Basement floor – what is it?


Basement floor – what is it?

The floor may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think about your basement. Nonetheless, how useful and cozy your basement can be depends largely on the basement floor. Having a better understanding of basement floors and how they operate will help you make more informed decisions regarding their upkeep, remodeling, and finishing.

In a nutshell, a basement floor is the area below grade, usually composed of concrete. Depending on how well-built it is, this robust layer not only bears the weight of everything above it but also aids in keeping the cold and moisture out. It serves as the foundation for any additional flooring you may wish to add, such as wood, carpet, or tiles.

Pouring and curing concrete is one of several steps in the construction of a basement floor that guarantees its strength and durability. You may see wear and tear or cracks over time, which can indicate that repairs or upgrades are necessary. Knowing the purpose of your basement floor will help you make wise decisions whether you’re finishing it for additional living space or just looking to make it better.

Aspect Description
Definition A basement floor is the floor located below the ground level of a building, typically found in the basement area. It serves as a foundation for the building and often provides additional usable space.
Purpose Basement floors can be used for various purposes, including storage, living spaces, or utility rooms. They help in supporting the structure of the building and can also improve insulation and energy efficiency.
Construction Basement floors are usually made from concrete or reinforced concrete, offering strength and durability. They are often designed to withstand moisture and pressure from the surrounding soil.
Insulation Proper insulation is important for basement floors to prevent heat loss and manage moisture. Insulation helps in maintaining a comfortable temperature and avoiding issues like dampness.
Maintenance Maintaining a basement floor involves checking for cracks, moisture issues, and ensuring proper drainage. Regular inspections can help in preventing major problems and extending the life of the floor.

A basement floor is more than just a surface; it’s an essential component of the structure of a building that can have a big impact on how durable and useful it is. The definition of a basement floor, its components, and typical problems will all be covered in this article. Knowing the fundamentals of a basement floor will help you make well-informed decisions about maintaining or enhancing your area, whether you’re planning a renovation or are just inquisitive.

Basement floor – what is it?

A portion of the foundation that is entirely or partially submerged in the earth is the basement of a private home situated on a level area or slope. It carries out several duties:

  • It protects the walls of the building from moisture absorption;
  • It protects the room located in the lower part of the building from the penetration of cold from the street;
  • It proportionally distributes the loads on the foundation;
  • It forms the required floor level of the lower floor;
  • It increases the height from the base of the underground to the floor slabs;
  • It provides a representative appearance of the building;
  • It allows you to place utility, technical and residential premises.

The following kinds of premises can be arranged in accordance with the plan on the ground floor of a private residence:

  • Residential – room, living room;
  • Technical – garage, workshop, boiler room;
  • Auxiliary – bathhouse, sauna, gym;
  • Utility – storerooms, laundry.

The basement of an apartment building has a larger volume and can be used for the following purposes:

  • warehouses;
  • offices;
  • shopping centers;
  • production structures;
  • parking.

Building projects state that the following kinds of plinths are utilized in construction:

  • protruding relative to the walls of the building from the outside of the building. The arrangement of a protruding structure is considered the most expensive, since it requires an increased amount of building materials. Allows for increased insulation of rooms located in the base part of the building. Equipped with a slope along the perimeter, allowing for water runoff;
  • made at the same level as the outer surface of the load-bearing walls. Allows for significant improvement of the aesthetic perception of the building. Additionally protected from moisture by waterproofing materials. Made from blocks, as well as various types of building materials. Can be the basis for the implementation of original design solutions;
  • shifted by 4-8 cm relative to the load-bearing walls towards the interior of the building. Provides the ability to reduce the consumption of building materials. Allows you to reliably protect the foundation, lower parts of load-bearing walls and waterproofing from the negative impact of precipitation and moisture that flow down the surface of the walls and get into the ground, bypassing the waterproofing.

The base, which is an extension of the foundation, is constructed from the following materials:

  • FBS blocks. Characterized by increased strength. Used in multi-apartment construction for the construction of large objects;
  • stone. A common type of material. Allows you to ensure the stability of buildings, needs insulation;
  • monolithic concrete. Poured into pre-installed panel formwork. Widely used in the construction of private one-story buildings;
  • blocks made of aerated concrete and other types of concrete. Compared to brick, they allow you to speed up construction activities. Tend to absorb moisture;
  • brick. Traditional building material used in private construction. Various types are used, the most common of which is white sand-lime brick, which has increased resistance to moisture and external factors.

Take note! By building the base out of larger-sized blocks, construction activities can be completed much faster.

There are advantages and disadvantages to the ground floor room located in the lower portion of the building. Principal benefits:

  • rational use of the available space. Due to the placement of auxiliary, utility and technical buildings connected by stairs to residential buildings, it is possible not to erect additional buildings on the site;
  • the ability to make a separate entrance to the building, provide access of sunlight to the interior of the basement by installing windows in the above-ground part of the base;
  • ensuring a comfortable microclimate in the room or apartment located above the base. Easy installation of thermal insulation materials improves the thermal regime, provides comfortable humidity.

The higher cost of building and insulating the basement, as well as the additional expenses for interior and exterior finishing, are the drawbacks.

Crucial! If groundwater is present near the surface, it is imperative to guarantee consistent ventilation of the built-in room, waterproof the walls, and provide drainage.

Now that we know what a basement is, let’s get into more detail about the construction technology.

How to build a basement floor with your own hands

Prior to beginning any work, you should determine the basement’s measurements:

  1. Height. Excess over the zero mark is not regulated by building codes. Determined by design data, building features, amount of precipitation and terrain. So, when placing a building on a slope, the height increases.
  2. Width. As a rule, the width of the base walls is a multiple of the size of the building material used for laying or the thickness of the monolithic base. For a pile foundation it is 0.3–0.5 m, for a strip foundation it is determined by the thickness of the strip foundation. It is necessary to provide for the possibility of installing facing materials to protect the surface from moisture and give it a marketable appearance.

Let’s look at how to build a private home’s basement floor using your own hands on an already-existing foundation. If you correctly follow the step-by-step instructions and adhere to the technology, building it is not difficult.

The basement floor, which is above the basement, must first be marked out using a strip foundation or your own monolithic slab. The procedure entails translating the plan’s depicted internal partitions and capital wall contours to actual circumstances.

The following phases are included in the additional set of measures for the basement’s construction:

  1. Excavation of soil.
  2. Filling and compaction of a gravel-sand cushion.
  3. Arrangement of the drainage system.
  4. Pouring the waterproofing layer, which is the basis of the floor, with concrete.
  5. Laying roll waterproofing.
  6. Construction of formwork for pouring a monolithic base or installation of FBS blocks.
  7. Assembly and installation of reinforcement cage.
  8. Pouring the foundation or erecting foundation walls from blocks.
  9. External and internal waterproofing.
  10. Installation of floor slabs.
  11. Base finishing.
  12. Equipped with ebbs (canopies) for water drainage.

The plinth is built using the project’s provided building materials, bricks of various types, based on the foundation that already exists.

Installing waterproofing and blind areas on the basement floor requires careful consideration for any intended use.

Let’s take a closer look at how to install a brick plinth on an already-existing strip or monolithic base:

  1. Cover the supporting surface of the base with heated bitumen or bitumen mastic.
  2. Cover with rolled roofing felt with an overlap of 10–15 cm to ensure waterproofing.
  3. Treat the side surfaces of the base with deep penetration compounds.
  4. Check the conformity of the corners with a tape measure, comparing the difference in diagonals.
  5. Prepare a cement composition based on M400 cement and sand in a ratio of 1:4.
  6. Apply the solution in a two-centimeter layer to the surface of the foundation.
  7. Lay the reinforcing mesh.
  8. Lay the bricks, starting from the corners and following the dressing scheme.
  9. Reinforce the masonry at intervals of 4 rows.
  10. Check, using a building level, the correctness of the brickwork in the horizontal and vertical planes.
  11. Lay a waterproofing layer of roofing felt, forming the border between the brick base and the future walls.
  12. Pour a 50-60 cm blind area around the perimeter.
  13. Attach extruded polystyrene foam to the side surfaces for insulation.
  14. Facing the base using traditional plaster, ceramic tiles or stone.

Take note! Only after the cement mortar has solidified and dried is the building’s main wall construction begun.

Anyone thinking about starting a construction or renovation project needs to understand the basement floor. It’s an important component of your house that requires careful planning—it’smorethan just the foundation. Because basement floors form the foundation of the remainder of your living area, it is crucial to have them installed and maintained correctly for both comfort and safety.

The floor’s quality will determine how effectively you can use your basement, whether you plan to use it as a living area, home office, or storage. Effective installation of a basement floor contributes to its durability, insulation, and control of moisture. If these issues are properly resolved, your basement will be a useful and enjoyable space in your house.

In conclusion, while a basement floor may not seem like much in the larger scheme of things, it actually has a big impact on the usability and general condition of your basement. Long-term benefits include a sturdy foundation for any use you decide to assign your basement, so it is worthwhile to invest the necessary time to comprehend and install your basement flooring correctly.

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Andrey Ivanov

Experienced civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience. Specializing in the construction of industrial and civil facilities. Author of many publications in professional journals.

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