How to properly fill the blind area around the house with your own hands

To prevent water damage to your foundation, you must create a blind area around your home. This building’s perimeter is a thin, often concrete strip that aids in diverting rainfall away from the foundation. This prolongs the life and durability of your house overall in addition to preventing erosion and moisture seepage.

Although filling the blind area on your own may seem like a difficult undertaking, it can be a rewarding and manageable project with the correct support and resources. Maintaining appropriate planning and execution is essential to avoiding typical pitfalls. You can save money on labor expenses and have the satisfaction of finishing a necessary home improvement project by doing it yourself.

We’ll take you step-by-step through the preparation and filling of the blind area surrounding your home in this article. We will handle every aspect, from material gathering to final touches, to ensure that the outcome looks professional. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced do-it-yourselfer, this guide will provide you the skills and assurance you need to finish the project.

Design of the blind area

The preparation of the concrete blind area necessitates the following materials due to its relatively simple design:

1. Backfill (cushion). It is done before pouring the solution. A variety of materials are used as backfill: coarse or medium sand, sand and gravel mixture, crushed stone, small gravel. The foundation blind area is not laid on fine sand due to the possibility of shrinkage, since in this case there is a risk that the base will crack. It is best to prepare a two-layer cushion: first lay gravel or crushed stone, which will compact the soil, and then sand.
2. Reinforcement. The presence of a reinforcing mesh for a concrete blind area will give the structure more strength. The cell size of this product is usually 30 x 30 or 50 x 50 cm. The diameter of the mesh should be about 6-8 mm, but everything depends on the type of soil.
3. Formwork. Wooden guides located along the perimeter of the coating are required, as they will prevent the concrete mixture from spreading. The width of the formwork boards is usually 20-25 mm.
4. Concrete mortar. The blind area is filled using a specific composition of concrete mixture.

The quality and characteristics of the mortar will determine the strength and longevity of the entire structure, so choosing the right grade is essential. Mixture M 200, whose strength class is at least B 15 (you can purchase a higher grade), is typically used for such a coating. It is also important to consider the composition’s frost resistance, which must not be lower than F 50. It is advised to give preference to compositions with an F 100 index in order to ensure greater resistance to temperature changes.

Making the concrete mixture yourself is the most cost-effective way to obtain a high-quality coating.

Making a concrete mixture for the blind area of the house

It is not required to purchase a ready-made mixture and arrange for an expensive concrete mixer delivery in order to set up a concrete blind area around the house. If you are aware of the component proportions, you can create concrete M 200 on your own. To do this, you will need:

• 1 part cement (the optimal one is Portland cement 400);
• 3 parts sand (preferably medium, but fine-grained will do);
• 4 parts coarse aggregate (gravel or crushed stone);
• ½ part water.

As a result, to make 1 cubic meter of concrete, combine:

• 280 kg of cement;
• 1100 kg of crushed stone;
• 800 kg of sand;
• 190 l of water.

With PC 400, you can also obtain other brands.

Practical! Sand and gravel are added to the mixture only after it is homogenous, having first been mixed with cement and water.

There are regulations and requirements in place to ensure the strength of the blind area’s structure and the durability of the concreting.

To prevent water damage to your foundation, it’s simple but crucial to fill the blind area surrounding your home. You can guarantee appropriate drainage, stop soil erosion, and improve the appearance of your house overall by doing it yourself. From leveling the ground to pouring the concrete, this article will walk you through each step of the process so you can create a long-lasting and functional blind area without hiring a professional.

Design requirements

Before pouring concrete into the house’s blind area, you should become acquainted with SNiP’s guidelines and recommendations.

• The width of the blind area should be 20 cm more than the roof overhang (SNiP 2.02.01-83). If the structure has a drain, then its indicators are also taken into account. The optimal value is considered to be 1 meter. In this case, you can lay a path of tiles around the house.
• The length of the blind area around the house, made with your own hands, should correspond to the perimeter of the building. However, if you plan to install a concrete porch, then a “gap” is allowed.
• Depth. The depth of the “tape” is half the estimated depth of soil freezing.
• The thickness of the concrete blind area is also regulated by SNiP and, according to these requirements, should be at least 7-10 cm for the top layer. However, many make concreted parking spaces for personal cars together with the blind area. In this case, the operational load increases, and the thickness of the concrete blind area can reach up to 15 cm.

• Slope. According to SNiP III-10-75, the slope should be from 1 to 10 cm for every meter of width. Most often it is 2-3 cm per meter – this is approximately 2-3 degrees. The angle of inclination must be directed in the direction opposite to the foundation. It is not recommended to increase the slope, since in this case it will be difficult to walk along such a path in winter, when ice forms on the surface.
• Border. The installation of a blind area for a house does not include the mandatory production of a border, so in this case the decision is made by the owners of country property. However, experts recommend installing such “limiters” if trees and shrubs with an “aggressive” root system (blackberries, raspberries, plane trees, poplars and others) grow near the foundation.
• Base height. For a hard type covering (concrete), the base must be at least 50 cm.
• The recommended height of the blind area above ground level is 5 cm or more.

Additionally, there are various methods that allow for the construction of a blind area out of crushed stone in the form of a monolithic concrete coating for both typical and "problematic" soil types.

If you are familiar with the specifications of SNiP and the characteristics of a suburban area, you can create a blind area by hand by following the detailed instructions given below.

Establishing a suitable blind area around your home is essential to preventing water damage to your foundation. There are a few simple steps you can take to make sure the stability and longevity of your home. A long-lasting and functional blind area can be achieved by carefully preparing the ground and utilizing premium materials.

The excavation and installation of a sand or gravel base are the first steps in the multi-stage process. This base keeps water from penetrating into the soil near your foundation and guarantees appropriate drainage. A solid and protective layer will then be created by carefully pouring the concrete mixture over the reinforced metal mesh area.

It’s crucial to level the concrete after it’s been poured and give it time to cure. The right strength and durability can only be attained during this curing time. Applying a sealant after the concrete has completely dried can give it even more defense against moisture and weathering.

You’re making a wise investment in the future of your property by taking the time to properly fill the blind area surrounding your home. A well-designed blind area improves your home’s visual appeal in addition to strengthening its structural integrity. You have what it takes to successfully complete this project on your own, with careful preparation and execution.

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