How to make a strip foundation: step-by-step instructions for pouring it yourself for your home

Any home must have a strong foundation, and for many homeowners, a strip foundation is the most popular option. Because of its strength and comparatively simple construction, it is extremely well-liked. If you’re thinking about doing this project yourself, with the correct help, it should be fairly doable.

This post will guide you through the entire strip foundation process, from preparation and excavation to concrete pouring. We’ll simplify the procedure into simple to understand guidelines so you can confidently take on the project by yourself. These steps will assist you in building a solid foundation for your house, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.

You’ll know how to prep your site, erect the formwork, mix and pour the concrete, and make sure everything cures correctly by the time you finish this guide. Long-term stability and dependability for your house can be ensured with a little perseverance and meticulous attention to detail.

It may seem difficult to build a strip foundation for your house, but with the right planning and cautious execution, it’s a doable do-it-yourself project. From excavating the trench and erecting the formwork to blending and transferring the concrete, this tutorial will lead you through every step. You can make sure that your home has a sturdy, dependable foundation that will support your structure for many years to come by following these instructions.

Advantages and disadvantages

The base is a structure made of the future home’s perimeter, resembling a tape. The architect marks out the locations of utility rooms and living rooms when designing a building project. To evenly distribute the building’s weight across the ground, this is required.

Advantages

The following are some benefits of this kind of foundation:

1. Budget – a relatively small amount of building materials is required for pouring. In addition to the cement mixture, boards for the construction of formwork and reinforcement are needed.
2. Simplicity – no need for complex equipment. First, a trench is dug, then the formwork is fixed in it and the solution is poured.
3. Resistance to heavy loads, durability. Thanks to the arrangement of a monolithic foundation, it is possible to erect a building with several floors. At the same time, deformation is excluded even on unstable soils.
4. Efficiency – the scale of work is relatively small, most of the time is taken up by preparatory work.
5. Multifunctionality – if you build a recessed foundation, it is possible to arrange a functional basement.

Disadvantages

The following drawbacks of the strip foundation are as follows:

1. It is necessary to conduct research on unstable soil. If this is not done, the structure may subside in the future. Studying the behavior of the soil during freezing is a long and expensive process.
2. Accurate calculations are made for the use of building materials, both for pouring the foundation and for a private house. Construction of a multi-story building on a site where the properties of the soil have not been sufficiently studied will lead to a skew of one or more walls of the house.
3. For the construction of a building, house projects with the simplest architecture are selected, which is not always acceptable for residents.
4. To pour the foundation, excavation work is required (digging a trench).
5. It is assumed that hydro- and thermal insulation measures will be implemented.

Types

The following variables determine the type of foundation to be chosen:

• terrain;
• soil quality;
• soil moisture level;
• complexity of the architecture of the building;
• personal preferences and financial capabilities of the owners.

Different kinds of foundations exist:

1. Solid-cast – a monolithic foundation is poured directly at the construction site into pre-prepared formwork. This is the most reliable type, it is suitable for any soil.
2. Prefabricated – ready-made reinforced concrete blocks or bricks are used. Cement mortar is used to reliably fix individual fragments of the structure. The foundation is easy to assemble, but requires the involvement of equipment.

The features of the future building will determine which of these two foundation types to use—the cost difference is negligible.

Materials for arranging the foundation

The parameters that determine the purchase of material are the building’s total area and the complexity of the structure being erected. So, the following materials are needed to create a prefabricated foundation:

• slabs or concrete blocks;
• cement mortar;
• hydro- and thermal insulation materials.

Further pouring of a reinforced concrete strip connecting the components into a single canvas is necessary for dependable fixation.

Use these for a monolithic foundation:

• wooden boards or expanded polystyrene for formwork;
• reinforcement;
• cement mixture;
• body and waterproofing.

It is decided to set up an extra cushion made of sand and crushed stone based on the findings regarding the type of soil in a particular area.

Sequence of work on creating a strip foundation with your own hands

Putting the foundation together by hand entails following the order of the building phases.

Foundation calculation

First and foremost, geodetic surveys must be carried out. This will show how deep the soil freezes in a specific location on the property. Knowing the depth at which groundwater travels below the earth’s surface is equally vital. The required research is carried out by government services, who then publish their findings and calculations. On the basis of the findings, a foundation project is created.

Building a residential project on your own carries a risk because safety is involved. You can calculate the foundation’s depth on your own if you intend to construct small outbuildings.

Marking the site

You can start marking the site, paying particular attention to the locations of the load-bearing and interior walls, once the calculations have been completed and an architectural plan has been created. It is preferable to have multiple persons complete this step so that the marks are applied more evenly and accurately.

It’s crucial to clean the entire area of dirt and debris before beginning to apply the markings. It is preferable to remove the uppermost layer of soil, which is fertile, and then distribute the soil across the future site of the garden plot.

They start hammering in the pegs based on the applied marks. It is not acceptable for the geometric parameters to deviate, even slightly, from the intended ones. There is control over the cord’s tension level. If at all possible, use wooden structures in place of pegs, as this will make it easier to attach the marking wire or cords.

Checking the lines’ parallelism and perpendicularity is necessary after the pegs are installed and the marking cord is fastened.

The porch or veranda’s contours can be marked out right away. You should also allow for the pouring of the foundation for a brick oven or fireplace down the road.

Digging a trench

The applied markings are strictly followed when digging the trench. The special services that designed the building construction project decide the pit’s width and depth. The trench walls are kept straight and level by the method in which the work is performed. Install temporary supports in the areas where there are collapses if the soil is prone to crumbling.

Periodically measuring the trench is required. Considering the site’s slopes, the depth all the way around should be the same.

Preparing the bottom of the pit

Sand should be used to arrange a special cushion in the trench that has been prepared. Such a layer can have a thickness of 150–200 mm. Sand should be added to the entire volume in stages, with each layer being carefully tamped down after being moistened with water, according to experts.

Roofing felt is placed on top of the cushion to act as extra waterproofing for the foundation and reduce the possibility of sand being washed away during the cement mortar pouring process.

Installing the formwork

The formwork is typically installed using planed boards. Wood can have a maximum thickness of 50 mm.

Panel collapsible formwork is also utilized. For dependable fixation, special spacers are installed and the sheets are pressed firmly against the trench walls. Permanent formwork is installed in extraordinary circumstances.

Strict observance of each plane’s verticality is crucial since compliance with laws and standards greatly affects the foundation’s operational features. Make sure the base has openings to accommodate the installation of water and sewer pipes in the future.

Installation of reinforcement grid

A steel framework made of reinforcing rods is welded around the formwork’s perimeter for strength. The thickness, location, and quantity of these rods that are needed for the object must all be specified in the design.

The metal frame is welded either directly inside the formwork or outside of it in accordance with the drawing. Precise observance of the appropriate parameters is a must.

Pouring concrete

For concreting, a high-quality mixture is utilized. Although the concrete mass can be mixed on its own by following the measurements, it is best to buy it from a reputable manufacturer.

Concrete should be poured into the formwork gradually. Every layer is thoroughly packed to ensure that there are no gaps. You can hear where a pocket that is not filled with mortar has formed by tapping the formwork’s walls. Every layer poured into a single technique needs to be at least 20 cm thick.

The mass is evenly lowered into the formwork to the desired mark as the concrete mixture is poured in from the gutter. The gutter can be positioned up to 1.5 meters above the formwork.

Although constructing a strip foundation may appear difficult, it is undoubtedly doable with the appropriate strategy. You can guarantee a sturdy, dependable foundation for your house by adhering to these detailed instructions. The procedure calls for meticulous planning, precise measuring, and close attention to detail, but each stage builds on the one before it to form a solid base.

Set up your formwork and prepare your website first. In order to guarantee that your foundation will be level and correctly aligned, this step is essential. For appropriate drainage, next concentrate on excavating the trench and installing the gravel. These are the first steps that will determine the quality of your foundation, so take your time and get them right.

Concrete can be poured after the trench is prepared and the formwork is in place. To prevent weak spots, make sure to mix everything well and pour it evenly. To ensure that the surface is level and smooth, use a trowel. Before continuing with the next phases of construction, give the concrete enough time to cure.

Patience is ultimately essential. Before beginning any more construction, let the concrete fully cure and set. A well-built strip foundation will give your house a sturdy base and increase its overall longevity. You will have a solid foundation that endures over time if you plan and execute with care.

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