Horizontal waterproofing of the foundation is the only type of protection that can be done only during the construction of the house. In the case of vertical insulation or blind area, repair or manufacture can be made at any time. To fix errors in horizontal protection, you have to disassemble the foundation. That is why this stage of work should be given special attention at the design stage.
Horizontal foundation insulation
It all depends on the chosen method of manufacturing the structure, of which there are two:
- Made;
- Monolithic.
In both cases, it is necessary to provide for the laying of waterproofing material between the outer wall of the house and the base. Such insulation is necessary so that the contact of materials with different characteristics does not lead to damage to one of them. The main cause of damage is humidity. The fluid content in the structure of some structures is normal, but other materials from this may begin to rot, mold or rust. This is especially true when touched:
- concrete with masonry;
- concrete with wood;
- metal with wood;
- metal with brickwork.
If you forget about the isolation between these structures, the consequences can be disastrous. To install the trimmed base you can use:
- roofing material;
- linocrom;
- hydroisol.
All of the above materials are stacked in two layers. If we look at old textbooks, such options as roofing and glassine are often used there. The use of the first is prohibited, the second can only be considered in an extreme case, when it is not possible to purchase more modern materials for waterproofing.
To provide insulation between the base and the masonry of the walls is important not only for tape foundations, but also for everyone else.
When installing a strip precast foundation, an additional layer of horizontal waterproofing will be required. It is located at the floor, basement or 15-20 cm lower (in the nearest horizontal seam between the blocks). The materials used are the same as in the previous case. The styling technology is no different: in two layers.
An additional layer of insulation of the strip foundation can serve as laying material on a sandy cushion in a pit or trench. This prevents damage to the sole. As raw materials you can use:
- roll materials;
- diffusion membranes;
- clay (making a castle);
- plastic wrap;
- pouring concrete of low grades.
Such insulation is especially relevant during construction on heaving soils.
Horizontal insulation of slab foundations
In monolithic slabs, horizontal waterproofing of the foundation plays a major role. Here it will be necessary to carry out protection measures not only between the masonry and the base, but also in other places. In general, the following stages of moisture barriers can be listed from bottom to top:
- Preparation of "lean" concrete. It performs several functions at once. Levels the base for filling the plate, strengthens it. At the same time, it does not damage the sole of the foundation with groundwater and reliably protects it.
- Waterproofing for concrete preparation. Stacked under the insulation (if any). It can be made of various materials. Prevents penetration of soil moisture to the supporting structure.
- Insulation of the slab from above over the entire width. The method is not always applied. Allows you to protect the foundation from moisture from the air or the room. Such protection is especially relevant in damp rooms (bathrooms, bathrooms, kitchens), where there is a risk of flooding.
- A layer between the foundation and the outer wall fences of different materials.
In the second case, the following materials can be applied:
- roofing material;
- linocrom;
- hydroisol;
- diffusion membranes;
- polyethylene film.
The most modern and expensive option is to use a membrane. Materials with a smooth surface are intended for horizontal insulation (they are easily visually distinguished from perforated membranes for vertical protection).
Horizontal insulation over the flooded surface of the slab can be done in several ways. The simplest and most affordable of them is iron. It can be carried out using two technologies:
- Wet way. It is carried out at least 2 weeks after pouring. The simplest solution is prepared in compliance with the proportions of sand, cement and lime test 1: 1: 10, respectively. Lime is needed to prevent cracking. Advantage of the method: greater strength compared to dry.
- Dry way. It is carried out right after setting. The concrete surface is sprinkled with a dry mixture of sand and cement one to one. Layer thickness - from 3 mm. Next, you need to wait until the mixture is saturated with moisture from concrete and rub it into the surface. The work is carried out with a trowel. The method is simple and cheap.
In addition to ironing, the upper edge of the slab can be coated with bitumen. This option is also affordable, inexpensive and quite simple to implement.
The most modern method will be the impregnation of the concrete surface with penetrating waterproofing compounds.
The most famous in this group was Penetron. It penetrates deep into concrete and crystallizes in the capillaries, preventing the penetration of moisture.
Between the external enclosing structures and the foundation, for the manufacture of which different materials were used, lay a layer, as in the case of strip foundations.
Horizontal isolation of pile and column foundation
Here you will need to lay the material only along the edged foundation. But there is one caveat: depending on what the grillage is made of, the location of such insulation may differ. For a more illustrative example, it is worth considering two cases:
- Bored concrete piles with concrete grillage, installed under a house made of timber. In this case, the strapping and foundation are made of the same material, between them there is no need to lay a protective layer. It will be required between the grillage and the walls of the timber to prevent damage to structures of different properties.
- Metal screw piles with a wooden grillage under the frame house. Here the situation is the opposite: piles and grillages have different properties. The wall fencing of the house is made on a wooden frame, the lower trim is also wooden. In this case, waterproofing is placed on the heads of piles in order to distinguish between wood and metal.
A competent choice of material for waterproofing and its timely production will extend the life of the house and prevent problems.
It is also important to remember such a design as drainage.
In most cases, these are horizontal pipes laid below the bottom of the foundation. They allow you to remove part of the load from the waterproofing and remove groundwater away from the foundation. From the rain and melt water, the supports of the house should be protected by the blind area. It is not provided only for pile and columnar bases.