a wooden house in a timely manner, but there are times when the moment is missed.
Then the technology repair work will be determined by the type of foundation. The most popular of which are columnar and ribbon. In each individual case, each owner decides for himself whether he needs to strengthen the foundation or completely replace it.
4. Unremovable deformations.
In this case, the condition of the foundation is so deplorable that there is nothing to repair. It is usually easier and cheaper to destroy an old house and build in its place a new cottage that meets all the requirements of a modern person.
Repair strip foundation building a wooden house is somewhat more complicated, so let’s look at it in more detail.
Strengthening the foundation of a private house - ways to strengthen it
The strengthening method is chosen when the deformations of the foundation are removable and the soil underneath is stable. Or if there is a need for an addition to the house, and the existing foundation cannot cope with the increasing load.
Technology for strengthening strip foundations - instructions
- dig a trench around the perimeter of the foundation. Its width should be sufficient for convenient work and take into account the fact that the thickness of the foundation will increase;
- clean the foundation surface from soil;
Advice. You can clean the surface well using a metal brush.
- drill holes. Its diameter should exceed the diameter of the reinforcement by 1 mm. This is necessary for a more dense installation of metal rods;
- hammer the reinforcement into the holes. Thus, the new foundation will be securely connected to the existing one;
- make a reinforced belt. To do this, reinforcement is welded to the installed pieces;
Advice. It is advisable to weld the reinforcement only in a few places, and do the main part of the strapping using wire. This type of fastening does not require special skills or tools. But if it is present, the reinforcing belt does not deform when concrete is poured and hardened.
- formwork is installed;
- concrete is poured. After the concrete has hardened, the formwork is removed, and the reinforced foundation stands for several more days;
- the new foundation is being waterproofed;
- a blind area is made that will allow water to be drained away from the foundation.
Strengthening the foundation of a wooden house allows you to redistribute the load of the structure over a larger area. As a result, the foundation will stop subsiding or collapsing.
Complete replacement of the house foundation
Often the foundation sags so much that water can easily flow into the room. In this case, you need to figure out how to raise the foundation of a wooden house? Or the old foundation can no longer cope with the load on it and then the foundation is reconstructed.
Replacing the foundation under a wooden house - technology
- maximum reduction of constant and variable load on the foundation. To do this, everything that can be taken out of the house is removed, it is advisable to even dismantle the floor and disassemble the stoves. The exception is furnaces on a separately poured foundation. Naturally, residents are also evicted during the renovation;
- load calculation (weight of the house). Weight can be easily determined by having data regarding the density of the wood from which the house is built and the total cubic capacity of the wood used. The cubic capacity is calculated based on the dimensions of the house and the thickness of the walls;
Advice. A small and light wooden house is raised using a vault. To do this, an 80x80 beam is placed at the corner of the house. Next, the timber rests on the log. By pressing on the beam you can lift the house like a large lever.
- choosing a jack to raise a house. Depends on the weight of the structure, the lifting capacity of the jack and their number;
- digging pits (trenches). It breaks out along the entire perimeter of the house or only in those places where the house needs to be raised. Its presence simplifies access to the foundation. In addition, the appearance of water in the pit will make it possible to understand the level of groundwater;
- jack establishment. To raise the house smoothly, you need to install the jack correctly. It is installed only in safe places, without destruction or damage;
- lifting the house. You need to lift the house carefully, slowly, and most importantly evenly;
Advice. To protect yourself in case the jack cannot cope with the load or is installed unsuccessfully, you need to place wooden wedges between the house and the foundation pad. It is advisable to insert wedges every 15-20 mm.
Important: To lay the foundation for a wooden house, you need to raise the entire structure. Considering that the house is wooden, the maximum load will fall on the lower crowns. To prevent them from sagging, you need to tighten the lower crown with a steel hoop or fill it with boards.
- dismantling the old foundation. If the budget is very limited, and the condition of some parts of the foundation is satisfactory, then partial disassembly can be performed, i.e. remove only the destroyed foundation. However, this will not reduce the cost of work significantly, but the quality of work may suffer;
Advice. The old foundation must be dismantled down to the ground.
- installation of a sand-cement cushion for the future foundation. Despite the fact that the foundation is laid under ready house, the pillow is an important component of it;
- installation of concrete or brick supports in the corners of the house. Installation of piles is also possible. They will reduce the load on the foundation in the future. The height of the support is equal to the height of the new foundation;
- reinforcement. After the columns are installed, the reinforcement is installed. Reinforcing belt will give the foundation strength. We remind you that his installation of an armored belt for the foundation is carried out using wire, not welding;
- installation of formwork;
- pouring concrete. The foundation must stand for several days to gain strength. After this, the formwork is removed and the foundation is left open for another 1-2 days;
- waterproofing. To protect the wood of the house from rotting, you should lay a layer of waterproofing on the foundation. Roofing felt is excellent for these purposes;
- lowering the house. The house goes down as slowly as it went up;
- Finishing work. This includes complete waterproofing, cladding, drainage and blind areas.
From the description it is clear that replacing the foundation under a wooden house is a rather risky and time-consuming undertaking, for the implementation of which it is advisable to invite specialists.
How to lift a house and move it to a new foundation in practice can be seen in the video
Using the methods described above, you can repair the strip foundation of a wooden house. But what about those who have a columnar foundation?
Repair of a columnar foundation of a wooden house - technology
- the house rises to the calculated height. The height should be sufficient to carry out the work and at the same time not contribute to severe sagging of the lower crown.
- leaning pillars are dismantled. It is worth noting that a dilapidated support post must be removed, and a tilted one is simply leveled.
- soil is selected at the site where new pillars will be installed. We remind you that the pillars are installed at the corners of the building and at the junction/intersection of walls.
- a sand-cement cushion is placed under the pillar.
- The pillar is being reinforced.
- concrete is poured.
- steel or wooden beams are installed, which take on the entire load from the weight of the house and transfer it to the pillars.
- the building is going down.
If you need to replace one or two pillars, you can do it as follows. A dig is made in the place where the pillar to be replaced is installed. The tilt angle is 35°. A pipe is inserted into it and filled with solution. After hardening, the old pillar is removed and the new one is leveled. The process is presented more clearly in the photo.
It is worth noting that repairing or completely replacing a pile foundation is much simpler and faster than a strip foundation and takes only a few days, after which you can operate the house as usual.
Repair of brick and rubble foundations - replacement with a monolith
In times of total shortage, i.e. During the construction of the main part of the houses, the foundations were built of bricks (both strip and columnar). Due to its fragility, repairing the brick foundation of a wooden house usually involves replacing brickwork to a more durable material - concrete. This reinforcement technology is applicable for rubble stone foundations. The method was described on the “House and Dacha” forum and judging by the reviews, the technique showed itself well in practice.
To carry out repair work you will need
- Concrete solution.
- Fittings.
- Corner for making supports.
- Jacks for raising a house with a lifting capacity of 20 tons.
We dismantle the old rubble foundation (or brick) in small sections of half a meter.
The freed fragments at the base of the house are needed to install a jack and further transfer the weight of the house onto metal supports.
A base plate for the jack is made at the site of the destroyed base. The platform must be strong and stable, it is poured from concrete with mandatory reinforcement. 
If the soil is hard, you can use concrete paving slabs. 
Hanging a house using jacks. You need to lift alternately in all openings. 
When the house is hung, it is necessary to install supports, pre-welded from the corner, on which we lower the house. 
Scheme of a steel support for a house - dimensions and principle of construction. 
After transferring the weight of the house to the supports, formwork is installed from the inside. 
Reinforcement is laid and tied inside the supports. 
Upon completion of the reinforcement, the outer part of the formwork is installed and concrete is poured. In this way, the foundation under a wooden house is replaced.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you have gained an idea of how to repair a damaged foundation, how to strengthen the foundation of a wooden house, and in which cases it must be completely replaced. Using this information, you will gain sufficient knowledge to do the work yourself.