The basement is a strip at the bottom of the building along its entire perimeter, but usually a little prominent, is a necessary element of any building. If cracks appear on the basement of the house, the lining begins to collapse, or other signs of deformation appear, do not panic. It is only necessary to repair the basement - with your own hands or by the forces of hired specialists.

Types of basement repair

The “well-being” and safety of the entire foundation depends on the integrity of the basement, how much the house will be protected from destruction and moisture penetration. If the basement is in poor condition, then the house will constantly be affected by precipitation, moisture, and other natural factors. As a result, mold, destruction of masonry and other things that are unpleasant and dangerous for the comfortable living of the owners of the house may appear. Therefore, it is very important to carry out timely repairs to the cement or brick basement of the building.

Its purpose:

• Facade insulation.
• Protection against humidity, weather conditions, temperature differences, weathering.
• Strengthening the strength of the entire structure of the building.
• Visual giving the appearance of reliability and strength to the building.

Renovation of the basement and its types

The plinth can be sunken, protruding or located in the same plane with the outer wall. The protruding plinth is traditional. Suitable if the house is built of light stone, for example, shell rock. Ideal for residential buildings. Cons - increased material consumption.

Current repair of the basement

The proximity of the plinth to the ground and the fact that it is located outside the building and, accordingly, is subject to bad weather conditions, lead to the fact that it requires repair from time to time. After all, if you do not pay attention in time, over time it will affect the condition of the entire building.

The main goal pursued by the owners of the building when repairing the basement is to protect the underground space from external adverse influences. The plinth must be very durable and weather resistant. This rule applies not only to ordinary residential buildings, but also to office buildings and shops.

A basement overhaul is necessary if:

• Cracks appeared in any part of the base. The signal is extremely bad. The reasons may be swelling of the soil, groundwater, too heavy building.

• large surface chips or partial destruction of the surface.

• Humidity, wind, frost and heat are unfavorable weather conditions.
• The building presses its weight on the foundation. Over time, this action has a destructive effect.
• Construction errors. Non-compliance with norms, violation of technology.
• The destruction of the blind area or it is not sufficiently reinforced.

To repair it, it would be better to invite specialists, since a poor-quality amateurish approach can seriously damage your home. In addition, the repair of the brick base, carried out by a team of builders, guarantees that in case of poor-quality repairs, measures will be taken to eliminate the shortcomings. As a rule, these measures are free for the customer.

Cosmetic repair of the plinth

But if you decide to repair the basement on your own, then on the Internet you can find a large number of videos, where the whole process is presented step by step in detail.

It is important to repair the brick base in the warm and dry season. Strong cold or rain, as well as very strong heat, are categorically not suitable for work, since the adhesion of the solution to the material in such weather conditions will be much worse.

Before work, it is necessary to study the condition of the blind area, as it plays a very important role in maintaining the foundation and protecting the house. If the damage to the blind area is minor, cosmetic repairs will also go, if significant, get ready to fill in a new one.

Features of finishing materials for the repair of the plinth

Popular types of finishes in the Moscow region:

• Tile. Very beautiful, waterproof, practical material. You can choose any color. Cons - somewhat expensive and has a high thermal conductivity, which will require more additional insulating material.
• Siding. Very easy to install, lightweight and looks beautiful. But if the plinth is uneven, it will be quite difficult to install, which can lead to additional costs.
• Wood. It looks very attractive and noble, but this material is prone to decay and bugs start in it. Short-lived.
• Stone. The most durable material But heavy, which requires significant labor costs - this affects the final cost of all work on repairing the basement.
• Aluminum. The material meets all the basic requirements for repair. Cons - rather high price and not always available in stores.
• Metal decking. Inexpensive material, easy to install, has good water repellency.

Repair of the basement of the building – stages:

• Beat the remains of the old plaster to the base of the plinth.
• Dry the wall thoroughly, remove mold, fungus.
• Surface treatment with antiseptic.
• Attach a metal reinforced mesh to dowels or self-tapping screws. An important point - the strength of the entire coating depends on the thoroughness of its implementation.
• Carefully impregnate the reinforcement with a primer.
• We make our own mortar from cement and sand or we make it from a ready-made purchased dry mix, which is preferable, since the finished mix has better adhesive characteristics than a home-made one.
• We apply the resulting concrete to the surface, making sure that it completely fills all the cracks and crevices. So until only the reinforcement remains visible.
• After the concrete has dried, we apply the top coat, covering the reinforced mesh with it.
• The material will solidify completely within a month. When the concrete is dry, we put insulating material, a foam plastic that meets all the basic requirements is great: lightweight, easy to install, low thermal conductivity, does not rot and pests do not start in it, waterproof and cheap.

• At the very end of the repair of the basement of the building, we finish with facing materials. They have a huge selection for every taste and wallet size.

Close attention should be paid to the blind area - it is probably not in the best condition either, since you have already started repairing the cement basement. Its height should be 5-8 cm. And it is important when pouring it to give strength to the structure with a reinforced mesh. In several layers. You can also add fine gravel to the concrete solution for maximum strength. Do not forget that the correct blind area should be made at a slight slope so that rainwater and melting precipitation do not fall under the foundation.

Basement repair cost

The cost of repairing the basement today in Moscow and the Moscow region, the average estimate:

• concrete block masonry - price per m2 - 700-800 rubles;
• applying plaster on a reinforced mesh - also 700-800 rubles per m2;
• insulation - from 550 rubles. per linear meter;
• tiling - from 1100 rubles. for the meter;
• facing with siding - from 900 rubles;
• facing with natural stone - from 1300 rubles. for the meter.

If you decide to use the services of a construction company, then after ordering by phone, an appraiser will come to you, who will select the best option for repairing the basement for you, designate the “front of work” and draw up a detailed estimate with justification for each step. As a rule, the estimate is calculated free of charge. Do not forget that when you turn to professionals, you get guarantees for work, which improves the quality and prolongs the life of your home. The final price of the basement repair is affected by:

• The scope of work in general, their complexity, the necessary types of repairs;
• What materials will be used;
• Deadlines.

In modern construction, especially industrial buildings, preference is given to the sinking form of the base, as more aesthetic. In addition, this form protects the waterproofing from atmospheric precipitation, which prolongs its service life and, accordingly, less material consumption.

All structural elements of a country house are equally important, they are inextricably linked and fully necessary. If one of the elements of the system becomes unusable, then all the others will gradually begin to collapse. Basement repair is required in cases where cosmetic work cannot be done. It is the basement that is the most vulnerable and exposed to various influences part of any building. In addition, the blind area plays an important role in protecting the house from moisture.

Due to the fact that the basement is located outside the house, it is systematically affected by the environment: temperature changes, humidity, precipitation and microorganisms. All this together invariably leads to the destruction of the material. And when the deformation of the basement of the building occurs, the rest of the structural elements of the house also begin to collapse.

To carry out repair work on the basement, it is best to invite professional builders who can guarantee that the house can be operated in the same mode for more than a dozen years. In general, the work can be done independently, however, an inexperienced person may encounter certain difficulties.

The blind area usually collapses much faster than the base, so it often needs to be repaired. It is located around the perimeter of the house and is usually made of concrete.

Causes of the destruction of the basement and blind area

The basement of the building is constantly exposed to natural influences, due to which, over time, it begins to collapse. The same is true for the blind area, which often cracks and simply moves away from the base of the house. Among the main reasons for the destruction of these structures can be identified:

• temperature fluctuations;
• high humidity and the strongest exposure to water on rainy days;
• severe frosts and freezing of materials;
• non-compliance with the technology of the plinth and blind area.

The basement of the building is exposed to the active influence of the environment.

The plinth can collapse if design errors were made in calculating its height and thickness. In this case, it will be necessary to increase the strength of the above-ground part of the foundation. As mentioned above, it is better to trust the repair of the basement to professionals if the country homeowner has the opportunity to invite them.

Repair of the basement yourself

Repair work in relation to the basement of the house involves, first of all, the elimination of traces of biological effects on materials (mold, fungus, dampness, etc.). In order to be able to get rid of all this, it is necessary to remove the old finishing material (plaster) from the basement, completely clean the surface (not individual sections, but the entire wall around the perimeter). Next, the entire wall must be dried.

After the plinth dries, the surface is treated with an antiseptic or finished with boards that have been pre-impregnated with an antiseptic composition. In addition, special attention should be paid to insulation and waterproofing. When the insulating layers are in place, the plaster can be applied. Repair work of this type can be done by hand if the owner of the house has some experience in the construction industry.

Plinth crack repair

If cracks began to appear on the basement of your house, then this is an extremely unpleasant signal that the foundation is being subjected to strong external influences. This may be heaving of the soil, rising groundwater, excessive load from the building.

In this case, it is necessary to involve professionals in the work, who will be able to quickly determine the reason why the cracks appeared on the base, as well as promptly take all the necessary measures to prevent subsequent destruction. It is not recommended to perform such work on your own.

If you, having seen cracks on the above-ground part of the building, simply cover them with cement mortar, then you will not solve the problem, but only hide it from your eyes. In the future, this may adversely affect the operation of the entire building.

The house, on the base of which cracks appear, is either initially built incorrectly, or is subject to severe impact, which must be competently and professionally resisted.

What should be the blind area?

If you are repairing the basement, then you need to pay attention to the blind area, which is also probably not in the best condition. The blind area should be made at a height of 5-8 cm, above ground level.

Scheme of the blind area device. Click to enlarge.

To give the blind area a high level of strength, during construction it must be reinforced with a metal mesh. Many experts recommend laying in several layers.

You can achieve maximum strength of the blind area by adding small gravel to the concrete.

It is worth noting that a correctly made blind area is located at a slight slope from the house (this must be taken into account when pouring the solution). In this case, water will not be able to get under the base of a country house.

We close up cracks in the blind area

Repair of the blind area is required in cases where cracks began to appear on its surface.

• To seal small cracks, cement mortar should be used. Before you start pouring, you need to clean the surface (maybe even wash it). Then prepare the solution according to the instructions, fill in all the defects with it. It is recommended to use the most liquid solution that can penetrate into small cracks, completely filling them.
• In the event that the cracks are medium, then they need to be sealed in a different way: the cracks are cleaned from dirt and primed. After that, the primer is given time to dry. Then the concrete is poured. Places with cracks that were filled with concrete must be covered with a film for about 2-3 days.
• Sometimes large faults form on the blind area, the repair of which is quite complicated. They must also be pre-cleaned and primed. It is best to choose a thick concrete mortar that gives maximum drying strength.
• Often the blind area itself begins to flake off from the building. In this case, places with delamination must be cleaned and primed, and then the crack should be expanded. This is necessary so that its seal is of the highest quality and durable. The plinth can be further treated with bituminous mastic.

Cracks in the pavement.

Finishing the basement after repair

When the repair work is completed, it will be possible to think about it, since there are many options. We have already repaired the blind area, so you can start decorating the basement.

The outer part of the plinth can be finished with a variety of materials that are in abundance on the market today: tiles, siding, corrugated board, plastic thermal panels, etc. Each of these materials not only gives an attractive appearance to the house, but also ensures the proper level protection from various influences.

Each of the buildings is one system in which all elements are connected, and each of the elements performs its important function. With the destruction and breakage of one element, the rest begin to collapse.

The most vulnerable part of the constructed building are. Before you learn how to repair the blind area, you should find out what it is.

Why do you need a plinth and a blind area

The basement is one of the important parts of the constructed building; it performs an important function - heat-insulating. And since it is located on the outside of the building, it is constantly affected by the environment, temperature changes, moisture, and it is most susceptible to deformation and destruction. And if there is a deformation of the basement and blind areas, then the whole building begins to collapse. How to repair a blind area? It is best to invite professional builders to repair the basement, then it is likely that the repair will be done on time and with high quality. But you can try to do everything yourself, with the help of useful tips.

An important function is performed by the blind area. It is located around the entire perimeter of the building, is a path that is arranged at a certain angle of inclination. This is done so that water does not flow into the foundation. Often winter frosts can destroy the blind area.

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Causes of the destruction of the basement and blind area

Since the basement is located on the outside, that is, on the street, it is subjected to constant precipitation, from which it begins to collapse. The same applies to the blind area, which also tends to crack and move away from the foundation. Causes of destruction include:

• temperature changes;
• constant moisture in rainy weather;
• frosts;
• house weight;
• non-compliance with technological standards at.

The concrete pavement, which was installed around the apartment building, is also influenced by natural factors. In the occurrence of cracks, an important role is played by the apartment building itself, its weight. If the blind area is filled with weak concrete, then large loads also affect.

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Plinth repair - how to do it yourself

Plinth repair involves, first of all, the removal of dampness, fungus and mold. In order to get rid of all this, you need to open the base, that is, beat off the old plaster from it, clean it completely, around the entire perimeter. Drying is a must. After drying, treat the dry surface of the basement with a special antiseptic composition or sheathe it with boards that were impregnated with an antiseptic before installation. It is also necessary to take measures so that it does not freeze and moisture does not penetrate into it.

Of course, a person is able to carry out all repairs himself, especially if he has experience in construction matters. But the reasons for the destruction of the basement should be established by specialists, they will also give advice on the problems that have arisen and their solution.

To repair the plinth, it is better to wait for warm and dry weather, but so that there is no strong heat. In heat or rain, concrete dries poorly, unevenly and adheres poorly to the wall.

To repair the base, you need to have the following tools:

• concrete mixer;
• shovel;
• bushhammer;
• Master OK.

From the materials you will need:

• sand;
• cement;
• metal grid.

When the damaged area is beaten off from the old plaster, dirt is removed, the base is impregnated with an antiseptic, a metal mesh can be fixed. It will greatly increase the strength of the solution that will be applied to the wall. It must be installed evenly, the mesh is fixed with dowels. Then the surface of the base should be treated with a primer. The composition of the primer should also get on the grid, this will increase the susceptibility to the solution. This step can be skipped, but then instead of priming, the base should be moistened with water.

Now you need to apply the solution to the grid. The concrete mortar must be more liquid than for ordinary plaster. The solution through the mesh should get on the wall and very tightly fill all the cracks and voids. To obtain a high-quality coating, the solution must be pressed in. From the applied solution, only the grid should be visible. The next step is to apply the finishing solution to the plinth; decorative plaster can be used instead. Plastering work during the repair of the basement is difficult, so when performing these works you need to be careful and attentive.

After the mortar on the basement of the house dries up, you should proceed to finish the basement of the house. For finishing, you should choose high-quality and durable materials that can provide surface protection, and the next repair will not have to be done soon.

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Do-it-yourself blind area repair

When you can correct the defects that have arisen in the blind area. happens in this way.

The blind area is set to a height of 4-7 cm. It should be above ground level. Then the damaged area should be filled with cement mortar. In order for the blind area to have strength, it is reinforced with a mesh. You can even lay multiple layers of mesh. You can also achieve an increase in strength by adding crushed stone of a fine fraction to the solution. The blind area should have an angle of inclination from the house. This must be taken into account when pouring, then water will not fall under the foundation.

It is necessary to repair the blind area when small cracks appear on the surface of the blind area. Cement mortar is used to seal such cracks. Cracks are closed in the following way. The surface of the blind area is cleaned, you can even wash it. Then a liquid cement mortar is prepared, with which the blind area is poured, the liquid solution flows into the cracks and fills them. The consistency of the solution should be 1:1 or 1:2.

If there are cracks in the middle solution, then they can be repaired like this. Cracks are enlarged with a perforator in order to repair them with high quality. Then you need to treat the cracks with a primer. After drying, they should be filled with a bitumen composition with the addition of asbestos and crushed slag. After the mixture has hardened, the blind area is poured with a thin layer of cement mortar.

If the cracks are large, then you need to make repairs like this. Cracks are cleaned of dirt and primed. You need to let the primer dry. The cracks are then filled with concrete. Remember, it is concrete, not cement mortar. Places filled with concrete should be covered with a film for about a day.

It also happens that the blind area has peeled off from the house - how to repair it in this case? The place of delamination should be thoroughly cleaned and primed, the crack should be enlarged. This is done to ensure that the seal is durable and of high quality. You can also cover the base with bituminous mastic. A large opening between the blind area and the house is poured with concrete, and if the gap is small, then it can be filled with a rare cement solution.

When asked about the blind area, how to repair and when, it can be answered that repairs are best done in the spring, while there is still no high temperature, or at the beginning of summer, when it is still cool. This should be done because, due to heat, cracks can decrease, and this will lead to the impossibility of repairing them with high quality.

To repair the basement with your own hands, you do not need to have special skills. This construction procedure is not very complicated and you can do it, knowing some of the nuances of this case.

In simple terms, the basement is the distance from the ground to the walls of the house. It can be large (ground floor), or consist of a foundation protruding above the ground to a certain height. With the deformation of the basement of the house, the walls of the room also begin to collapse.

The main reasons for the destruction of the basement of the house

If cracks appear on the basement of your house or a fungus has formed, this indicates improper work in the construction of the building and non-compliance with the necessary design standards.

The main reasons for the destruction of the basement of the house are:

1. Structural shrinkage. This process mainly depends on the soil on which the building is located and on the weight of the building. A very pronounced shrinkage process can be in a brick apartment building.
2. Groundwater flow. If the design does not take into account the depth of groundwater flow and does not take all the necessary measures for waterproofing, then the foundation of the house is washed away. If you decide to make a foundation with your own hands, then be sure to contact the professionals so that they tell you at what depth the groundwater flows.
3. Poor quality padding. Failure to comply with the blind area manufacturing technology leads to undermining of the foundation.
4. Violation of design standards. Very often, builders forget about the insulation of the foundation and its waterproofing; basically, such a mistake is made when repairs are done not by professional teams, but by their own hands. Such oversights lead to the formation of fungus and freezing of building structures, which subsequently leads to the destruction of the basement.

How to repair the basement with your own hands?

The integrity of the basement is a very important characteristic for any house (one-story or multi-storey, brick or wooden), as the basement protects the foundation from the aggressive influence of external natural factors. Watch the video on how to strengthen the plinth with your own hands.

To repair the basement with your own hands, you must adhere to the following sequence:

The slope of the blind area in the direction opposite from the house should be at least 2%, so that the water drains and does not stagnate.

• When the reconstruction work is completed, install a small reinforcing mesh over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe basement of the house. It should exactly repeat the design of the foundation and fit snugly against it. To fix it, use the dowel nails, place the grid vertically.
• Coat the plinth and mesh with a primer, then wait until it is completely dry.
• Apply a layer of liquid cement mortar to the plinth and grid. Do it in such a way that after the work done, the contours of the grid cells can be seen. Level the applied layer with a grater. Be sure to wait until this layer is completely dry.
• Plaster the basement of the house.

How to protect the basement of the house from destruction?

Having done all the above steps, I want to protect the foundation and basement of the house from destruction. You can do this in several ways:

• Budget option, do it yourself. It has been in use for several decades. It consists in the fact that resin is applied to the foundation of the house from the outside to protect it from external factors. Such a mixture is prepared as follows: diesel fuel is mixed with resin and slowly heated over a fire until a homogeneous mixture is formed, similar to jelly. In this case, you need to make sure that it does not get on your skin and you are not burned. Such a solution, when solidified, forms a protective film that prevents moisture from entering the foundation.
• Modern version. This method of protecting the foundations of a house is more expensive, but it provides better preservation of building structures. This method involves facing the basement with decorative tiles or stone. Using this method, you only need to choose the right mixture for gluing the necessary material.

It is necessary to clad the plinth in all types of buildings, especially those built of brick material.

Deformation of the basement of the house can lead to the subsequent destruction of the walls of the entire structure. If its defects are found, it is required to immediately repair the basement of the house with your own hands and stop its deformation.

Various reasons can lead to the destruction of the base. Some are associated with its daily operation, others - with flaws in the course of construction work, and others - with the influence of natural factors.

Often the reason for the destruction of the basement is the failure to comply with the technology during the arrangement of the foundation of the building. This may be an error in calculating the depth of its laying, the use of poor quality materials, the wrong choice of design, which, due to its low bearing capacity, cannot withstand the mass of the building.

Poor waterproofing of the foundation can also lead to the destruction of the basement. Waterlogging of the structure due to the proximity of groundwater, precipitation or melting snow reduces the safe operation of the materials from which the basement of the building is made.

Ground movements on the site, its instability can cause deformation of the structure, which can only be corrected by repairing the basement. In some cases, moving soil under the house leads to more dangerous destruction, which can only be stopped by repairing and strengthening the foundation.

The deterioration of communications and frequent breaks in networks in the basement of the house also lead to the destruction of the basement. Concrete is more resistant to moisture, while for a brick base, each such breakthrough is fatal.

The redevelopment of the building does not pass without a trace. The displacement of the load or its growth leads to a redistribution of the load on the plinth and foundation. Those parts that are in areas with the greatest load begin to crumble. To remedy the situation, they conduct a study of destructible structures, followed by repair of the basement of a brick house.

What do you need to work?

Before repairing the basement, it is necessary to clean the space around the house, check the integrity of the blind area. Damaged areas of the basement of the building are cleaned, treated with a deep penetration primer.

The set of necessary materials will depend on the technology of work. If the repair of the basement is accompanied by the restoration of the blind area, you will need gravel, sand, concrete, waterproofing materials, and a formwork board. Surface restoration is carried out using a reinforced mesh, which is attached to the wall with dowels and a plaster mixture. You will need a power tool: a drill with a nozzle for mixing the solution and a perforator.

Partial restoration of the basement and blind area

For repair work on the basement, it is better to choose dry weather, since excessive moisture and moisture interfere with cement work. Windy weather will not become an obstacle to work - drafts, on the contrary, accelerate the drying of the cement mixture. Work with the cement mixture should not be carried out at low temperatures, as the composition loses its strength.

Before repairing the base, it must be fully inspected for defects. Remove paint and plaster from surfaces requiring repair. Clean off the old coating carefully, without excessive mechanical impact. You can use a metal brush for this.

If the destruction of the blind area is revealed, the repair begins with its restoration. Small defects are eliminated locally, if it is severely damaged or detached from the foundation, it is advisable to replace the blind area completely. It is carried out under a slope, with the arrangement of waterproofing.

After restoring the blind area, you can begin to repair the basement of a private house. To do this, its entire area is covered with a fine reinforcing mesh. It is mounted with a snug fit to the building structure and the dowel is fixed with nails. The basement part is primed together with the grid, then covered with a liquid cement raster. After it has completely dried, the surface can be plastered.

Overhaul

Overhaul of the basement requires pouring a new blind area. The old one is to be dismantled, in its place they dig a trench 35 cm deep and fill it with rubble. A layer of roofing material is laid on top of the rubble. To ensure that the blind area is tied to the building, holes are drilled in its foundation at a distance of 0.5 m from each other, into which pieces of reinforcement are hammered. A reinforced mesh is welded to the reinforcement. Then the formwork is installed, after which the blind area is poured with concrete mixture.

As soon as the concrete has hardened, they begin to restore the basement of the building. To strengthen it, it is necessary to fix a reinforced mesh on the facade. You can fix the mesh by tying it to the reinforcement bars hammered into the wall. After that, the formwork is installed, the basement is poured to the full height with a cement mixture. Another option is to fix the mesh to the wall with dowels and perform plaster work on it. After the plaster has dried, the basement of the building can be further protected by lining it with brick, stone, decorative tiles or siding.

Strengthening the foundation

When the cause of the destruction is the deformation of the foundation, it is necessary to repair and strengthen it. Such a deformation is especially dangerous for an apartment building, where people can suffer due to the destruction of the base of the building.

The work to strengthen the foundation is being carried out in stages. First, they are performed in the corners of the building, the next stage - on the central segments of the wall. To do this, a trench is laid below the base of the foundation, which is compacted with gravel and creates a sole for pouring a new foundation. Foundation walls are cleaned and primed. Using a perforator, several rows of holes are made over the entire height of the foundation, maintaining a distance of 0.7-1.2 m between them. Anchor bolts are installed in the holes. They can be replaced with pieces of reinforcement with a diameter of 12 mm and a length of 0.4 m.

A reinforcing cage is attached to the anchor bolts or reinforcement with a knitting wire, the cells of which have a size of 0.2 × 0.2 × 0.2 m. It is installed at a distance of 0.1 m from the old foundation structure. After its installation, the formwork is mounted. The entire structure is poured with concrete. After it has hardened and excavation work on backfilling, you can begin repairing the basement and updating the blind area.