How to pour a foundation for a house - tips, diagrams and ways to save money. Is it possible to fill the foundation in parts, and what do experts advise? Is it possible to pour a concrete column in parts?

The question of pouring the foundation in layers or in parts quite often arises among private developers. They do not have the capabilities of large construction companies that have their own mixers that deliver concrete mixture to the construction site on schedule, and concrete pumps that supply the solution to any point on the formwork. The owner of a land plot who decides to independently construct the underground part of the structure may only have a small-volume concrete mixer, which can only partially satisfy the needs for the required amount of solution, since its resources are limited. But is it possible to fill the foundation in parts, in several stages, if some time passes between mixing cycles? This is worth looking into.

Stages of concrete maturation

After installing the formwork and installing the reinforcement, the foundation is poured with concrete mortar. It is mixed in a certain proportion from the required grade of cement using fillers in the form of sand, gravel or crushed stone, possibly expanded clay, and, of course, water. The properties of concrete are improved by plasticizers and various additives that increase frost resistance and other necessary characteristics, depending on the required conditions.

After concrete has been poured into the foundation formwork, either completely or in parts, irreversible processes begin to occur in the solution, consisting of two main stages:

grasping;
hardening.

The first phase lasts several hours - from 3 to 24. The time directly depends on the air temperature - the fewer degrees the thermometer shows, the longer the concrete mixture will set. The setting process, in turn, has a so-called “liquid” stage, during which the internal structure of the material undergoes virtually no changes. At a temperature of 20 degrees, for example, the “liquid” period lasts about two hours, and at a temperature close to zero degrees, the initial stage of setting can last up to eight hours. This statistics applies to both strip and slab foundations.

It is during the “liquid” setting phase that it is possible to fill the foundation in parts without fear of breaking the cement bonds. As a result of hardening, such concrete turns into monolithic stone.

It is not recommended to prolong the time for complete setting of the concrete solution by constantly stirring it. Firstly, this can significantly worsen the characteristics of the future foundation. Secondly, there will be a possibility that the reinforcement or embedded parts will shift from the design position, even if the elements are installed quite rigidly. Thirdly, uneven mixing will lead to different stages of setting of the concrete solution, which will sharply reduce the service life of the object.

When asked whether it is possible to pour the foundation, at least in parts, immediately after the mortar has finished setting, experts answer that in no case is it possible. The fact is that during this period the concrete is still too weak, and the load from the next portion of the mixture will certainly lead to the appearance of microcracks in its thickness. Layer-by-layer pouring “with a break” is permitted only after three days of hardening of the concrete mass. Further, the loads on the lower layers of concrete will no longer have such a fatal effect.

The concrete hardening stage takes a long time. It gains its final strength after a few years. But there is no need to wait for such a long time, so further work on the construction of the above-ground part can be carried out after the mandatory holding period of 28 days. The maximum rate of hardening of the monolith occurs during the first 24 hours, slowing down more and more every day. After a month, the concrete acquires the required strength and characteristics corresponding to its brand.

conclusions

When asked whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts, experts, based on the characteristic features of the maturation of the concrete mixture, answer positively. But at the same time, they recommend following certain rules:

To prevent the appearance of delaminations in the thickness of the foundation, sequential filling should be carried out taking into account temperature conditions. In the warm season, a time interval of no more than two hours is allowed between pouring layers of concrete, and in colder periods - no more than four hours. The strength of the monolith, in this case, will not be affected;
When work is stopped for some time, pouring onto a previously completed concrete layer can be done no earlier than three days later. At the same time, you will need to remove moisture and dust from the concrete surface by first cleaning it with a wire brush. The foundation is usually covered with film during “rest”.

When pouring concrete in parts, it is necessary to observe not only the conditions associated with pauses between laying layers. Important requirements may relate to issues of correct installation of fittings. In this regard, the work should be strictly guided by the instructions of the project documentation.

Options for phased pouring of strip foundations

Building codes provide for three options for phased foundation pouring:

horizontal – in layers;
vertical - in blocks;
diagonal - in parts, at an angle.

The latter method of dividing pouring areas is quite complex and irrational when constructing foundations for small residential buildings. It is used in the case of construction of complex and bulky objects, and is carried out only by professional teams.

For strip foundations, it is advisable to use horizontal and vertical methods of dividing or placing seams.

The strength of the foundation after it is poured in parts and subsequent hardening is ensured by the correct placement of the working reinforcement in relation to the joining seams of the monolith. It should be perpendicular to the joints. For example, when pouring horizontally layer-by-layer, the presence of vertical reinforcement is a prerequisite. And when laying a concrete mixture in blocks, it is necessary not only the presence of longitudinal reinforcement, which is present in any strip foundation, but also its strong adhesion at the corners of the building and at the locations of the interface nodes.

In practice, horizontal pouring is most often used for strip foundations. Its technology is simpler, more accessible and understandable. The option with vertical seams requires the installation of auxiliary formwork and, as a result, additional labor and material costs. Strong metal partitions are installed between the blocks, which are removed during the process of filling the adjacent area with concrete.

When dividing layers horizontally, the question often arises: is it possible to fill a strip foundation with parts of indefinite volume? To which experts respond that the filling level of the formwork and the thickness of the layers should depend on the location of the vertical reinforcement. Situations where the horizontal joints of the foundation and the reinforcing bars are at the same level are not acceptable!

Another nuance that should be taken into account when installing a strip foundation in parts. If the underground part of the structure is poured simply into a trench, and the formwork is installed only for the base, then one of the horizontal joints must be made at the ground level. After this, the monolith is left to harden for several days, otherwise, under the weight of the solution laid in the formwork, the cement bonds of the underlying concrete layer may be destroyed.

Pouring a monolithic foundation requires a large amount of concrete, which is not always possible to prepare at one time. Large construction sites are equipped with special equipment and large concrete mixers, but in private construction, it is not always possible to rent or order this equipment. In this case, the question arises: is it allowed to fill the foundation in parts? We will find out the answer to this further.

Concrete for foundation: characteristics and stages of maturation

To make concrete, cement and additional fillers such as gravel, sand or expanded clay are used. Water helps improve the fluidity of the solution, and plasticizers and additives are added to the composition to protect against frost.

After preparing the concrete composition, it is poured into the formwork, followed by maturation:

1. The first stage is setting of the concrete composition. The substance, getting into the formwork, begins to harden; this occurs when cement interacts with water. The bonds between the components are not yet particularly strong, and when loaded on the surface, they are easily destroyed. At the same time, it is impossible to achieve re-setting.

The duration of this stage is determined by the temperature of the external environment and air humidity and ranges from four hours to a day. Reducing the temperature increases the setting time of concrete. At the same time, at the beginning of setting, the consistency of the composition remains liquid. If at this time another solution is added to the composition, then the bonds between them are not broken. At a temperature of 18-19 degrees, the liquid stage lasts about two hours. At a temperature of 0-1 degrees – more than six hours.

It is possible to increase this indicator by mixing the composition, but do not abuse this method, as this negatively affects the performance properties of concrete.

2. The second working stage is the hardening of the concrete composition. This process is quite lengthy and involves gradual hydration of concrete components to give the concrete maximum strength characteristics in relation to the grade of the working mixture. The hardening process on the first day of pouring occurs at an accelerated rate, then the rate of development of this process decreases.

In the first hour after setting, concrete has minimal strength; adding a new portion of the solution will lead to cracking of the surface. Only 3 days after pouring the composition gains the required strength.

Depending on the characteristics of the working cycle of concrete, we can conclude that gradual pouring of the foundation for a house with your own hands is possible, subject to certain recommendations:

sequential mixing of each portion of concrete, the time between pouring of which does not exceed two hours in warm weather and four in cool weather, no seams are formed, the concrete remains as strong as with continuous pouring;
during long breaks in work, it is allowed to fill a maximum of 64 hours, no more than after a break, the surface is cleaned of dust and moisture, cleaned with a brush, thus increasing the adhesion between the seams.

When pouring the foundation in parts, do not forget about reinforcement. It is mandatory in any case.

Partial foundation pouring - advantages and disadvantages

The process of periodically pouring the foundation has the following advantages:

1. No need to use heavy special equipment.

Quite often, during construction work, there is no possibility of access to the site with specialized equipment and even a concrete mixer. In this case, the only option is to periodically fill the foundation. Since it is impossible to prepare large quantities of solution without specialized concrete mixers.

2. Increasing comfort during construction work.

It is not always possible to completely fill the foundation; there are reasons when the construction process stops. In this case, gradual pouring of the foundation solves this issue.

Despite this, there are the following disadvantages of pouring the foundation in parts:

reduction in foundation strength;
If the work is carried out incorrectly, cracks will appear on the foundation;
the need to strictly follow the technology.

Complete pouring of the foundation allows you to obtain a monolithic structure with maximum strength characteristics. In any case, the quality of the foundation after partial filling is at a lower level compared to monolithic structures.

Technology of pouring the foundation in parts - calculating setting intervals

Before you start pouring the foundation, read the rules for determining the time and interval for hardening of the concrete composition. Incorrect filling will negatively affect the quality of the foundation.

There are only two stages of concrete hardening:

Each of these processes has individual characteristics and completion times. Immediately after pouring the concrete composition into the formwork, setting begins. The individual components are connected to each other. It is strictly prohibited to touch the concrete solution at this time, in order to avoid compromising its integrity. In warm and hot weather, the concrete solution sets within three hours. In late autumn or early spring, this time increases to 24 hours.

After setting, the structure of the composition remains liquid, therefore, during this process, it is allowed to pour concrete in small portions. However, filling after 24 hours is no longer acceptable.

The next process is hardening. Its duration is about four weeks. After this time, the concrete has completely hardened and is able to bear loads. Three days after the start of hardening, it is allowed to additionally pour concrete onto the already finished coating. In the period from 1 to 3 days after the start of hardening, it is strictly forbidden to pour the solution. Since concrete, without gaining additional strength, cracks under the load of the new composition, although microcracks are not visible, their consequences will appear after the construction of the house. Through these defects, water will enter the foundation, gradually destroying it.

Please note that pouring times in summer and winter are significantly different. So, at high temperatures in summer, the second layer is poured four hours after the main pour; in winter, this time increases to eight hours. When pouring after the mortar has dried, first dry, clean and brush the base.

How to pour a strip foundation correctly: recommendations for partially pouring a foundation

In addition to determining the time for partial filling, decide on the technology for performing this process. There are two of them:

When pouring a strip foundation and constructing an underground trench, the formwork is poured strictly along the soil. In this case, the filling is carried out in compliance with the joints, that is, layer by layer.

When building a strip monolithic foundation, stop at block pouring. That is, the seams are located in a position perpendicular to the joints. When pouring such a foundation layer by layer, it is necessarily reinforced.

Before you start pouring, decide on the method and draw up drawings in the form of a three-dimensional diagram of the foundation. On it, the total area of the foundation is indicated and it is divided into several parts, in relation to the type of fill. In relation to division, we highlight three variants of the scheme:

vertical division - the base of the foundation is divided into separate parts, separated by steel partitions; after complete hardening, the partitions are removed and concrete is poured;
oblique pouring is the most difficult method, in this case the territory is divided diagonally, its implementation requires some experience, it is used in complex structural foundations;
horizontal partial pouring - the foundation is divided into parts by depth, no partitions are installed between them, it is enough to determine the height of application of each layer, further pouring is carried out in relation to the scheme and interval of introducing a new portion of concrete.

In addition, on the sketch, indicate the dimensions of the part to be poured, in relation to these indicators, determine the amount of concrete to be poured.

Features of manually pouring the foundation in parts

After drawing up the drawings, proceed to the immediate partial filling. First, build the formwork in the areas where the primary pouring is taking place. Wood, metal or plastic are used to make it. Wooden formwork must have a laminated coating to prevent excessive moisture absorption by the wood.

When using metal structures, choose materials with anti-corrosion coating. Plastic formwork is lightweight and easy to use.

In addition, there are two types of formwork depending on its design:

There should be two versions of this marking on the foundation reinforcement. Welded reinforcement is durable and prevents cracking of the foundation. Before pouring concrete structures, add sand to the bottom of the structure. Compact it using special equipment. Next, start preparing the concrete solution.

The main ingredients for preparing the solution are:

The foundation is poured with a high-quality compound of grade 300 or 400. If you have about 85 kg of dry compound, you will need about 42 liters of water. Use only dry sand for work.

It is recommended to pour the foundation in dry and warm weather. When working in the summer, cover the concrete with film to prevent excessive evaporation of moisture. Gradual pouring involves batch preparation of concrete. To calculate the composition for a specific area, first determine its volume. Measure the height, width and depth of the structure, multiply the resulting values and you will get the number of cubic meters of concrete to work with. Prepare concrete in a concrete mixer; this composition is characterized by maximum homogeneity and high quality.

Next comes creating the foundation with your own hands. When pouring the foundation in the form of a strip horizontally, divide the structure into several parts. For example, with a foundation height of 1 meter, it is recommended to perform concreting in three or four layers.

After pouring the concrete, compact the mixture with a vibrator. This device will remove excess air from the structure and improve its adhesion to the reinforcement. In addition, each layer is leveled with a special device or an ordinary wooden plank.

After waiting a certain time, prepare a new portion of the solution and repeat the process. Be sure to compact each layer with a vibrator. If you do not have this device, replace it with regular reinforcement, which is used to pierce the mortar along the foundation. Just keep in mind that this must be done at maximum speed, before the solution begins to harden.

Cover each layer of concrete with plastic film to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture or rain on the surface. If the interval between pouring layers exceeds a day, then before starting to pour the next layer, clean the surface from dust and dirt.

If the gradual pouring of the foundation is carried out on a completely dry base, then pre-treat it with a metal brush to improve roughness and adhesion to concrete.

Pouring a strip foundation is a complex process, but if you approach it responsibly and correctly calculate the hardening time of the solution, the result of the pour will be no worse than that of monolithic structures.

Pouring the foundation in parts: advantages and disadvantages

Construction of houses Pouring a monolithic foundation requires a large amount of concrete, which is not always possible to prepare at one time. Large construction sites are equipped with special equipment

When a monolithic foundation is poured, there is a need for large volumes of concrete, which sometimes exceed several cubic meters. Construction companies approach this issue by using heavy equipment such as concrete pumps and mixers. They allow you to mix the solution and feed it into the formwork.

Why layer filling?

Private developers do not always have the opportunity to use such equipment, because it is quite expensive, and for small areas such an approach may be unacceptable due to the lack of access roads for equipment. This problem can be partially solved using a concrete mixer, but the volume of mixture that can be prepared in one load is limited. In this case, builders are wondering whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts, because this sometimes affects the strength of the foundation and its operational properties.

Maturing of concrete

Concrete is a mixture of fillers and cement that are mixed with water. To increase fluidity, give the mixture special properties and increase frost resistance, plasticizers and additives can be added to concrete during mixing. At this stage, you may also be wondering whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts. Pouring a liquid solution into a form called formwork involves the beginning of irreversible processes in concrete, namely:

grasping;
hardening.

During the first stage, the solution begins to come into a solid state, because water and cement components interact with each other. But the bonds between the ingredients remain not strong enough, and if a load is applied to the material, it may collapse, and the solution will not re-set.

What else you need to know about the stages

This phase can vary depending on the air temperature and lasts from 3 hours to a day. As the temperature decreases, concrete takes longer to set. At the initial stage, it remains liquid, without changes. If during this period a new portion of concrete is added to the formwork, then destruction of the cement bonds will not occur.

At a temperature of 20 °C, the liquid stage will last for 2 hours, but if the temperature drops to zero, then this period will last for 8 hours. The time before setting begins can be extended by constantly mixing the concrete, but its characteristics will be improved, so you should not abuse the method.

Pouring concrete at the hardening stage

If you are faced with the question of whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts, you should also study the stage of concrete hardening. This phase will last quite a long time, because the components will gain strength over many years. The first 28 days are considered a mandatory period for the structure to remain in place until it gains strength. In this case, hardening occurs quickly, which is especially important for the first day; after that the speed slows down.

In the first hours after setting, the concrete will not have such a high hardness, and if you add another portion, this may cause small cracks to appear, because the load on the structure will increase. After three days, these loads do not have a similar effect on the first layers. Taking into account the peculiarities of the maturation of the solution, it can be argued that pouring the foundation in parts can be carried out, however, it is important to follow certain rules.

When a private developer wonders whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts, first he must study certain rules for carrying out such work. They state that when mixing individual batches of concrete in succession, you should limit yourself to two hours or less between pours in warm weather. If work is carried out in the off-season, then this time can be increased to 4 hours. The strength of the foundation does not change, and seams are not formed.

If you are wondering whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts, then you must remember that long breaks in work should not exceed three days. After a break, where you are supposed to pour a fresh portion should be cleaned of moisture, dust and dirt. It is important to clean with a wire brush. In this case, the seam will have good adhesion.

Step-by-step instructions for pouring the foundation in parts

It is better to pour the foundation continuously; sometimes work is not stopped for this even at night. As a result, it is possible to obtain a monolithic structure that has a high load-bearing capacity. But continuous pouring can be achieved only if you use a purchased solution, which will be supplied to the formwork from the concrete mixer tank. If the solution is prepared directly at the construction site, then instead of this technology, the partial pouring technique is used.

When asking the question of whether it is possible to fill a strip foundation in parts, you should know that if certain conditions are met, such a structure will not be inferior in terms of strength to the one formed using the monolithic pouring method. The technology of intermittent casting is as follows: at the first stage, it is necessary to form a reinforcement frame, which will consist of horizontal rods. They need to be separated by vertical connections. The distance between the horizontal rods should be selected according to the volume of fill. Usually it ranges from 10 to 12 cm.

If you are thinking about the question, you should read useful tips. From them you can find out that at the next stage you can prepare a solution to pour the first layer of concrete. In this case, the formwork should be filled evenly, while the thickness of the first layer should be equal to the distance between the horizontal rods, which should be reduced by 1.5 cm. This answers the question of how the foundation can be filled in parts with reinforcement. The second layer will flow under the horizontal reinforcement. As soon as the filling of the first layer has been completed, you can begin to prepare the second portion of the solution, which is poured from above.

This technique should be followed until the desired base height is achieved. The technology is also called layer-by-layer, and the individual layers will be fastened together with reinforcement. However, if the first layer has already begun to set and has reached the hardening stage, then the second pour can begin only after the first layer has hardened.

Many novice home craftsmen wonder whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts; the instructions presented in the article will help you understand this. From it you can learn that after pouring the first layer, when it is not intended to immediately begin forming the second, the surface should be wrapped in polyethylene, which will prevent unwanted evaporation of water. In this case, the second layer can be formed the next day; first, concrete milk must be removed from the surface.

If you have not had experience pouring a foundation before, then you first need to think about what brand of concrete you will use. It is recommended to pay attention to the operating conditions of the future design. This is due to the fact that different brands are characterized by a certain moisture resistance and frost resistance. If you are faced with the question of whether it is possible to fill the foundation in parts, and what kind of concrete to carry out this work, you must definitely decide.

For difficult conditions, varieties M-300 and M-450 are usually used. If the conditions are not so severe, then concrete grades M-100 and M-200 can be used. M-100 and M-450 are prepared from the same ingredients, but the recipes are different. For example, M-100 is mixed from:

4 parts sand;
1 part cement;
6 parts gravel.

Whereas to prepare M-450 you should use:

one part sand;
one part cement;
two parts gravel.

Conclusion

In order for cement stone to form, the solution will require 1 part water to 4 parts cement. But when you study the ratio of cement and water, you will understand that most often the proportions look like this: 3 to 2 and 2 to 1.

Concrete for foundation: characteristics and stages of maturation

After preparing the concrete composition, it is poured into the formwork, followed by maturation:

It is possible to increase this indicator by mixing the composition, but do not abuse this method, as this negatively affects the performance properties of concrete.

sequential mixing of each portion of concrete, the time between pouring of which does not exceed two hours in warm weather and four in cool weather, no seams are formed, the concrete remains as strong as with continuous pouring;
during long breaks in work, it is allowed to fill a maximum of 64 hours, no more than after a break, the surface is cleaned of dust and moisture, cleaned with a brush, thus increasing the adhesion between the seams.

When pouring the foundation in parts, do not forget about reinforcement. It is mandatory in any case.

Partial foundation pouring - advantages and disadvantages

The process of periodically pouring the foundation has the following advantages:

1. No need to use heavy special equipment.

2. Increasing comfort during construction work.

It is not always possible to completely fill the foundation; there are reasons when the construction process stops. In this case, gradual pouring of the foundation solves this issue.

Despite this, there are the following disadvantages of pouring the foundation in parts:

reduction in foundation strength;
If the work is carried out incorrectly, cracks will appear on the foundation;
the need to strictly follow the technology.

Technology of pouring the foundation in parts - calculating setting intervals

There are only two stages of concrete hardening:

grasping;
hardening.

In addition to determining the time for partial filling, decide on the technology for performing this process. There are two of them:

block;
layer by layer

vertical division - the base of the foundation is divided into separate parts, separated by steel partitions; after complete hardening, the partitions are removed and concrete is poured;
oblique pouring is the most difficult method, in this case the territory is divided diagonally, its implementation requires certain experience, it is used in complex structural foundations;
horizontal partial pouring - the foundation is divided into parts by depth, no partitions are installed between them, it is enough to determine the height of each layer, further pouring is carried out in relation to the scheme and interval of introducing a new portion of concrete.

In addition, on the sketch, indicate the dimensions of the part to be poured, in relation to these indicators, determine the amount of concrete to be poured.

Features of manually pouring the foundation in parts

When using metal structures, choose materials with anti-corrosion coating. Plastic formwork is lightweight and easy to use.

In addition, there are two types of formwork depending on its design:

national team;
whole.

welded;
anti-corrosion.

The main ingredients for preparing the solution are:

sand;
cement;
water;
filler.

The foundation is poured with a high-quality compound of grade 300 or 400. If you have about 85 kg of dry compound, you will need about 42 liters of water. Use only dry sand for work.

If the gradual pouring of the foundation is carried out on a completely dry base, then pre-treat it with a metal brush to improve roughness and adhesion to concrete.

Pouring the foundation video:

The durability of any building depends on the reliability of its foundation. What kind of soil, what height of the building it will support, what kind of foundation to choose for a given building - all these questions are important for the strength of buildings. But often when deciding to build a building, they decide on their own only what type of foundation will be chosen

A strip foundation does not require special equipment for delivery to the site, which is why home craftsmen prefer it.

For buildings in suburban areas, block or strip foundations are most often used. The first ones require special equipment: they must be somehow delivered to the site, somehow lifted for installation on site. Therefore, home craftsmen give preference to strip foundations. So that the source material can be delivered to the site without much difficulty.

Preparatory work

The width of the trench channel prepared for installation of the foundation of the building is 40 cm.

So, you need to pour concrete by installing a strip foundation. All work of the previous stages has been completed: the area has been cleared and marked according to the project. The trench must be prepared for the installation of the foundation of the building. The optimal channel width is about 40 cm. A 15 cm layer of sand is poured and compacted onto the bottom, then a layer of crushed stone is laid. Waterproofing made of roofing felt or plastic film is placed on top of the resulting cake. After this, you can begin constructing the formwork. It is assembled from available materials. It should rise above the ground surface by at least 30 cm. All sewer openings and water pipes must be provided in advance. The reinforcement is laid in two layers in the form of a lattice, fastening the rods with wire. To ensure that the entire structure is inside a concrete monolith, a 5 cm indentation from the formwork walls is provided along the entire perimeter.

You can determine the required amount to fill. To do this, we find the volume of the internal part of the formwork by multiplying its height, width and length. The mortar recipe consists of three parts sand, five parts crushed stone and one part cement. Water is added in parts until the required consistency is obtained. However, it is unlikely that you will be able to prepare the required amount for a one-time filling yourself.

First way

According to SNiP 3.03.01-87 “Load-bearing and enclosing structures”, two laying methods have been developed for monolithic concreting.

The first method, called a “hot seam,” consists of pouring without interruption until the previous layer begins to set, that is, without forming a working “cold” seam.

To do this, you can take a break from pouring concrete for no more than twelve hours. The resulting layer is covered with film or roofing felt at night. Before continuing pouring, the whitish liquid formed overnight, the so-called concrete milk, is removed from the surface of the previous layer.

Second way

The method of pouring concrete with the formation of a “cold” joint allows you to stop pouring concrete for a longer period.

The second method involves pouring intermittently after the previously laid layer has set, forming a working “cold” seam. Such seams are also called construction seams, working seams and concreting seams. This method allows you to stop pouring for a longer period than one night. But in this case, you should wait until the previous layer has completely hardened. If you pour on a poorly hardened layer, you can get a surface that begins to break, unable to withstand the pressure. The concrete of the joint will become brittle, and the formation of cold bridges that can conduct water will be ensured. Subsequently, such bridges will cause the destruction of the structure’s support. Before pouring the next layer, the surface of the resulting joint is cleared of any dirt or cement film. This will reduce the negative impact of construction joints.

The same SNiP 3.03.01-87 allows not only layers, but also parts. In this case, the working seams will be vertical. To form them, partitions are installed, like formwork.

Fill options

The height of the level of concrete poured into the formwork should not exceed half a meter.

After installing the formwork and calculating the required amount of concrete, you can determine the method of pouring the foundation, as well as the amount of time this work is expected to take. It is more rational to order concrete from a factory and pour the foundation from a machine and not alone. But is there room on the site for machines to operate? Is it possible to order all the necessary equipment within the time frame required to continue the work?

The foundation formwork can be added in layers of about 20 cm. In any case, the height of the level should not exceed half a meter. Each layer is distributed evenly along the entire perimeter of the formwork and along its entire length. To prevent voids from forming, the poured layer is compacted. Tamping is completed when a white liquid appears on the surface of the layer. The walls of the formwork are tapped. These actions are designed to remove air from the concrete and prevent the formation of voids in the monolith. The procedure is carried out until the layer reaches the level of the fixed rope, which indicates the height of the “sole”. After this, the surface is leveled with a trowel. The fittings also make several punctures to release air. The formwork is tapped again.