home · Other · How to make a concrete blind area - step-by-step instructions, from preparing the solution to pouring concrete. How to make a concrete blind area around a house? Construction of a concrete blind area around the house

How to make a concrete blind area - step-by-step instructions, from preparing the solution to pouring concrete. How to make a concrete blind area around a house? Construction of a concrete blind area around the house

A blind area is a horizontal wide strip of concrete, stone, asphalt or other material that runs around the house at an angle. It is needed to remove precipitation, because rain or melting snow negatively affects the condition of the foundation and walls of the building, especially wooden ones. Due to regular exposure to moisture, a log or timber darkens over time, rots and molds, the foundation sags and cracks, and the basement or basement begins to flood. To avoid these problems, blind areas are used.

Why are blind areas needed?

Note that pile and screw foundations do not require blind areas. In this case, you only need to install protective coatings in places where water drains from the roof. Other types of foundation require the organization of blind areas, which perform a number of important functions:

  • Drain rain and melt water from the walls and foundation of the house;
  • Prevents the appearance of mold, mildew and rot;
  • Prevents the foundation from subsiding too much and protects against cracks and splits;
  • Minimize the risk of flooding in the basement, underground or ground floor;
  • Reduce soil freezing under the building and increase thermal insulation;
  • Preserve the original appearance of the house;
  • Increase the service life of the foundation and the structure as a whole;
  • They complete the facade of the house, making the building complete and attractive.

Making a blind area around the house with your own hands is not difficult. The process begins after construction is completed. If you have not yet chosen a project for a country cottage or summer house, you will find many interesting options in the “MariSrub” catalog. And in the article we will look at how to properly make and fill a blind area around the house.

Design specifics

The blind area is made according to certain dimensions. The main role is played by the width and angle of inclination. To determine the minimum width for a house, add 30 centimeters to the roof overhang. But in any case, the width of the blind area around the house should not be less than 60 centimeters. One meter is considered a suitable size. The wider the blind area, the more functional it is.

The slope of the structure is made away from the house; due to this slope, water drains and leaves the walls of the building. The most suitable tilt angle is 3-10 degrees, but in some cases 1.5-2 is sufficient. The markings are made not from the edge of the roof, but from the walls. The seams between the building and the blind area are additionally filled with sand. For pouring, choose only high-quality reliable concrete of at least grade M 250; in rare cases, you can use M 200.

For the manufacture of blind areas, various materials are chosen. Today, the market offers a wide selection of concrete and stone pavers, which vary in color, shape, size and design. Stone materials look natural and aesthetically pleasing, but are more difficult to install. The suitable thickness of the paving stone blind area is 5-6 meters.

It is advantageous to choose paving slabs, as they are suitable for repair. If necessary, you can quickly and easily replace damaged tiles. You can see square and rectangular tiles of different textures and colors.

The most economical and fastest option is to use concrete and/or crushed stone. The thickness of the concrete blind area is 7-10 centimeters, of crushed stone - at least ten. Instead of crushed stone, you can use expanded clay, gravel or pebbles. The result is a strong and reliable blind area, which is covered on top with decorative tiles, stones or crushed stone. We will consider the manufacture of a concrete blind area, since such a structure can be made independently without professional training.

How to make a blind area correctly: step-by-step instructions

  • Prepare and compact the ground where the blind area is planned;
  • Mark the future structure using pegs placed in the corners of the house, rope or boundary boards;
  • Dig a hole 20-25 centimeters down;
  • Install formwork along the outer perimeter of the trench. Formwork is made of boards, wooden blocks or slats, which are installed vertically and fixed;
  • Pour sand in a layer five to ten centimeters high. Then pour the sand generously with water and compact it;
  • Pour a layer of gravel or crushed stone on top and level it;
  • After preparing the sand cushion and gravel layer, a compensating (deformation and temperature) seam is made, i.e. between the blind area and the walls/basement of the building, a layer of sand (gravel) is poured or roofing felt is laid solidly or every two meters;
  • Then the concrete mixture is poured into the formwork. To make your own solution, take sand, crushed stone and cement in a parts ratio of 3:5:1. Add water to the composition in a volume of 60% of the taken cement and mix the mixture thoroughly;
  • Concrete is poured carefully and gradually in several layers, taking into account the slope in an approximate ratio of 15 mm per meter of width;
  • The poured surface is covered with plastic film and left until completely dry; in dry and hot weather, the surface is watered with cool water;
  • Subsequently, the joints between the house and the blind area are filled with sealant;
  • You can leave the concrete surface in this form or give it an aesthetic appearance using tiles, bricks or paving stones, or install a border. But if the design is done correctly, there is no need for a curb.

Final work

The appearance of cracks and crevices is the main problem of blind areas that arises during operation. This occurs due to frost, temperature changes and soil subsidence. To reduce the number of defects, additional insulation, expansion joints and installation of a drainage system with gutters (storm drainage) are used.

If you want to insulate the structure, add expanded clay to the concrete solution during mixing. Insulation reduces soil freezing, which will reduce the number of cracks that appear during operation. In addition, for additional insulation, concrete is poured in two layers, between which a special insulation is laid.

To make an expansion joint, the gap between the foundation walls and the structure is covered with gravel or sand, filled with mastic, or two or three layers of roofing material are laid. This layer will preserve the blind area during soil subsidence and prevent cracking and splitting.

If cracks do form, a liquid cement solution will help eliminate the defect. To repair, you need to cut out the splits completely and clean them of dirt, then pour a cement composition inside. Fill the hole with mastic and pour sand on top. Large and deep cracks or splits are filled with fresh concrete.

Storm sewer

In order for blind areas to be as effective as possible, you need to install a storm sewer or drainage system at your summer cottage. A suitable option would be an open or linear design, which involves the placement of gutters along the surface of the site. Water from roofs, decks, sidewalks and walkways flows through pipes into these gutters and is then sent to a reservoir or sewer system. The gutters are covered with gratings to protect from debris and provide an aesthetic appearance.

An open storm drain is easy to install and use and covers a large area, which is why many summer residents and owners of suburban areas choose this type of drainage system. A more complex, but also more aesthetic option is a closed or point storm design. In this case, gutters and channels are installed underground. Such a system should be developed at the design stage of a country house. There is also a mixed type of storm drainage, which includes both surface and underground gutters.

If the stormwater system is installed incorrectly, blind areas are poured, or low-quality materials are used, the structure will be ineffective and will not last even five years. Trust the work to experts and professionals! The builders of “MariSrub” will select durable, high-quality materials, competently calculate, reliably and quickly complete the blind area, install gutters and a drainage system. We build high-quality wooden houses from timber and logs on a turn-key basis or for shrinkage at an inexpensive price!

During construction, there are no trifles. Safe home

Like a clock mechanism, the absence of one screw renders the entire mechanism inoperative.

The same is true with the blind area. Many people put off installing a blind area until later., and some even think that they can do without it.

But in vain. It performs a number of important functions.

Functions of the blind area

  1. Protective. Protects the foundation from various climatic phenomena: rainwater, freezing/thawing of the soil and protects the building from deformation.
  2. Practical. The blind area creates a convenient passage along the building.
  3. Decorative. Modern materials make it possible to make the blind area a beautiful decorative element.
  4. Insulation. By laying a special insulating layer, you can further insulate the house.
Creating a blind area around the house yourself is not difficult. Just to this point we need to approach it responsibly. First you need to understand its main features.

Nuances and subtleties of organizing the installation of a blind area

  • The width of the blind area should be no less than the roof overhang. But as a rule, professionals recommend adding 20-25 cm to the length of the roof overhang so that water from the roof does not fall on the blind area and does not seep into the soil close to the foundation.
  • The blind area must have a slight slope from the foundation. This will ensure the drainage of melt water and rain. The slope must be at least 5 degrees.
  • Before the installation process, you need to decide with the coating material (concrete screed or paving slabs), since the future design of the blind area depends on this.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the connection of the blind area with a foundation. A so-called expansion joint must be left at the joining point.

Types of blind areas

The most common option for a blind area around a building is a concrete screed. This option is the simplest, most accessible and cheapest. But it loses its decorative function.
Another way - installation of concrete-reinforced slabs. The size of the slabs is different and is selected individually, but the most popular slabs are 60x60cm in size. This installation simplifies the work.
Another option - arrangement of a blind area made of paving slabs or natural stone. Naturally, it is more expensive, but a properly equipped such blind area will last as long as the building itself and, in addition to its practical function, will decorate the house, giving it finished aesthetic look.

Styling tools

  • Concrete mixer.
  • Rubber mallet.
  • Shovel
  • Construction level.
  • Rule.

Necessary materials

  • Sand.
  • Crushed stone.
  • Waterproofing.
  • Geotextiles.
  • Fittings.
  • Board 25-40 mm for formwork.
  • Cement.
  • Stone or paving stones (optional and financially feasible)
  • Curb slab (curb).

Algorithm for installing a concrete blind area

Making a blind area around the house with your own hands is quite a labor-intensive task, but possible. Let's consider an approximate installation algorithm.
Step 1.
Measure the required distance from the foundation base(as mentioned above: the length of the eaves overhang + 20cm) and drive in the pegs.

Step 2.
We stretch the rope along the pegs, this is the future edge of the blind area.

Step 3.
We excavate the top layer of soil. As a rule, this is 15-25 cm. It can be more, but it is very important to select all the fertile soil so that there are no roots. We make excavations around the entire perimeter of the building.

Step 4.
Important: the width of the blind area must be equal everywhere. It is also very desirable to make a level base for the trench.

Step 5.
We lay PVC film into the resulting trench and fill it with the first layer of sand - a sand cushion. Its thickness depends on the soil and the resulting trench depth. On average, this layer has a thickness of 5-10 cm. This pillow will act as a buffer between the soil and the future blind area.

The sequence of laying the sand cushion is as follows:

  1. distribute sand evenly in the trench;
  2. Pack the resulting layer tightly. For this procedure, a block may be suitable, to which you attach a handle on both sides. The tamper is ready;
  3. After thorough compaction, the sand layer must be watered, preferably through a sprayer. It is necessary to water quite abundantly, but so that the sand does not loosen. The water will help expel the air from the sand so that air pockets do not form in it. This procedure can be done twice if necessary. You can check whether you did everything correctly with a simple experiment: when the sand absorbs water and dries out a little, stand on it with both feet. The sand shouldn't fall through, but only leave a clear mark from the soles. If everything is so, then everything was done correctly.

Step 6.
After laying the sand cushion, we set up the border. Development of further actions is possible in two ways. The first is the installation of curb stones, the second is the installation of wooden formwork with further pouring of concrete.

  • Option 1. Curb stone. Laying of border elements is done along a stretched thread or wire. We leave a small gap of 1.5-2 cm between the plates for the solution to penetrate into these cracks. The difficulty with this option is that each stone must be precisely set at the same height as all of them. You will have to check the level of almost every curb stone.
  • Option 2. Formwork. Using pegs marked in advance, we level the formwork 5-10 cm above the ground. The downside is that you need formwork material. It is also important to level the entire formwork exactly.

Step 7
Next stage: laying gravel. We carry out all the same operations as with sand. They filled it up, leveled it, compacted it. The thickness of the gravel cushion should also be 3-5 cm.

Step 8
Then we install a metal mesh or reinforcing rods at the bottom of the trench. The cells should have a fraction of 5x5 cm. For reinforcement, cells can be made 10x10 cm. There should be a space of 3 cm under the mesh for concrete penetration. To do this, you can place stones under the mesh.

Step 9
Next, you need to set up the beacons. The distance between beacons is determined by the width of the rule. A board or metal profile can serve as a beacon. At this stage of work, do not forget about the slope of the blind area a couple of degrees towards the ground.

Step 10
We do the filling. For concrete, standard proportions are used (1:3:1 - cement, gravel, sand). Since this layer of concrete will be exposed to atmospheric influences during operation, It is recommended to add frost-resistant additives to the solution. Next, using a trowel, we level the mortar in the blind area section. It is important to ensure that the concrete penetrates into all voids throughout the area. When leveled, you can correct the top layer using the rule.

Step 11
After watering one section, carefully remove the unnecessary beacon, and seal the place where it was with mortar.

Step 12
After filling the entire blind area, we remind you that it should be done simultaneously and monolithically, you should water it from time to time (in hot weather - every four hours). You can also cover it with plastic film, which will create a greenhouse effect and prevent moisture from evaporating quickly.

Video

Installation of concrete-reinforced slabs

If you have chosen a blind area made from ready-made slabs, then installing them will not be much different from installing a concrete blind area. All operations up to step 7 of the algorithm are the same. Afterwards, we prepare a concrete solution, place it in trenches and place a slab on it.

It is also important to remember the required slope and check their evenness building level. The gap between the plates should be at least one and a half to two centimeters. After laying and checking the cracks, carefully seal them with mortar.

Blind area made of paving slabs or natural stone

Installation of this type of blind area the most expensive and labor-intensive. But at the same time, such a blind area gives the house an aesthetic appearance.

Important. Even before laying the curbs, you need to calculate the width of the blind area so that the paving stones fit entirely and do not have to be cut.

When installing this type of blind area step by step we carry out all points of the algorithm up to step 6 inclusive. In weak or heaving soil, it is possible it is necessary to reinforce a layer of crushed stone, pour it with concrete and only after it has completely dried, apply a layer of sand, compact it and install stones or paving slabs.

Top layer of sand should be 5-10 cm. it is also moistened generously with water. Laying is done using a rubber mallet. The whole process is checked by level. After installing the stone or tile, the entire surface fill with a dry mixture of slightly damp sand and cement(proportion 3:1). After drying, sweep away with a broom, rubbing the seams with the remaining sand.













The blind area around the house is a wide “ribbon” with a hard or loose covering. But this is only the visible part of a rather complex structure. Many people perceive the blind area of ​​a house as a type of path along the wall, and although such use may be included in the list of functions, the main purpose of the structure is different.

Blind area around the house made of paving slabs Source udachnyi.ru

Why do you need a blind area

Among the regulatory documents, there is no separate standard, SNiP or set of rules on how to make a blind area around a house correctly. There are several documents defining its purpose, requirements for width and slope angle, interaction with other elements for draining atmospheric water from the site on which the building stands.

According to the standards, there must be a waterproof blind area around the building, which is created as part of mandatory water protection measures aimed at preventing local soaking of the soil in the base area of ​​the house.

That is, we are talking about protecting the soil, not the foundation. To protect the materials of the foundation itself, waterproofing of the foundation is done, because in addition to atmospheric waters, there is also groundwater, which rises high during the rainy season and during snow melting (the so-called high water).

And the ground must be protected from getting wet, because under the influence of moisture, many types of soil (clay, loam) lose some of their load-bearing properties and simply may not withstand the design load from the building. To prevent erosion of the soil, they create a blind area, which, however, also protects the foundation at the same time, removing part of the load from the waterproofing layer, which protects the concrete base of the house from getting wet.

In addition, the blind area around the house is an element of the architectural appearance of the building and part of the landscape of the site. There are quite a lot of ready-made design solutions that allow you to disguise the blind area, and when using a hard surface, use it as a path.

A beautiful blind area that turns into a path as part of the landscape design Source stroitambov.ru

Requirement for the blind area

There are no requirements in any regulatory document that would link the size of the blind area with the roof overhang. Moreover, there are no requirements to exceed the width of the blind area by 20-30 cm in relation to the projection of the cornice extension. When building a blind area around a concrete house with your own hands, you do not need to rely on these numbers.

The regulations provide only two minimum width sizes. And they depend on the soil:

    on sandy ones - from 70 cm;

    on clayey soils – from 100 cm.

This is exactly what is stated in the manual on construction operational control schemes for supervisory services.

With unorganized drainage, the side roof overhangs of houses up to two floors should be less than 60 cm. If the house is on sandy soil, then the difference between the width of the blind area and the amount of roof overhang can be equal to 10 cm, and not contradict the requirements of the regulations.

That is, it turns out that the parameter 20-30 cm is simply a statement of the real ratio of two sizes for most cases. But not for everyone.

Video description

Visually about the requirements for the blind area of ​​a house in the video:

If the soils are subsident, depending on their type, the standards impose other requirements for the width:

    Type I – more than 1.5 m;

    Type II – more than 2 m.

And in any case, the blind area should be 40 cm wider than the pit bosom.

The slope angle can be in the range of 1-10%, but in the case of subsidence soils the minimum angle is 3°, which in terms of 5.2%.

The elevation of the outer edge of the blind area above the site should be more than 5 cm.

Types of blind areas

Before you properly make a blind area around the house with your own hands or order its construction, you need to decide on the variety. There are three options for top coating:

Hard coating. It is a monolithic tape made of concrete or asphalt concrete. In the first case, when creating a blind area with your own hands, mandatory reinforcement is carried out, in the second it is not required, due to the resistance of asphalt concrete to bending loads.

Arrangement of the base and pouring of the blind area around the house is carried out using the same technology as for the paths, but taking into account the obligatory requirement for a slope from the base.

Protection from water occurs due to the water resistance of both types of concrete. Therefore, it is important that there are no cracks or tears in the coating on the surface. The second feature is that a gap is required between the blind area and the base to compensate for the thermal expansion of the monolithic coating.

Concrete blind area with an expansion gap at the base filled with sealant Source stroyobzor.info

Semi-rigid coating. They are made from paving slabs, clinker bricks or paving stones. The design and installation method are carried out by analogy with sidewalks and platforms made of these materials with the obligatory creation of a waterproofing layer as part of the blind area:

    waterproof geomembrane, when laid on a dry sand-cement mixture;

    concrete monolithic base.

Semi-rigid clinker brick covering Source manesu.com

Soft covering. The classic option is to arrange the top layer from a compacted layer of dense (waterproof) clay. Many people know how to make a blind area of ​​this type: it used to be done around village houses, and even now this solution is periodically used as an “economy option” around small country houses, but with a top layer of decorative (colored) gravel. To improve waterproofing, a waterproof film can be laid between clay and crushed stone. You need to understand that the blind area is not just decoration; you shouldn’t save much on it.

Crushed stone covering as an economical option Source s-stroit.ru

Now a new type of soft blind area around the house based on a profiled membrane is gaining popularity. The general procedure here is as follows:

The membrane is laid in a trench with a depth of 25-30 cm.

The bottom of the trench is compacted with a slope from the foundation.

A layer of filtering geotextile is rolled out over the membrane, extending onto the base wall of the house.

Then a drainage layer of crushed stone and sand is poured, and fertile soil is placed on top of it, which is sown with lawn grass or ornamental plants are planted.

This blind area is also called hidden. This is a beautiful solution, but with a significant drawback - it is not recommended to walk on soft surfaces. However, you can always additionally organize a path.

Hidden blind area with ornamental plants Source pinterest.com

Common mistakes when creating a blind area

Errors can happen at any stage. Therefore, it is very important to know how to properly fill the blind area around the house. But even with technology, you need to be careful.

For example, insufficiently compacted backfill soil leads to “unplanned” shrinkage and destruction of the integrity of the waterproofing layer or rigid covering. The same consequences occur if, due to the negligence of workers, construction waste gets into the backfill.

Transverse crack in the blind area as a result of an error Source stroimdom.com.ua

At the stage of compacting the bottom of the “trough”, it is necessary to maintain the level of the bottom of the pit and its slope. This is one of the important conditions for how to properly make a blind area around the house. Irregularities in the bottom lead to uneven thickness of the crushed stone layer and differences in its load-bearing properties in different areas, which can cause cracks in concrete. And if the slope of the trench profile is incorrect, during the rainy season or melting snow, the perched water will literally flow down to the foundation from the moisture-saturated soil.

Another mistake is the lack of an expansion joint between the concrete blind area and the plinth. At high air temperatures, internal stress forces arise in the concrete near the wall, which lead to the appearance of cracks. The same thing happens if transverse expansion joints are not laid or cut in the reinforced concrete blind area.

When preparing concrete mortar, it is unacceptable to use sand containing clay and dirty water. This will deteriorate the quality of the concrete and reduce the service life of the blind area.

If a tap for irrigation is provided in the basement of a private house, then a separate gutter must be laid under it. It is needed to drain water beyond the blind area in case of leakage of shut-off valves or a leaky hose connection.

Video description

Another mistake when installing a blind area on a video:

The maximum slope angle of the blind area is 10%. And with organized drainage of water from the roof, trays must be laid under drainpipes with a slope of more than 15%. This regulatory requirement is sometimes ignored.

Determining the thickness of the blind area

On the site of a private house, concrete, prefabricated semi-rigid or soft covering is used. The thickness of the semi-rigid coating is determined by the material itself for the blind area around the house: clinker bricks, tiles or paving stones. But the size of the concrete coating needs to be calculated. At least in order to calculate the volume of the solution and the depth of the trench for all layers.

Knowing the standard width of the blind area and the minimum level of elevation of the outer edge above the site, you can calculate the only parameter that is not regulated by the standards - the thickness of the hard covering, taking into account its slope.

The minimum thickness of reinforced concrete is about 70 mm - the thickness of two rods with wire binding plus the thickness of the concrete layer on all sides is more than 30 mm.

Video description

What are the features of a hard and thick blind area in the video:

This size must be multiplied by the slope, multiplied again by the width of the tape, divided by 100. This will be the height difference between the outer edge and the base. And now you need to add the difference in heights to the thickness of the edge to get the thickness at the base.

If the thickness of the edge is 70 mm, the slope is 5%, the width of the blind area is 1000 mm, then the height of the covering at the base is 120 mm.

Technology for manufacturing concrete blind area

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a blind area around the house look like this:

    Preparing a trench (“trough”) for the blind area. The fertile layer is removed over the entire width (from 20 to 30 cm). Compact the bottom of the trench and form a slope. The area near the foundation with backfill is especially carefully compacted, while adding local soil - the thickness of the compacted layer in this place is at least 15 cm. The depth of the trench should be sufficient for the underground part of the hard covering, the thickness of the cushion (minimum 10 cm, recommended 15 cm) and insulation for the blind area around the house on heaving soils. If the trench after excavating fertile soil turns out to be deeper than the calculated one, then the difference is compensated by backfilling with compaction of either local soil or a layer of clay (the second option is preferable).

Trench for a blind area with a slope from the foundation Source stroidom-shop.ru

    Pillow. For weak soils, it is recommended to create a crushed stone base as the bottom layer. First, crushed stone of the middle fraction (40-70 mm) is filled, leveled and compacted. Then - fine crushed stone (5-10 mm) to fill the voids of the previous layer. When compacting the crushed stone, it is watered. Sand is poured in next, which is also leveled, watered and compacted. According to the standards, it is sand that serves as the basis for constructing a blind area. The level of crushed stone preparation should have a maximum deviation of 15 mm per 2 m, sand – 10 mm per 3 m.

    Waterproofing. A waterproofing film is laid on top of the sand. It does not serve to protect the soil, but protects the concrete from loss of moisture during its maturation. In the regulations, this layer is called “separation layer”. For this, a geomembrane or polyethylene film with a thickness of 200 microns is used.

Video description

You can also use built-up waterproofing - example in the video:

    Insulation. When creating a blind area on heaving soils, the structure is insulated with extruded polystyrene foam. If two layers are laid, then the seams of the upper sheets are shifted relative to the seams of the lower ones.

    Formwork. It is made from edged boards and bars. At the same time, slats for transverse expansion joints are laid. Typically, these slats are mounted at the design level of the surface of the blind area with a given slope angle, and concrete is poured along them, like beacons. The width of the slats is 20 mm, the height in section is more than 25% of the thickness of the blind area. The approximate distance between the seams is calculated by multiplying a factor of 25 by the thickness of the concrete at the base. Typically, for concrete pavements, expansion joints are combined with technological joints (one portion of pouring between the slats). The expansion joint at the base is formed from folded strips of roofing material with a total thickness of about 5 mm.

Do-it-yourself installation of a blind area around a concrete house Source fondeco.ru

    Reinforcement. The easiest way is to lay a road mesh with a cell of 100x100 mm and a rod diameter of 4 mm. Adjacent cards (strips) are overlapped by one cell (or more) and tied with wire. The distance from waterproofing or insulation is at least 30 mm. This size must be maintained in relation to all surfaces - the front, at the ends of the edge and in relation to the base.

    Concreting. M200 concrete is used. After pouring, within four hours, the concrete must be covered. And for 14 days - moisturize.

    Protection from destruction. To improve the wear resistance and strength of the surface, ironing is carried out. There are two types: dry - after pouring, wet - simultaneously with filling expansion joints with sealant. After removing the slats (14 days after pouring the concrete), the seams are filled with bitumen mastic with the addition of a mineral filler.

    Note. To enhance the surface and give an attractive decorative look, you can use stamped concrete technology.

Stamped concrete from the blind area to the walkway Source vest-beton.ru

If the blind area requires repair

If the concrete begins to deteriorate, then, depending on the degree of damage, the restoration technology takes the following form:

    if the cracks are local (up to 30% of the surface) and not wide, they are filled with cement paste (the proportions of cement and water are 1:1);

    for local repairs and wide cracks - they are expanded, the visible reinforcement is treated with an anti-corrosion compound, and sealed with a repair polymer cement mortar;

    in case of crumbling and delamination, weak areas are cleaned and a layer of cement-sand mortar screed is poured around the entire perimeter of the house (with the preliminary installation of a new curb and the installation of a reinforcing frame).

When performing each type of repair, the surface of the blind area must be cleaned of dirt and debris and treated with a deep penetration primer.

As a result. It is important to remember that the blind area is only part of the water protection measures. The most effective blind area is in conjunction with storm drainage, when water is collected in special receivers and piped away from the foundation.

Storm drainage system Source bloknot-voronezh.ru

As a result, the foundation will receive reliable protection not only from rain or melted snow, but also from groundwater.

And we hope you received answers to your main questions - how to make a blind area around the house and who to entrust it to.

Long-term operation of the house depends not only on a strong and reliable foundation, but also on the blind area. Thanks to it, the base structure is protected from destruction, and in addition, it protects the soil around the house from moisture. If water accumulates around the house, which can happen when snow melts and heavy rains, this can lead to erosion of the top layer of soil, as a result of which moisture reaches the foundation.

If it seeps deep into the earth to the base of the foundation, this will lead to damage to the foundation and its strength will significantly decrease, which will negatively affect the bearing capacity of the foundation. As a result, there may be a threat of destruction of the structure.

Some construction industry experts express the opinion that when arranging a drainage system, there is no need to install a blind area near the house. However, this opinion is deeply erroneous. The gutter protects the area near the foundation from water that drains from the roof. But it does not protect against precipitation, which regularly moistens the ground.

The role of the blind area is especially great in cases where a shallow foundation was used to build a house. Its sole is located very close to the surface of the earth. Therefore, during heavy rainfall, water can quickly reach the base of the foundation. Under the influence of moisture, the sole erodes, it loses his profile and uneven subsidence occurs. The consequence of this is that deformation processes occur and subsequent destruction of the foundation occurs. However, even if a well-buried foundation is used, it is impossible to do without a blind area.

How to properly arrange a blind area around the house?

When the owner understands the need to create a blind area near his house, then, having learned that the reliability of the structure and its long service life depend on it, the main desire that arises in him is to make it serve for a long time. This can be achieved if you use high-quality materials during construction, and in addition strictly follow construction technology.

The first thing to do is determine the width of the coverage. Protecting the foundation from moisture is its main purpose. Therefore, the width should be maximum. The further the path is located from the house, the less moisture it will absorb, and, therefore, the less risk of destruction of the foundation of the house.

Based on existing building codes, the minimum width of the protective coating should be at least 0.8 m. There are no standards regarding the maximum width of the blind area. Here everything largely depends on the desires of the developer.

The main function that the blind area performs is to protect the foundation of the house from moisture. In addition, it is used as a path around the perimeter of the house. You should also pay attention to this when choosing it. If you make a path that is too narrow, then when walking along it a person will experience some discomfort, since he will have to move along it sideways or press against the wall. Based on all this, we can say that the optimal width of the track is one that varies ranging from 1 to 2.5 m.

When constructing a blind area, you need to think about its inclination. It is thanks to it that the water falling on the blind area will constantly drain away from the walls of the house. In Soviet times, standards determined the slope value in the range from 50 to 100 mm per 1 meter of width. This means that for a path that is 1 m wide, the height at the walls of the house will vary from 50 to 100 mm, and at the other edge it will be flush with the ground. Such a steep descent of the path will ensure optimal drainage of water from the house.

Slope of the blind area

Water, once on the blind area, will quickly drain, creating inconvenience. If the slope is less, this will lead to water flowing slowly from the surface. In addition, walking on it will not be very comfortable. A compromise in terms of comfort and efficiency of the slope at the track can be considered slope 15 mm per 1 m width blind areas. When this covering has such a slope, then when walking on it a person does not experience any discomfort, and water does not retain on the surface. It completely flows down.

In principle, to ensure effective removal of water from the surface of the path, a slope of 10 mm per 1 meter will be sufficient, provided that the surface of the path is smooth and level. However, there is also a drawback to a blind area with such a slope. The thing is that in winter it is not convenient to walk on it, as it becomes slippery.

If the owner decides to make a protective coating not near the house, but along the perimeter of the garage, then its slope line at the entrance should be up to 30 mm per 1 meter. This will provide the greatest protection to the surface from rainwater, which will drain quickly enough. This will protect your garage from puddles and ice.

How to properly make this protective coating is one of the important questions that arises when a person decides to build a blind area near his home. Its quality largely depends on the material chosen for its creation. There are several options for making a track, which involve the use of different materials. However, most often it is made of reinforced concrete.

In most cases, owners when creating a track use the following technology:

  • the first step is to clean the site on which the blind area will be created;
  • then they take metal rods with a cross-section of 6 mm and lay them in a mesh with cells whose size is 0.3x0.3 m. Knitted wire is used to connect them together;
  • after this, formwork is created, which is made from unedged boards;
  • the next step is pouring the formwork with prepared concrete;
  • You should know that before you start making a blind area, you need to create a foundation. To do this, you need to remove the top layer of soil to a depth of about 13 cm along the perimeter of the width of the future blind area. A little more should be removed near the walls of the base. In this case, the poured concrete will flow towards the house, slightly squeezing it. There is no need to create additional fastening of the blind area;
  • after this, it is necessary to mark the boundaries of the building’s blind area, hammer in the pegs, and then tighten the cord;
  • A layer of sand should be poured onto the bottom of the trench, the thickness of which should be 5 cm. The sand cushion will act as a base for the concrete. Backfilling with sand may not be necessary if sandy soil predominates on the site. It is necessary to mount the formwork on the cushion, and then lay out the reinforcing mesh. Only after this the concrete is poured. The location of the reinforcement is of great importance. It must be completely embedded in a concrete base. And to do this it needs to be slightly raised;
  • M400 grade cement is used to prepare concrete mortar. In addition to this, sand and crushed stone are used. These components are taken in a ratio of 1:2:4-5.

Some specialists use ash to create a path. This material is a product of coal combustion in a thermal power plant. However, care must be taken when handling it as this particular material may be radioactive. If you create a blind area from it, the health of the people living in the house can significantly deteriorate.

Features of the blind area around the house

Creating a blind area, like any other task in the construction industry, has its own nuances that you need to learn about before starting work.

The construction of the blind area should not be started immediately after the completion of the construction of the basement. Chernozem or clay is used when backfilling a trench. The soil will subside in any case. But this takes some time. If you start constructing a blind area without waiting for the soil to subsidence, then when moisture gets into the soil it will sag, which will lead to the following:

  • the surface of the blind area is deformed;
  • cracks may appear on it.

To avoid this phenomenon, backfilling must be performed. You can use sand, which easily allows water to pass through. It will quickly sag and within a day you can begin work on constructing the blind area.

To create a blind area around the house, it is undesirable to use porcelain tiles. It has a smooth surface and is quite slippery. When the surface of such a coating is wet, there is a high risk of injury. In addition, the service life of such a blind area will be short. The tiles are laid on a concrete surface. And at low temperatures it bursts, which leads to cracks.

Protection of the blind area

The main function performed by the blind area is to protect the foundation of the home. However, it would not be superfluous to protect the blind area around the house from water flowing from the roof getting on its surface. To do this, you need to think about creating an organized drainage system, which must be located along the entire perimeter of the roof. In this case, first the water must fall into gutters, and only then flow down the pipe. Of course, it will not be possible to completely get rid of water, but less of it will reach the surface, which will reduce the load on the surface of the blind area.

According to previously existing standards, a drainage system was required to be installed on buildings that had more than two floors. Currently, this system is used in every new house, regardless of how many floors it has.

In some cases, specialists carry out work to additionally insulate the blind area around the house in order to minimize soil freezing in winter.

Most often used as insulation expanded clay is used, which is used instead of crushed stone in concrete mortar.

There is another way to insulate the blind area. It is poured in two layers, between which the insulation is laid. Foam plastic is often used as such.

How to make a blind area around the house?

Based on the information above, you can draw the following conclusions:

Conclusion

Every owner who has built a house dreams that his home will last for decades. This depends on the reliability and strength of the foundation and its protection from moisture, which is its main enemy. If the foundation of your home has waterproofing layer, this does not mean that it is well protected from moisture.

Frequent precipitation can lead to moisture penetration deep into the ground and destruction of the sole. The consequence of this will be deformation of the base and its gradual destruction. And this will negatively affect the reliability and service life of the structure. Therefore, it is necessary to build a blind area around the house to protect the foundation.

It’s not that difficult to make, so every building owner can handle it on their own. The most important thing is that you need to use high-quality materials and strictly follow the technology for creating the blind area. Then you can ensure reliability for your mansion and there will be no doubt about its long service.

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Regardless of the purpose of the building, it requires a blind area. Useful recommendations will help you answer the question: “How to make a blind area around the house with your own hands?” This is a useful building element, which is a strip of concrete mixture that is adjacent to the building along the entire perimeter of the house. This design protects the foundation from soil displacement, groundwater and precipitation. It is important to fill it before the onset of cold weather, since frozen soil puts a lot of pressure on the foundation.

A high-quality concrete ribbon around a building looks very aesthetically pleasing and is an excellent addition to landscape design

Before installation by pouring, you need to select the optimal strip width. In this case, the minimum size is 0.9 meters. This element can reach a width of 2.5 meters.

In addition, the water drainage tape is used as a walking path. It is worth calculating the size so that the concrete element extends 30 cm beyond the boundaries of the eaves.

It is also important to choose the correct slope of the strip in the direction away from the walls. In this case, the area near the wall will have a small height, and the edge of the tape will be level with the ground.

When deciding how to make a comfortable blind area around the house with your own hands, you should consider raising the height of 16 mm by 1 meter. At the same time, you can walk on it, and liquid will not accumulate.

Helpful information! During winter cold, this option can turn into an ice skating rink.


Preparation: important steps

Before pouring the blind area, preparatory work is carried out. It is necessary to make a foundation. In this case, a concrete screed is performed:

  • At a certain distance from the wall, pegs are driven in and markings are made. The cord should be pulled along them;

  • excavation is carried out, while the soil layer is removed by 20-25 cm. The depth of the recess should be the same everywhere;


  • the sand layer needs to be spilled with water and compacted several times;

Helpful advice! The sand should have a uniform structure without crushed stone and broken bricks.

How to make a blind area around the house with your own hands: important stages of work

Most often, the completed trench is concreted using formwork. Along the entire contour of the concrete strip, specially equipped recesses (grooves) are installed to drain water.

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How are expansion joints made?

At the junction of the wall and the protective concrete sheet, an expansion joint is made, the size of which varies from 1 to 2 cm in width. It is filled with sand and roofing felt. You can also use a rope of polystyrene foam with a piece of plywood.

To simplify the installation of the blind area, you can install the tape in separate blocks. For this, slats are used that are installed across the formwork.

Helpful advice! To prevent water from penetrating between the concrete and the lath, it is better to seal these areas with sealant.

How is formwork poured?

When deciding how to make a blind area around the house with your own hands, you should use concrete. The composition is prepared from one part cement, part sand and three parts crushed stone. The mixture is poured in portions.

In this case, the end parts at the top of the lintels coincide with the surface of the blind area. The concrete composition should be leveled with a wide spatula. The mixture is compacted with an iron rod or vibrator. The reinforcement section is immersed in concrete and rotates.

Punctures help eliminate bubbles. This makes the concrete more dense. To add strength, dry cement should be scattered over the concrete to absorb excess moisture. Then, using a metal trowel, cement is rubbed well into the surface until it turns dark gray.

The finished tape should be covered with burlap from the sun's rays. If there is no rain, then the material must be periodically wetted, otherwise it will not gain strength. A blind area can be created by a person who does not have construction skills.

Do-it-yourself blind area around the house: video and useful recommendations

A monolithic tape around the building allows you to strengthen the waterproofing properties of the base and walls. This part also has functional properties and also performs an aesthetic function. The width of the tape should be more than a meter. This parameter depends on the projection of the roof structure.

DIY concrete blind area around the house: video and installation features

When determining how to make a blind area around the house with your own hands, you need to properly excavate the soil. Be sure to treat all the walls of the excavation with a special compound that will help destroy weeds. If this is not done, the weeds will destroy the structure.

A curb stone or removable formwork is laid along the entire contour of the structure. Then the underlying material is produced and carefully compacted. Depending on the material that will be used, the structures will differ in installation methods:

  • laying stone or cobblestones. In this case, the height of the material should not be more than 10 cm. Installation is carried out on a laid sand floor. If crushed stone is used, the thickness will be less. The space between the cobblestones is filled with sand;
  • if you make a blind area around the house with your own hands, then you do not need to lay an additional layer of fine crushed stone and sand. All voids between individual tiles are also sprinkled with sand. To make laying the tiles simple, you need to make a strip of such a size that you do not have to trim the tiles.

Application is the most profitable and optimal option for arranging a blind area. Because it has many advantages. This allows the coating to be repaired in parts and has a long service life.

If the soil is not heaving, then clay is used. If the soil is heaving, then a sand layer is also used along with the clay.

Installation of any blind area consists of the following steps:

  • A sand cushion is placed on the soil base. A layer of crushed stone is leveled on top;
  • There is a deformation layer between the two surfaces at the junction. It will prevent cracking and deformation of the tape. Several layers of roofing material are installed between the surface of the base and the blind area;