Which foundation is better for a house made of aerated concrete? Selection criteria

The use of aerated concrete in home construction has several benefits, such as ease of construction and energy efficiency. However, to guarantee the longevity and stability of your home, selecting the appropriate foundation is essential. Since the foundation holds up the entire structure, it must be carefully chosen taking into account a number of important factors.

Because aerated concrete is lighter than conventional concrete, a different kind of foundation may be needed. This choice is greatly influenced by the type of soil, the climate, and the ground’s ability to support weight. Furthermore, the foundation needs to avoid problems like settling and cracking, which can jeopardize the house’s structural integrity.

For homes constructed of aerated concrete, a number of foundation types are frequently utilized, including pile, slab, and strip foundations. Each has a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. For instance, pile foundations work better in locations with weak or unstable ground, whereas strip foundations are typically appropriate for areas with stable soil.

Cost is yet another crucial factor. Even though it could be tempting to go with the least expensive solution, spending money on a good foundation can end up saving more money because it will prevent expensive repairs. It’s critical to weigh the upfront expenses against the possible long-term advantages of a stronger foundation.

In the end, an extensive evaluation of the site’s characteristics and your unique requirements will determine the ideal foundation for your aerated concrete home. Making an educated decision can be aided by seeking advice from a structural engineer or foundation specialist. Your aerated concrete home will last for many years with the correct foundation.

Properties of the foundation for a house made of aerated concrete

For a house constructed of aerated concrete, what kind of foundation is required? You must be aware of the necessary characteristics of the foundation in order to respond to the question.

It is common knowledge that a foundation’s primary function is to guarantee the structure’s safety for a predetermined amount of time. For the duration that the building is in use, the foundation for an aerated concrete home must also preserve the structural integrity of the building.

For instance, if a wooden house’s foundation crack that developed during operation does not have serious repercussions, it may cause damage to the entire wall portion in an aerated concrete structure.

The foundation must also be suitable for the terrain. Therefore, in order to create a foundation with adequate rigidity and strength, reinforced reinforcement must be used if the soil is soft or friable.

Note: You should not let popular myths and misconceptions influence your decision when selecting the type and pouring the foundation for an aerated concrete home. One of the most striking and widely held beliefs is that you can save money on the foundation because aerated concrete is significantly lighter than conventional concrete. But given all the prerequisites listed above, this strategy is hardly logical.

To ensure stability and longevity, it’s critical to take into account variables like soil type, climate, and load-bearing capacity when selecting a foundation for an aerated concrete home. Because of its capacity for uniform weight distribution and compatibility with the lightweight properties of aerated concrete, a strip foundation is frequently the best option. Nonetheless, a reinforced slab or pile foundation might be more suitable in regions with poor soil or higher moisture content. In the end, the optimal foundation is determined by striking a balance between these selection factors in order to suit the particulars of your building site.

Types of foundations for aerated concrete houses

Considering all of the information above, we can say that the following foundation types are best suited for homes built with aerated concrete:

1. Monolithic slab. Performed in the form of one continuous slab covering the area of ​​the entire house.
2. Tape. It is a strip slightly wider than the wall. The depth of the foundation depends on the terrain conditions, the characteristics of the house and the type of soil.
3. Columnar. It is made in the form of several columns and a reinforced concrete grillage.
4. Pile. Depending on the conditions and type of soil, different types of piles are used.

Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. The use of a specific type of foundation depends on the circumstances, soil properties, and available funds that are appropriate for a given situation. So let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Monolithic slab

For an aerated concrete home, a monolithic reinforced concrete slab is poured in lieu of a strip foundation.

It must be applied to the following kinds of soil:

• weak;
• swampy;
• heaving;
• with a high level of groundwater.

A correctly constructed monolithic slab prevents the house from deforming in any way due to variations in ground level. These loads are particularly noticeable when there are interseasonal temperature swings that cause the top layer of soil to freeze and thaw.

Kindly take note! You should be aware that such ground movements do not cause the monolithic slab to deform if it has an adequate margin of safety. The slab will simply level off in tandem with the house, preventing wall cracks from forming.

When making the monolithic slab, the following guidelines need to be followed in order for it to have the bearing qualities required for the foundation of a house made of aerated concrete:

1. The slab must be at least 40 cm high.
2. The monolithic slab being formed must be buried approximately 1\4-1\3 of its height in the ground.
3. Before building the formwork and installing the reinforcement frame, a double layer of waterproofing is laid.
4. The reinforcement frame is made three-dimensional, at least two-layer, from a rod with a cross-section of at least 10 mm, and the gaps between the links are no more than 30 cm.

After the pouring is finished, a house can be built on this kind of foundation in three to four weeks. Such a foundation has ample roads and facilitates the production of labor-intensive goods, in addition to other obvious benefits.

The strip foundation

While it has drawbacks, the strip foundation for an aerated concrete home is arguably the best choice out of the ones being considered. Considering various aspects, this kind’s base is strengthened by varying dimensions. Formwork for filling is created all the way around the intended structure.

At the same time, the width of the foundation, as a rule, should exceed the width of the wall from the gas block by 7-10 cm. Monolithic foundation of the tape type, must be reinforced according to all the rules, regardless of the size of the deepening.

Calculation of the strip foundation

A significant excavation of the foundation is necessary for the construction of multi-story buildings and for the planning of basements. If the house is going to be built on heaving soil, then this kind of foundation is also required. In the latter scenario, a foundation below the freezing point of the soil will need to be constructed.

For all other cases, use a shallow strip foundation made of aerated concrete for a house. That is, when loam, sandstone, and rock are present below the fertile soil layer and groundwater never reaches the surface.

A concrete strip that is 30 cm wide and 60 cm high would make an excellent foundation for a one-story home built of aerated concrete with block thicknesses of 20 cm. It is sufficient to deepen it by 35–40 cm at the same time.

It is necessary to first compact the soil and backfill with a small sand-soil cushion (10–20 cm) when building a shallow foundation.

Columnar foundation

If cost is a major consideration when choosing a foundation for an aerated concrete home, the columnar foundation is the best option.

However, the following guidelines must be closely followed in order to strictly adhere to the conditions for its use:

1. Solid soil and no groundwater.
2. Foundation pillars should be laid 10-30 cm below the freezing level of the soil.
3. The site for construction should not have a slope.
4. Foundation pillars are installed in corners, wall intersections and under other elements of the building structure with a heavy load.
5. The grillage plays the role of a strong connecting strip of the entire house. Therefore, strict reinforcement requirements should be applied in its creation, as for a standard foundation strip.

Calculation of a columnar foundation

Pile foundation

Among the foundations used in construction, this one is the most trustworthy. Various technologies are employed in the construction of piles, depending on their type.

Either a simple manual dig or the use of specialized construction equipment can be used to drive piles in. The intricacy of the project, the features of the soil and landscape, and the event budget all influence which option is selected.

Which option to choose?

When building private homes, the most common option is to build a one- or two-story home on a level, non-swampy site that has a total area of no more than 100–150 sq. m. Thus, selecting a strip foundation is the best and most economical choice.

In light of this, let’s talk about where to begin as well as how to plan, prepare, and build a strip foundation for a building made of aerated concrete blocks.

Where to start building a strip foundation?

How can you manually calculate the foundation for a house made of aerated concrete?

Concrete volume calculator

Prior to anything else, you must mark the formwork. It is crucial to keep in mind that the accuracy of the foundation’s geometric measurements will determine the dimensions of the house once it is constructed.

Both the traditional method used by your grandfather (pegs and rope) and the more recent one based on geodetic instruments can be used to mark the formwork on the construction site. The most important thing is to pay close attention to the corner geometry. Examining the "bevel" that separates the corners is the simplest method.

In order to accomplish this, you must drive in pegs at each corner of the suggested formwork. Next, you must measure each peg’s distance individually using a rope or other measuring tool. Rearranging the pegs is necessary to get the diagonal distance between some corners roughly equal to the distance between others. After that, you can begin excavating the soil and building the formwork.

Selection Criteria	Recommended Foundation
Soil Type	Concrete strip foundation for stable soil; reinforced concrete slab for unstable soil
Climate	Deep foundation for frost-prone areas; shallow foundation for milder climates
Budget	Concrete blocks for a cost-effective option; reinforced concrete for higher budgets
Load Bearing	Reinforced concrete slab for heavy loads; strip foundation for lighter loads
Construction Speed	Concrete blocks for faster construction; poured concrete for precision

Aerated concrete homes must consider a number of crucial considerations when selecting a foundation. The kind of foundation that will give your house the best support and longevity depends on the special qualities of aerated concrete, like its light weight and superior insulation. Knowing these things can help you make sure your home stays safe and stable for many years to come.

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a foundation is the type of soil. Because aerated concrete is lighter than conventional concrete, the foundation may experience less stress. But different soil types—clay, sandy, or rocky soils, for example—need different foundation types to keep them from settling or shifting. In order to choose the right foundation type for your site, you must first conduct a soil test.

The choice of foundation is greatly influenced by the local climate. Deeper foundations, such as a basement or crawl space, may be beneficial in areas with extreme freeze-thaw cycles in order to prevent frost heave. Conversely, mild climate regions might benefit from a slab-on-grade foundation, which can be installed more quickly and at a lower cost.

The foundation’s ability to support weight is another important consideration. Despite being lightweight, aerated concrete still needs a foundation that can support the weight of the entire building, including the floors, roof, and any additional loads like wind or snow. Ensuring the foundation design aligns with the load requirements is crucial for the house’s longevity and safety.

In the end, a house built with aerated concrete will have the best foundation depending on the soil, climate, and load requirements. Seeking advice from a structural engineer or a foundation specialist can yield insightful information customized for your particular undertaking. You can choose a foundation that will give your aerated concrete home a sturdy, long-lasting base by carefully weighing these considerations.

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