How to make a cheap blind area. How to make ebb and flow around the house with your own hands: the correct blind area Concrete blind area around the house with your own hands

The blind area is designed to protect the foundation from damage that may result from contact with atmospheric moisture. Additionally, the blind area will protect the structure from the destructive effects of the roots of various plants. Many owners ignore the need to install this element completely in vain. You can make a blind area with your own hands, and thanks to this element, which is easy to construct, the service life of the building will increase significantly.

The blind area performs a number of important functions, including:

• security reliable protection the foundation of the house from the harmful effects of atmospheric moisture and other negative factors;
• diversion of any kind of water from the building into the drainage system. Special drainage gutters are installed in the surface of the blind area, thanks to which the risk of the base and base getting wet is significantly reduced;
• improving the appearance of the building. Thanks to the blind area, the foundation will look more harmonious and complete;
• additional insulation of the foundation. Provided that all layers of the structure are properly arranged or special heat-insulating materials are used, the soil close to the house will freeze much less;
• practicality. Quite often, a blind area is used as a convenient path around a building, along which you can move without causing harm to plants and other elements of the site’s landscape.

Thus, the blind area is a functional and aesthetic element that must be installed around your home. Study the instructions provided and you will be able to make a high-quality and reliable blind area with your own hands.

The design under consideration consists of covering (upper) and underlying (lower) layers. The underlying layer ensures a smooth surface. However, the base should not be 100% horizontal, but have some slope.

If concrete is used as the top layer, the bottom layer must be made horizontal. The slope will be created directly at the stage of pouring concrete. Thanks to the slope, quick and high-quality drainage of water from the facade of the building will be ensured.

At the end of the work, a drainage ditch is created along the outer edge of the perimeter of the blind area. The slope is usually maintained at a level of 5 cm per 1 m of blind area width.

The underlying and covering layers can be made of different materials. So, clay, crushed stone and gravel are suitable for arranging the bottom layer.

Practice shows that it is best to use crumpled clay as a base. This material initially has good waterproofing properties. The standard thickness of the bottom layer is 25-30 cm. If the base of the blind area is made of clay, it will be enough to equip a 15-20 cm layer of the substrate.

When using gravel or crushed stone, sand must be poured over the main part of the underlying layer. The thickness of a separate additional layer of sand should be 7-10 cm.

For the covering layer, use a hard and moisture-proof material. The most commonly used materials are concrete, natural stone, and asphalt. Paving slabs and bricks are sometimes used.

Preparing for work

Before starting work, you need to decide on the basic parameters of the future blind area. First of all, set the appropriate width. Most regulatory documents indicate that the blind area must have a width of at least 60 cm. However, this is only the minimum recommended value. There are many additional important factors to consider before you finally select the appropriate width.

First of all, Pay attention to the features of the eaves overhangs of the roof of your house. The outer border of the blind area should be approximately 25-30 cm further than the most protruding edge of the roof eaves.

At the stage of designing a blind area, one cannot help but take into account the architectural and design features of the house. For example, if the site is decorated using various kinds of unusual design elements, the blind area can also be given an original look by intelligently and organically connecting it with other landscape elements.

A very important parameter is the type of soil at the construction site. For example, if the house stands on subsiding soil, the width of the blind area should be at least 90-100 cm. Experts recommend that the blind area be more than 1 m wide. In such conditions, the structure in question will be able to simultaneously drain water and serve as a convenient path around the building.

It is important that the blind area is continuous. Any kind of fabric ruptures can lead to a decrease in protective functions blind areas.

After determining the appropriate width, you will need to set the optimal slope of the blind area. In order for the structure to effectively cope with water drainage tasks, the slope must be at least 2-5 degrees in the direction from the house.

To determine the exact slope value, you must also take into account climatic features, characteristic of the location of the house, and the type of material used to construct the top layer of the structure. For example, if the underlying layer is made of paving slabs, the slope of the blind area can be slightly reduced compared to the same indicator for a structure made of crushed stone.

The slope itself can be created at the stage of laying the bottom layer or during the installation of the front covering. This point depends on what specific materials are used to construct the structure in question.

After determining the optimal system parameters, calculate the required amount of materials and collect the required tools. At the stage of creating the underlying layer, you will need crushed stone and sand or clay.

The top layer of the blind area is most often made of concrete. If you decide to make your choice in favor of this material, first prepare a concrete mixer or container for preparing mortar, fittings and wire, several shovels, a level and other small accessories.

Step-by-step instructions for pouring a blind area

The process of constructing a blind area will be considered using the example of a concrete structure. If you are a beginner, pay attention to this option, because... in most cases it is simpler to set up compared to others existing varieties blind area. Complete each step of the work and you will get a reliable, durable and efficient design.

First stage. Mark out the local area. It is enough to measure the selected distance from the walls of the house, drive pegs made of any suitable material along the measured line and connect these pegs with a rope. Make sure that the marking points are on the same line.

Second phase. Remove the soil over the entire area of ​​the blind area. The depth of the pit is selected individually, taking into account the type of system and the characteristics of the materials used. In most cases, the thickness of an ordinary concrete blind area is about 25 cm, excluding the front finish.

Third stage. Treat the plant roots at the bottom of the trench with special herbicides. Such treatment will not allow roots to grow in the future and disrupt the structure of the blind area.

Fourth stage. Assemble the formwork. You can use as starting materials unedged board and wooden blocks for supports. The thickness of the boards should be at least 2 cm. Install the boards along the outer border of the trench.

Fifth stage. Compact the bottom of the trench and place a 5 cm layer of clay on it. Thoroughly compact the clay, place a 10-centimeter layer of sand on top of it and tamp it down. For better compaction, the sand should be spilled with water. Place a layer of crushed stone on top of the sand.

Sixth stage. Place the reinforcement bars on the prepared cushion. Maintain a step of 10-15 cm. As a result, you should get a reinforcing mesh. Tie the connection points using steel wire. Thanks to reinforcement, the structure will have higher strength and resistance to various types of loads.

Seventh stage. At the junction of the blind area with the building, make an expansion joint. A 1.5 cm wide seam will be sufficient. Fill the seam space with a sand-gravel mixture or bitumen.

Eighth stage. Pour the concrete. Fill in one horizontal layer. Approximately every 230-250 cm, install transverse wooden slats. Thanks to them, expansion joints will be created that are necessary for the normal operation of the blind area. Select slats such that their upper part is flush with the surface of the concrete structure. The slats should be pre-treated with an antiseptic.

Ninth stage. Carefully level the concrete and create the required slope before the mixture hardens.

Tenth stage. Cover the fill with wet burlap. As the fabric dries, it will need to be re-wetted with water. This will prevent the concrete mortar from cracking.

After about 3-4 weeks, the concrete will completely dry and gain the necessary strength. If desired, you can lay porcelain stoneware, paving slabs or other suitable material on the dried blind area.

Thus, there is nothing complicated about constructing a blind area yourself. All costs are reduced to purchase costs building materials. Follow the instructions and you can do everything as well as a professional builder.

Happy work!

Video - DIY blind area step by step instructions

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After completing the construction of the house, it is mandatory to install a blind area. It will protect the foundation from soaking and cracking, and will also significantly extend the life of the building. The design is quite simple and therefore the blind area can be made with your own hands - step-by-step instruction and recommendations will help you go through all stages of installation without errors.

Appearance of the blind area

The structure of the blind area around the house is quite simple and consists of two main elements: a substrate and a covering. The main role of the substrate is to create a smooth and solid foundation for styling protective coating. Typically, the substrate is two layers of clay or sand and crushed stone. The good thing about using clay is that it can perform a waterproofing function and not allow moisture to pass through, but to do this it will need to be laid well and ensure a uniform layer. Sand is easier to use, as it can easily smooth out any unevenness in the soil surface.

Any suitable materials that have the following properties can be used as a coating:

• Have sufficient strength to withstand expected mechanical loads.
• They have high-quality waterproofing properties.
• Resistant to sudden temperature changes.
• Thanks to the smooth surface, they are able to efficiently remove moisture from the foundation.

Therefore, concrete, asphalt, stone or tile coverings are mainly used for blind areas.

Related article:

Photo of the blind area around the house: main types of structures

When designing photos, blind areas around houses will greatly simplify their selection. There are these types of structures:

• Tough. They are structures based on hard coatings that, under load, retain their shape without deformation. Usually made of concrete or asphalt. Their service life is usually compared with the duration of operation of the building. In terms of installation cost, rigid structures will be more expensive than others, as they require mandatory insulation and waterproofing. Requires medium or high density soil for installation.

• Soft. They are distinguished by simple installation technology and minimal operating requirements. In fact, it consists of several layers of bulk materials. Requires minimal cost and physical effort to install. The service life is on average 5-7 years. They can be laid on any type of soil, including loose ones. They are used mainly for temporary purposes, since their appearance is not entirely aesthetic and is unlikely to fit into the design of the building facade.

• Semi-rigid. They represent a compromise between hard and soft structures in terms of financial and physical costs. The outer layer is usually tiled, stone or reinforced concrete slabs. The service life can be up to several decades. They have excellent maintainability, since part of the structure can be replaced or rearranged without any problems. However, they are limited for use in areas with high groundwater, on soils with large freezing depths and on heaving soils. Cost installation work will cost less than hard ones, but at the same time the highest quality aesthetic appearance will be achieved.

Determining the parameters of the blind area

In order to understand how to properly make blind areas around houses, you need to choose it correctly technical specifications. One of them is width. It is determined by the current building codes and rules that say that it must be 20 cm longer than the most protruding part of the roof slope. Usually this size is measured from the gutters. The width of the blind area around the house is determined based on the selected type of material, the density of the soil on the site and the magnitude of the expected variable and static loads. In most cases, the width of the structure for private houses is made at least 1 m.

Another parameter is the degree to which the structure is buried in the ground. It is mainly influenced by the level of soil freezing. In regions where there is a significant decrease in air temperature, the structure is significantly affected by soil properties such as heaving, which can damage it literally within a year without the possibility of recovery. Therefore, the filling level must provide sufficient strength so that it effectively resists heaving and does not deform. The minimum depth is at least 10 cm, including a layer of sand and crushed stone cushion. If constant loads are expected, it is recommended to increase the thickness to 15-20 cm.

Helpful information! Where the porch adjoins the house there is no particular need to lay a blind area, since the main foundation in this case will be protected. However, if a monolithic or brick porch is built, then it is recommended to protect it too, since the weight per unit area is quite large and the likelihood of subsidence is high.

For high-quality sediment removal, the surface must have a certain slope. The magnitude of the angle to the horizontal, on the one hand, is influenced by the amount of precipitation in a particular region, and on the other hand, by the ease of use of the structure as a pedestrian path or for other purposes. A value of 2-3° is considered optimal.

In order to prevent flooding of the structure, it is recommended to make it 5 cm higher from the ground surface. If there are trees or bushes near the house, you will need to uproot them to a distance of approximately 1.5 m from the house.

Attention! You can protect the structure from destruction by the roots of trees or any plants by installing a border.

Preparatory work

Preparation for installation is carried out in several stages:

• Marking the territory.
• Carrying out earthworks.
• Laying the underlying layer.

We mark out the area for installation of the blind area

Using pegs around the perimeter of the house it is necessary to mark. To do this, use a tape measure to measure a distance of 1 m from the walls and drive wooden pegs into the corners to a depth of 0.5 m so that it is possible to carry out excavation work without moving them from their place. We pull a rope on them.

Helpful information! If the building has a large area, it is recommended to install additional pegs along the walls every 2.5-3 m.

Excavation stage

Using a shovel, you need to dig a trench according to the markings. The depth is determined by the type of structure chosen, climatic conditions and soil composition. The layer should be removed evenly with a slope of 2-3° from the building. This is quite easy to do by setting the digging depth along the building and along the marking line.

Since the main foundation and the design of the blind area will have different coefficients thermal expansion, then it is recommended to create a thermal gap between them of 1-2 mm. To do this, after stopping digging, you need to lay a damping layer based on polyurethane tape along the wall.

The bottom of the trench should be carefully compacted with a special tool, which is a steel rod with a weld on the lower end. flat sheet. If such a device is not at hand, then you can use a regular log.

Laying a pillow under the blind area

It is necessary to lay waterproofing at the bottom of the prepared trench and fill it with a layer of sand 10-20 cm thick, depending on the type of structure and the depth of the trench, with careful compaction and leveling. For ease of work, it is recommended to spill the layer generously with water in order to compact it as much as possible. However, before laying the outer layer, you will need to wait until the pillow dries.

Important! If construction is carried out in an area with high groundwater, a drainage system will need to be installed. It is a pipe with holes in the upper part, which is located around the perimeter of the building and is connected to the storm sewer system.

It is necessary to pour gravel with a fraction size of up to 5 cm on top of the sand, and level the top layer with crushed stone with a grain size of up to 5 mm. This will save building material on the outer layer due to the absence of the need to fill the pores formed.

Helpful information! Crushed stone can be replaced by other types of stone or even broken bricks. The most important thing is to use a homogeneous material so that areas with different strength characteristics are not created.

How to properly make a blind area around the house?

The installation process depends on the type of structure and the selected material. For example, when installing a soft structure, no additional work will be required, but when installing a hard one, you will need to lay several waterproofing layers. How to carry out installation correctly will be described in the following subsections.

Installation of a rigid blind area

It is recommended to install a rigid structure on a heat- and waterproofing layer, which will significantly extend the life of the structure. For these purposes, it is recommended to use thermal insulation materials that are highly resistant to moisture and have increased strength under significant mechanical loads. An example would be expanded polystyrene or foam boards.

Attention! Before laying, it is necessary to install the formwork, for which it is recommended to use boards lined with a waterproofing film on the inside. This solution will prevent the absorption of moisture from the subsequently poured concrete solution and it will be able to gain design strength. Otherwise, the dehydrated parts will become brittle and the service life will be significantly reduced.

To understand the technology of pouring a blind area around a concrete house, how to make formwork and what sequence of actions to follow, you need to read the step-by-step instructions. It looks like this:

• We install the first slab from the corner of the building along the wall, checking the correct position using a building level.
• We fix the insulation onto a suitable type of fastening, pressing it tightly against the wall.
• We install the next one butt to the first plate with a minimum gap.
• We secure the slab and carefully seal the joint with construction foam.
• Similarly, we lay the entire perimeter of the walls with heat-insulating material.

Attention! If the blind area is installed in the northern regions, then it is recommended to lay two layers of insulation with ligation of the joints of the two layers. This will avoid the formation of cold bridges.

Before pouring concrete into the formwork, it is necessary to lay the reinforcing mesh. For these purposes, ready-made meshes with a rod diameter of 8-10 mm and a cell size of 10-15 cm are used. It is important to lay them in such a way that the steel rods are in the concrete layer. To do this, you need to use special plastic supports.

It is recommended to fill the structure with concrete mortar grade M400 or higher, and at one time, so that the structure acquires maximum strength. Therefore, you need to calculate the approximate volume in advance and order the solution in the required quantity at the cement plant.

When pouring, it is important to create a uniform layer, for which you carefully smooth the concrete over the surface using a shovel or mop. Additionally, the solution must be stirred to remove air bubbles from the layer. After driving the layer to the level of the edges of the formwork, it is necessary to level the surface as a rule. The side parts of the formwork will serve as guides.

At the final stage, the surface of the blind area must be sprinkled with a thin layer of cement. To provide ideal conditions To harden the concrete, you will need to cover the entire upper part with a layer of polyethylene. Every day it is necessary to moisten the surface with water. The curing time is 28 days depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment.

Installation of a soft blind area

The soft blind area around houses is laid on a waterproofing layer laid on top sand cushion. It is recommended to use rubemast as an insulating material, which has an increased service life. Laying is done overlapping at a distance of 10-15 cm not only along the main surface, but also on the walls of the main building. The connecting seams are sealed with bitumen under the heat of the burner.

On top of the waterproofing it is necessary to pour a 10 cm layer of a dry mixture of sand and crushed stone in equal proportions. Then the surface should be thoroughly compacted and leveled. In this case, it is imperative to maintain the angle of inclination. Another layer of crushed stone with a grain size of no more than 5 mm is laid on top of the embankment and also compacted.

DIY semi-rigid blind area: step-by-step instructions

Is it possible to create a semi-rigid structure on your own in the absence of suitable experience? The task is completely solvable and you can create a reliable blind area with your own hands - step-by-step instructions will allow you to go through all the stages without errors. It is installed directly on a prepared sand-crushed stone cushion, on top of which an additional layer of sand 8-10 cm thick is poured. For paving

How to repair a blind area?

The blind area around the house, if you do not know the nuances of laying technology, how to properly pour concrete or lay tiles, will certainly contain defects that will emerge sooner or later and require repair work. Restoration is carried out depending on the degree of damage:

• If there are cracks no larger than 1 mm, repairs are not required, since they are not critical and will in no way worsen the performance characteristics of the structure.
• If the crack size is up to 3 mm, then it is recommended to use water-cement mortar in equal proportions. After the solution dries, a durable layer will be created that will provide maximum protection to the building foundation.
• For cracks up to 3 cm, it will be necessary to fill them with concrete mortar, having previously cleaned them of dirt and treated them with a deep penetration primer. It is also allowed to use waterproof putties or sealants.

• Cracks larger than 3 cm - it is necessary to study the strength of the structure and evaluate its maintainability. It may be necessary to remove part of the top layer and level the pillow. After making sure that the structure has sufficient load-bearing capacity, concrete should be poured.
• The crumbling of the blind area is eliminated by applying a water-cement mixture to the surface in order to strengthen it.

Conclusion

It has been shown that a do-it-yourself blind area installed can last a long time if step-by-step instructions are used and construction technologies are followed. The main installation methods for all types of blind areas are given. Some methods for repairing damage to the external surface of a structure are indicated.

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Why do you need a blind area around the house? Can you make it yourself? The blind area, first of all, serves as a kind of protection along with a decorative function. It is installed after finishing laying the walls, when the time comes exterior finishing. It protects the foundation from precipitation or its consequences. The blind area looks like a wide strip, hermetically adjacent to the outer part of the foundation, encircling the house on all sides. It is this adjacent area that is exposed to the greatest amount of precipitation that flows from the roof or walls of the building, so it must be reliable, waterproof, and strong.

In addition to its direct purpose, the blind area “works” as insulation for the basement of the building.

As for the width of this protective strip, the rule “the more, the better” applies here. According to SNiP, the minimum width of the blind area should be at least 80 cm, while the maximum can be any - at the discretion of the owner of the house.

There are certain requirements when arranging this architectural element:

1. The width of the strip should not be equal to the level of the roof overhang, and it cannot be narrower than its edge.
2. The blind area around the house must be continuous.
3. Protection of the building foundation depends on the width of the strip.
4. Installation is carried out with a slope from the house of at least 1.5°.

It should be wide enough so that you can easily walk on it without touching the walls. The most optimal width is 1 meter.

Construction of a blind area around the house

A blind area of ​​any type consists of two layers - underlying and waterproof. The bottom layer is usually gravel, crushed stone or sand, and the top layer can be made of concrete, natural stone, paving slabs, asphalt.

The optimal slope angle from the house is 3-5°; if the building stands on ordinary soil, then the width of the blind area should be approximately 20-30 cm larger than the cornice. If your home is built on subsiding or marshy soil, then the width should be at least 90-110 cm.

It is worth mentioning that some types of foundations (for example, screw and pile) do not need a blind area at all. They require the installation of a protective coating only in areas where water drains from the roof.

If the house is located on heaving soil, then it is better to make a blind area with insulation - this is necessary so that the protection does not allow moisture to pass through. In winter, water freezes and expands the soil, so polystyrene foam placed in the blind area can prevent this factor. Extruded polystyrene foam not only does not allow water to pass through, but is also characterized by high thermal insulation qualities.

Expanded polystyrene is placed between the layers of the blind area (a crushed stone or gravel cushion is located below), it is best to pour concrete on top or lay tiles or cobblestones. Similar method insulation is very effective and shows good results.

Let's consider the types of blind areas around the house:

1. The simplest, but almost never used material for constructing a protective strip is clay. It is an excellent hydraulic lock for the foundation of a house. Nowadays, the use of clay is no longer relevant, since new modern materials confidently occupy leading positions in the construction market.
2. A concrete protective strip is the most common option for arranging foundation protection. It is quickly installed, has a low cost compared to the price of the building materials used, and has a long service life. service life, resistant to manifestations natural factors.
3. The tile blind area around the house is placed on a layer of sand. Tiles are convenient because they can be matched to the appearance of the building or decorative features summer cottage plot. This type of protective strip around the house is durable and easy to install.
4. Natural stone laid around the house looks very beautiful and has a long service life, but requires patience and care when installing.
5. The asphalt coating of the protective strip is used infrequently, due to the lack of decorativeness, a specific odor when heated by sunlight and high cost.
6. A waterproof protective strip is made only if there is a well-installed drainage system. In this case, much attention is paid to the installation of drains from the roof so that moisture is removed at a considerable distance from the foundation of the building. Such protection around the house is more decorative than practical.
7. One of the most expensive types of blind area is made of granite. Respectable appearance, quality, durability are the main criteria for this method of protection.

It will be ideal if outside The entire perimeter of the protective strip around the house will be equipped with a drainage system (it does not have to be very deep). This technique will maximally protect the foundation from contact with moisture.

How to make a blind area with your own hands around the house?

As mentioned above, the blind area consists of two structural layers - underlying and covering. The underlying layer provides a smooth, dense base for laying subsequent materials. The role of “bedding” is sand, clay, and fine crushed stone. The thickness of the bedding layer depends on what material the protective strip will be covered with.

The coating fulfills its main purpose - protection from water, and it does not matter what material it is made of.

As an example, consider the stage-by-stage construction of a concrete blind area:

1. Initially, the future protective strip is marked; for its arrangement, we will take a width of 1 meter as a basis.
2. Along the entire perimeter of the house (in accordance with the markings) we remove a layer of soil (20-30 cm) and compact the base.
   
3. If there are plants under the layer of removed soil, their roots can be treated with herbicides so that they do not subsequently begin to make their way through the coating.
4. We make removable formwork from the boards.
5. We lay a thin layer of clay on the compacted soil, and on top of it a sandy layer (about 10 cm). Clay and sand should be thoroughly compacted after installation. In the immediate vicinity of the foundation, sand is compacted especially carefully.
6. We spill the sand layer with water, but not very much, since there is clay below.
7. We lay the crushed stone in a thin layer, approximately 6-8 cm.
   
8. In order for the future protective strip around the house to be strong and withstand compression and tension loads, it must be reinforced. A reinforcement mesh with a pitch of 10 cm is suitable for this purpose.
   
9. In the place where the blind area is adjacent to the base you need to make expansion joint, sometimes called temperature or deformation. This seam provides a kind of protection during soil subsidence. It has a width of 1-2 cm. Thus, this gap between the base and the blind area is filled with a sand-gravel mixture or roofing felt; it can also be filled with resin or polyethylene foam (rope), sealant. It is mandatory to install expansion joints in all corners of the house.
10. How to fill a blind area at home? The construction of expansion joints is simply necessary when arranging the correct protective strip around the house. When pouring concrete, thin wooden boards placed edgewise must be installed every 2 or 3 meters. For these purposes, ordinary wooden slats are optimally suited; they must be laid so that the upper surface coincides with the level of the surface of the concrete mass and always taking into account the slope! Wooden elements can be pre-treated with protective agents against rotting.
    
11. What kind of concrete is needed for the blind area around the house? The concrete used to create it should not be inferior in frost-resistant characteristics to its road counterpart. Brand M250 or M300 is perfect; it is mixed with sand, fine gravel, and water until a homogeneous mass is obtained. This mass is laid on top of the reinforcing mesh and wooden ribs, compacted (by vibration or bayonet) and leveled using a rule.
    
12. Concrete blind area around the house, made with your own hands, will become as strong as possible if you use the ironing method immediately after pouring. This construction technique has two methods - dry and wet. With the dry method, cement is sprinkled onto a fresh, leveled layer of concrete. It is sifted on a fine sieve. By tapping on this sieve, it is evenly distributed in a thin layer (2-3 mm) over the entire surface of the protective layer. After these manipulations, this layer is carefully compacted using a plaster spatula. Dry cement draws moisture from wet concrete and, when hardened, forms additional reinforcing armor. With the wet ironing method, sifted cement is mixed with water to a dough-like consistency and applied to the dried concrete layer using a plaster spatula. The thickness of such protection is 2-3 mm. Sometimes ceresite or liquid glass is added to such a solution, but in any case, the strength of the protective layer depends on the quality of compaction and smoothing.
13. At the final stage, the concrete is covered with a wet cloth and periodically moistened. This protects the concrete layer from drying out until it finally hardens. After 7-10 days, your concrete blind area will be ready.

You can take an easier route - save time. This method is now very popular, as it has good protective qualities and gives the adjacent strip an attractive appearance.

To do this, after removing the soil layer, sand is poured into the bottom of the trench and liquid glass mixed with a hardener is poured on top. After hardening, an attractive monolithic surface is obtained, which has high moisture-resistant characteristics.

How to repair a crack in the blind area of ​​a house?

Cracks or damage to the concrete surface can also appear due to certain circumstances. Shallow cracks can be filled with a liquid cement solution; larger cracks are pre-cut out along the entire length of the damage and cleaned of debris and dust. After cleaning, the crack is filled with a mixture of bitumen, asbestos and sand.

Large damage can also be filled with fresh concrete after priming it. Next, the “patch” is cared for in the same way as a regular screed - the surface is moistened until the concrete hardens completely.

If the damage is serious, then additional reinforcement of the cracks is carried out, followed by filling them with a sand-cement mixture with the addition of crushed stone. After complete hardening, the patches are treated with a primer.

Soft blind area around the house

The soft blind area does not have a hard top covering; instead, crushed stone of various colors is filled in, or soil with grass is generally used. The soft blind area is not afraid of soil deformation due to freezing and subsequent thawing. When laying such a protective strip, it is not necessary to observe the slope angle. If based soft covering If a layer of expanded polystyrene is provided, it will additionally help reduce the depth of soil freezing in the foundation area.

The blind area around the house made of crushed stone is done like this:

1. A layer of soil is removed, compacted, then a layer of clay (10 cm) is laid over the entire area of ​​the resulting trench. To avoid subsequent swelling, the clay must be absolutely clean, that is, free of sand.
2. The clay is also compacted, and a waterproofing film is laid on top of it (with a reserve). If circumstances are such that the blind area moves away from the foundation, then the supply of film will be able to compensate for the resulting shortage of material. The film is fixed by overlapping directly onto the foundation.
3. Sand is poured over the waterproofing.
4. The next step is laying geotextiles over the entire area of ​​the future blind area.
5. Crushed stone is poured onto geotextiles. The embankment layer can be from 10 to 15 cm.
6. Geotextiles are re-laid, onto which decorative crushed stone is poured.

Thus, any blind area around the house, made with your own hands, will help to significantly increase the service life of your home and add additional aesthetics and attractiveness.

Do-it-yourself blind area at home: step-by-step instructions, videos, and expert advice presented in this article on the website will help you do this work yourself. The most reliable way to protect the foundation of a house is blind area: step-by-step instruction for the construction of this structure is so simple that you can easily do without the help of qualified specialists. Following simple and clear recommendations, you can build capital protection for the foundation of your own home with minimal costs and thereby prevent damage to the foundation by surface water.

Blind area around the house you can do it yourself, even without having great experience in construction

Do-it-yourself blind area of ​​the house: step-by-step instructions for the initial stage of construction

At the initial stage of construction, you should decide on the choice of blind area and the main parameters responsible for the quality and reliability of the structure. Private houses and cottages are not insured against erosion of the foundation by surface water, so it is recommended to use additional protective measures, allowing you to strengthen the foundation of the building.

Not only protects the foundation of the building, but can also serve as paths

Note! The construction of a concrete blind area around the house, which has a complete coating, provides an almost 100% guarantee of protection from moisture. No other material has such capabilities. Otherwise, for the sake of additional reinforcement, you will have to equip a multi-tiered “pie” structure, which in itself is difficult and will entail significant costs.

The foundation of the building is exposed to various natural factors:

• low temperatures;
• excess moisture;
• damage mechanical properties due to swelling of the soil.

The stability of the entire building depends on the condition in which the foundation part of the cottage is located, so the protection must be thorough and reliable. This function is the main one for the blind area, protective properties which also extends to the basement of the house.

Scheme of the blind area around the house with top layer from crushed stone

Photo of the blind area around the house and its purpose

The construction of such a structure as a blind area is designed to minimize negative impact natural factors on the foundation part of the structure. Of course, it is impossible to completely protect it, but you can achieve the following:

• drain rain (as well as melt and flood) water from the basement of the house. In the short-term presence of moisture there will be no significant harm, however, long periods of stagnation of liquid can compromise the integrity of this part of the building. Due to constant exposure to moisture, concrete is subject to crumbling, the reinforcement part of the base is exposed and damaged by corrosion. As a result, the rigidity of the frame part of the structure is significantly reduced;
• stop soil movement. Soil is a mobile and capricious substance that affects any building. Depending on the type of foundation part, as well as the area chosen for placing the cottage, the following problems may be observed: shifts in soil layers, subsidence or, conversely, swelling of the soil surface, changes in the height of the water horizon. The blind area will reduce the stress on the building caused by these changes;

Blind area around a private house built of concrete and tiled

• maintain the temperature of the foundation and prevent a significant drop in this value in winter. The construction of an insulated blind area around the house helps in solving this problem, since during the cold period special requirements are put forward for the foundation part hidden underground (it must be stable);

Helpful advice! Insulation work related to the blind area is carried out during the formation of the main platform and its pouring.

• improve the appearance of the cottage. The blind area can play the role of a frame, making the facade of the building complete and harmonious. This area is lined with plinth siding, decorative stone, paving slabs.

The blind area made of paving slabs harmoniously combines with the design of the building itself

How to determine the width of the blind area around the house and other parameters

All the main parameters used for the construction of the blind area are regulated by a number of relevant SNiPs. These data make it possible to produce technologically correct and durable designs.

If we talk about a concrete product, then its width should be 20 cm greater than the end point of the protruding overhang roofing material. If there is a drainage system, these parameters must also be taken into account and included in the calculations. The final width is influenced by the characteristics of the soil and its type. The generally accepted width for a blind area is 100 cm. Monolithic surface made of concrete will not only provide freedom of movement along the wall of the house, but will also serve as a path.

The final indicators of the width and depth of the blind area are influenced by the characteristics of the soil: its features and type

The depth level (the depth of the blind area relative to the ground) is calculated based on the level of soil freezing in winter. Most often, this indicator is requested from the information department of the local architecture department or is established according to the table. Blind area must have the ability to move along with the ground, otherwise all its functions will be reduced to only one - water drainage.

Note! Communication systems placed in the soil have a direct impact on the depth of its freezing.

The minimum acceptable value for the thickness of the concrete blind area around the house is 7-10 cm ( surface layer). If the building design includes a garage, this figure should be increased to 15 cm so that the structure can withstand high weight loads.

Diagram of a blind area around a concrete house

Protection is required for the entire perimeter of the building, so the length of the blind area depends on the length of the perimeter. You can skip the installation area of ​​the concrete porch, since it itself is a reinforcing structure.

Blind area around the house: how to properly fill the structure, additional parameters

The maximum permissible surface slope is in the range of 1-10 cm/m. In other words, it is 1-10%. In this case, the angle of inclination should be directed strictly from the foundation. Such a large gap is explained by the fact that the slope angle directly depends on the type of soil, as well as the amount of precipitation characteristic of the region. The most commonly used slope is 2-3 cm/m (that is, 2-3°). If you take more, during frosts and icing the blind area will not be able to be used as a path.

Step-by-step instructions for building a concrete blind area around the house. Step 1: marking and preparing the area. Step 2: digging a trench, insulating the foundation with roofing felt

The level of the blind area above the ground (height from the soil level) should be at a height of at least 5 cm. Thanks to this, moisture will not accumulate at the edges of the structure and destroy it. Damage is especially likely to occur in the winter when water hardens and expands, causing cracks in the concrete.

The minimum height of the base part is 50 cm (if you are taking on the construction of a hard type structure made of concrete) and 30 cm for a soft blind area.

As for the border, this part has a decorative purpose, so the need to install it is dictated solely by your budget and personal preferences.

Note! If blackberries, raspberries, plane trees or poplars grow next to the blind area, their root system can destroy the structure. In such conditions, installation of a curb is mandatory.

Step-by-step instructions for building a concrete blind area around the house. Step 3: filling with clay in layers of 10-15 cm with layer-by-layer tamping (practice when working with unfavorable soil). Step 4: installation of formwork, pouring a layer of crushed stone 10-12 cm

Blind area around the house: construction and preparation for work

The construction of a concrete blind area is based on the formation of a reinforced belt around the perimeter of a residential building.

The design itself has only two main elements:

1. The underlying layer is formed on the basis of materials with high level hygroscopicity, due to which the penetration of water to the foundation part of the building is blocked or slowed down. It is best to use sand or clay, geotextiles for these purposes, and small crushed stone is also suitable. It is permissible to use several of the listed materials at once.
2. Decorative coating – used exclusively for decoration.

Creating a blind area around the house with your own hands: types of structures, tools

The scheme for creating a blind area has much in common with the construction of the foundation part:

• ditch formation;
• production of a shock-absorbing cushion consisting of layers of crushed stone and sand;

Step-by-step instructions for building a concrete blind area around the house. Step 5: laying the film. Step 6: laying reinforcement

• installation of reinforcing bars to create a frame for concrete;
• fill;
• finishing.

There are several types of blind areas, which differ from each other in the following ways:

• service life;
• design features;
• materials used for construction.

Based on the characteristics described above, 3 types of products are distinguished:

• hard;
• soft;
• semi-rigid.

Step-by-step instructions for building a concrete blind area around the house. Step 7: pouring concrete. Step 8: Leveling the Concrete Surface

Each of these blind areas has its own characteristics, capabilities and construction technology.

To carry out the work you should be armed with:

1. Construction mixer - if you don’t have such a tool in your arsenal, you can always rent one (without this tool it is impossible to mix the entire volume, and mixing the solution in batches will lead to separation).
2. Tools for excavation work - crowbar, pickaxe, shovel.
3. Auxiliary tools - spatulas, trowel, building level, paint brushes.
4. Containers for preparing the batch.

The process of constructing a blind area from paving slabs

Features of the blind area around the house with your own hands made of concrete (rigid structure)

This group of structures consists of monolithic concrete-based products, coatings made using cement pouring, as well as asphalted blind areas.

Helpful advice! If you plan to build a structure with subsequent insulation, only a rigid type of system is suitable for these purposes. It is impractical and ineffective to insulate semi-rigid and soft blind areas.

Monolithic structures can last almost as long as the building around which they are organized. But building such a system has several significant disadvantages.

Firstly, this process is quite labor-intensive and requires some effort and time. Secondly, construction costs are high. This problem also affects blind areas with asphalt covering, which cannot be organized without tar. The use of this binder pays off only if large-scale asphalt laying work is carried out. Within household this is not advisable.

For the construction of a blind area with insulation, only a rigid type of structure is suitable

The decorative characteristics of a monolithic system can also be attributed to its disadvantages, since the appearance of an asphalt or concrete site cannot be called beautiful.

Features of the blind area around the house made of paving slabs (semi-rigid structure)

In semi-rigid systems, the base layer is a multi-layer pad. Top part The structure is formed from paving stones or paving slabs. In addition to these materials, other types of coatings can be used:

• porcelain stoneware;
• cobblestones;
• reinforced concrete slabs.

Pouring a semi-rigid blind area around a house takes significantly less money and effort compared to monolithic structures. The construction technology in this case is quite simple, however, it cannot be used on heaving soils, which can compromise the integrity of the system.

Scheme of arranging a blind area around a house made of paving slabs

Otherwise, semi-rigid blind areas are considered the best option for all the most important indicators:

• external characteristics;
• price;
• quality.

Helpful advice! If the site has paved paths made of paving slabs, use the same type of material to organize the blind area. This will allow you to achieve unity of design in the exterior of the entire yard.

Advantages of semi-rigid systems:

1. Long service life - provided that all the requirements of construction technology are met, the structure can last for 20-30 years.
2. There are no restrictions regarding climatic conditions - the only exceptions are zones with permafrost.
3. High level of maintainability.
4. Low construction costs.

If the construction technology is followed, a tile blind area can last more than 20 years

Features of a soft blind area around the house

To build a soft type system, a multilayer cushion is formed, which is covered with a layer of crushed stone on top. This type of blind area requires minimal cash costs and effort, which cannot affect its service life. The average is only 7 years.

On the other hand, this type of design can be used in any climatic zones. There are no significant restrictions regarding the type of soil. As for repair work, this process in this case is quite simple.

In fact, the use of a soft system is advisable only as a temporary measure, for example, if you are limited in money, labor resources or simply don’t have free time. The need to replace the structure every 5-7 years is the main disadvantage of a soft blind area.

Device diagram various types blind area around the house

Making a blind area around the house: the right choice of materials

To create a blind area around the house with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

• components for preparing concrete mortar. If you are not well versed in this issue, you can purchase a ready-made version of the mixture in dry form. The quality of concrete can be in the range of 100-1000. This indicator is called grade - it reflects the amount of cement contained in the solution. In addition, concrete has such a characteristic as strength. It is reflected by the material class. Modern mixtures can have a class in the range B3.5-B8. If we take class B15 as an example, then 1 m3 of concrete pouring with dimensional parameters of 15x15x15 cm is able to withstand a pressure of 15 MPa. Optimal quality of cement for work: class B15, grade M 200;

Helpful advice! All work should be completed before the onset of frost, so that there is time for complete drying and hardening.

• sand - necessary to form the bottom layer of the pillow. It is recommended to use career or river sand in the form of particles big size without impurities, as they can damage geotextiles;

Crushed stone for the construction of a blind area must be clean and free of unnecessary impurities

• crushed stone with granule size 1-2 cm;
• geotextile or natural clay - used in the construction of a hydraulic lock.

Do-it-yourself mortar for a blind area around the house: how to fill the structure correctly

To create a solution with my own hands You should prepare all the necessary components in advance.

As we found out earlier, the grade of concrete is determined by the grade of cement, as well as by its amount in the components of the solution (% content). To make a blind area, it is recommended to take Portland Cement M 400. It must be fresh, since every month of delay is fraught with the loss of 5% of the useful properties of the material.

Checking how fresh the cement is is quite simple. To do this, you need to take a handful of material and tightly clench your hand into a fist. Cement with an expiring shelf life will crumple into a lump, while a crumbly structure will indicate freshness. The fresher the material and the higher its grade, the better the quality of the solution.

To get more quality solution additional additives are required, for example, liquid glass

The sand must be sifted and clean. It is better if it is thoroughly washed to remove impurities of clay, soil, etc. Optimal size crushed stone fractions for preparing the solution are 0.5-1 cm. You will need water at room temperature.

To obtain a high-quality solution, additional additives are required. They increase the frost resistance of concrete. Most often, liquid glass is used for these purposes.

Note! In addition to the basic tools (containers, mixers, buckets, shovels, measuring devices), you need to take care of the presence of a vibrating plate or tamping log.

Blind area around the house: how to make the grout yourself (proportions)

The quality of the pour, its strength and durability depend on the proportions of the main components of the concrete solution. The amount of materials is determined by weight only.

Calculation of proportions for the solution:

The concrete mixture has special requirements regarding the amount of liquid. Excess water can dilute the solution and reduce the strength of concrete, since cement flour is gradually released into the upper layer. As a result, the density of the components will be unevenly distributed.

The most commonly used ratio of water to cement is 1:2. If you want to get the most accurate value, you should check it using the water-cement ratio table for concrete mortar (W/C).

The introduction of components into the solution is also carried out according to a strict sequence:

1. Cement is poured into a concrete mixer (you can use a different container if you are using a construction mixer for mixing).
2. Water is poured in and the solution is mixed until laitance is formed.
3. Sand is poured in portions as mixing continues.
4. Crushed stone is added.

The process of preparing concrete mortar

Helpful advice! Allow 5 minutes before serving each subsequent component. Thanks to this, you can achieve high-quality mixing of the mixture.

Making a cushion for the blind area around the house correctly

The cushion, which serves as the underlying layer, has the same construction scheme regardless of what type of blind area is chosen. An exception is the process of making a blind area around a house with your own hands from concrete with a monolithic type of construction. It will require different technology.

The main components of the pillow are:

• sand;
• clay;
• priming.

If you prefer to organize a soft type system around the house, a layer of crushed stone is poured on top. For semi-rigid structures, an additional layer of crushed stone and sand will need to be poured over the formed cushion. Only after this can you begin laying paving stones or paving slabs.

Diagram of a concrete blind area with a top layer of large pebbles

Before pouring a blind area with a rigid platform around the house, you should arrange a sand and gravel cushion:

• pour sand;
• fill in crushed stone;
• install insulation;
• perform reinforcement procedures and other types of work.

Do-it-yourself blind area around the house: preparing the construction area

First, you should outline the perimeter of the blind area by forming a trench. Its depth directly depends on the type of soil. The minimum value is 0.15-0.2 m. Construction works on heaving types of soil are accompanied by special requirements. In this case, the depth of the trench increases to 0.3 m.

Helpful advice! Pre-made markings will greatly facilitate the work.

The markings will facilitate subsequent work on the installation of the blind area

A simple way to apply markings:

1. Metal rods are driven into the soil at the corners. An alternative is to use wooden pegs.
2. Intermediate pegs are placed along the perimeter.
3. By pulling a mooring cord or any other rope, all the pegs are connected. This line will be used as a guide and marking.

At this stage of work, it is possible to create a gap separating the blind area structure from the foundation part of the building. For these purposes, it is recommended to use polyurethane-based sealant and damper tape.

Next, the required slope of the system is set. This is done based on the type of design you choose. To achieve a certain slope, you need to dig a trench in such a way that there is a different depth at the points of the slope.

The process of building a blind area around the house: digging a trench

The bottom of the formed trench must be carefully compacted, using the most ordinary log. To do this, it is installed vertically, raised and lowered with force so that the soil at the bottom is compacted.

Construction of a blind area around the house: how to install formwork correctly

For work you will need boards with a thickness of 30-40 mm. The height is selected taking into account the parameters of the future design. To make your work easier, you can mark the height of future layers of the pillow on the material in advance. At the corners, the structure can be tightened and strengthened using corners. This is done from the outside. It is recommended to use bolts, since they are easiest to remove during dismantling of the formwork. The optimal fastener diameter is 10 mm.

Helpful advice! If the formwork structure will not be dismantled in the future, all wooden parts should be treated with an antiseptic before installing it. It doesn’t hurt to wrap the formwork with insulating material, such as roofing felt. This will protect the wood from rotting processes and increase the service life of the blind area.

Diagram of the formwork for the blind area

In order to ensure the stability of the boards of the formwork structure, you can use inclined supports or install blocks and bricks. During the work, an expansion joint will be required. This seam should run not only at the junction of the building walls with the blind area, but also across the system. If you ignore this requirement, over time the natural displacement of the soil, provoked by temperature changes, will lead to the appearance of cracks in the structure.

The arrangement of transverse seams is carried out at a certain interval. A distance of 2 m will be sufficient. To form gaps required size, you can use boards whose thickness is no more than 20 mm.

If you are planning a system that does not require pouring, you can do without installing a formwork structure.

The formwork can be dismantled upon completion of work or remain as part of the structure

Blind area at home: how to make a sand and crushed stone cushion

The formed trench is filled with a sand layer. The thickness of the sand layer depends on the total depth of the trench - the optimal parameter is 100-150 mm. For these purposes, it is recommended to use fine river sand. This layer will act as waterproofing.

After this, the sand should be thoroughly compacted in the same way as was done previously when forming the bottom of the trench. To achieve high compaction, the layer can be moistened with water.

Note! The required thickness (100-150 mm) of the sand layer is obtained not after backfilling, but after compaction is completed. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the material with a small margin in order to achieve this result.

A 50-100 mm thick embankment of crushed stone is formed on top of the sand. It is better if material with different fraction sizes is used, which will ensure maximum filling of voids and high cushion density. Crushed stone can be replaced with other types of materials, for example, broken bricks or gravel. This layer is designed to drain water that penetrates through the sand.

The process of creating a sand-crushed stone cushion. Step 1: pour sand in a layer of 10 cm with pouring and tamping, lay roofing material along the wall of the house with a height from the base of the trench to the expected top of the blind area (expansion joint)

If there is groundwater in the construction area in close proximity to the surface, geotextiles should be laid between a layer of sand and crushed stone to provide additional waterproofing protection. In this case, it is worth laying the material with a small margin so that the edges extend onto the walls of the formwork structure.

In the process of forming a cushion of crushed stone and sand, do not forget to maintain the angle of inclination, if any. At this point, the work on arranging the pillow is completed. The further procedure depends on the type of design chosen.

The process of creating a sand-crushed stone cushion. Step 2: place geotextiles on the compacted sand, fill with crushed stone with a fraction of 20-40 mm and a layer thickness of 10 cm, compacting with a vibrating plate

Construction of a concrete blind area around the house: cost of work, recommendations

The concrete structure of the blind area is suitable for cottage owners who prefer capital products with a long service life. The price of a blind area around the house is quite high compared to other system options. However, the costs in this case are fully justified by the long service life, high strength and reliability of the blind area.

An excellent option would be a reinforced concrete system with insulation. Thanks to the layer of thermal insulation material, the operational and specifications the basement and foundation parts of the house and the entire building.

Note! The stage of laying insulation can be excluded from the technology, otherwise using the construction recommendations without changes. But such a decision will affect the quality of the resulting structure, because thermal insulation for the blind area is extremely important.

Diagram of a concrete blind area with insulation

The optimal width of the system with insulation should correspond to the soil freezing depth or exceed this value. The price of a blind area around the house, which cannot be done without significant financial investments, according to experts, in this case will be too high. In addition, the system will take up a lot of usable space. Therefore, you should limit yourself to 0.7-0.9 m.

Concrete blind area around the house: how much does it cost to make the structure?

You can build the structure around the house yourself or hire workers who specialize in building blind areas for this purpose. If you are not confident in your own knowledge and abilities, it would be wisest to entrust the work to professionals. In this case, the expense item will contain not only the cost of purchasing materials, but also paying for the services of craftsmen.

Services for the construction of a blind area around the house (price per square meter):

The average cost of construction (services of craftsmen) costs approximately 1,300 rubles. If we talk about price, making a blind area around a concrete house with your own hands is much cheaper than hiring qualified specialists for these purposes, since in this case financial investments are required only for the purchase of materials.

Building an insulated blind area with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

Can be used as insulation for blind areas various materials. For concrete structures, it is recommended to use extruded polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. The technology in this case will change slightly, since it will not be possible to remove the wooden formwork. The insulation is glued to the boards using a specialized adhesive composition for expanded polystyrene.

Step-by-step instructions for the construction of an insulated blind area: 1 - marking, preparing the trench; 2 - creating a sand cushion; 3 - sand compaction; 4 - laying roofing felt along the foundation; 5 - installation of formwork; 6 - laying insulation (penoplex)

Helpful advice! As alternative solution slate can be used, pre-wrapped with polyethylene film. It should be buried in the ground along the line of the blind area. Even if visible parts of the formwork remain after construction, it can be disguised quite easily. Hiding wood is much more difficult.

After installing the side thermal insulation boards, you need to form a pillow using the technology that was discussed earlier.

Making a concrete blind area around the house with your own hands: installing insulation

In this case, two-layer thermal insulation technology using extruded polystyrene foam and polystyrene will be used.

This is done in the following order:

1. Installation of a foam layer (during installation, the slabs should be laid very tightly, temporarily fixing their position with bricks).
2. Filling the gaps between the plates using polyurethane foam.
3. Removing protruding parts of the foam after it has completely dried (use a sharp knife for this purpose).
4. Installation of extruded polystyrene foam boards on top of polystyrene foam.

Step-by-step instructions for constructing an insulated blind area: 7 - laying a layer of geotextile or roofing felt; 8 - dividing the perimeter into sectors no more than 2 m long, installing lintels taking into account the slope; 9 - placing lintels at corners at 45% relative to external corners for convergence of slopes on different sides of the blind area; 10 - laying reinforcement; 11 - pouring concrete; 12 - leveling the concrete surface using a rule or a regular board

There are grooves on the end zones of the expanded polystyrene slabs, eliminating the possibility of gaps appearing between the elements after installation. Installation is carried out in such a way that the seams of the upper layer do not coincide with the seams of the lower layer of foam. To cut the material, you can use a regular knife with a sharp blade.

Blind area around a concrete house: how to make reinforcement

The next step is reinforcement. A ready-made mesh can be used as the base material. You can make it yourself using reinforcement 0.8-1 cm thick. To do this, a mesh with a cell size of 15x15 cm is formed from rods. Fixation is performed in the areas where the reinforcement intersects. Stores sell specialized fasteners that make this process easier.

Helpful advice! To save money, you can use tie wire instead of clamps.

The mesh is laid on the base with a slight indentation. To do this, you can use support clamps. Instead of fasteners, it is allowed to use other materials, for example, stones, broken bricks, etc.

You can make the mesh for reinforcement yourself or purchase a ready-made version

The foundation part is poured with an indentation of 5 cm. But in this case, such an indentation will significantly affect the height of the structure, so a gap of 0.5-1 cm should be left.

Blind area around the house: video on how to fill the structure and protect it

With the preparation of concrete for pouring, the construction of a blind area around the house begins; how to properly make the mixture has already been described earlier. For reinforced concrete structure you will need grade M 400 (minimum). Cement should be mixed with sand and gravel in a ratio of 1:3:4 respectively. The amount of liquid is selected in such a way that the result is a mass of normal thickness. The solution must be plastic and homogeneous.

The prepared solution is poured onto the base. It must be spread over the surface with a mop or any other suitable tool, for example, a rule. The side walls of the formwork structure can be used as beacons.

The process of leveling the concrete surface

After the pouring is completed, the concrete must be pierced in several places to free up excess air. Use reinforcing bar for these purposes. Then you should seal these holes with the mixture and sprinkle the surface with a thin layer of cement (dry powder). According to technology requirements, at least 28 days should be allowed for drying of the fill.

The structure needs protection from the effects of precipitation. The blind area must be covered with polyethylene film.

Helpful advice! To improve quality concrete system, it is recommended to lift the polyethylene every two days and wet the concrete with a small amount of water.

Now you know how to do a blind area around a house with your own hands, a video review of the technology will help you understand this issue in more detail:

Blind area around the house: how to make a soft structure

To create a soft blind area around the house with your own hands, you need to create a trench and fill in a layer of sand. Don't forget to set the embankment to the required angle of inclination.

Next it is laid on the sand waterproofing material. Ruberoid is the most popular material, used for these purposes, but rubemast, despite its cost, has a longer service life.

For a formwork structure 0.8 m wide, you will need to cut the material, because rubemast is sold in the form of rolls 1 m wide. If you do not want to cut it, you can simply bend the excess parts and glue them to the wall with molten bitumen.

Scheme of a soft-type blind area with a top layer of gravel

On the waterproofing layer you need to make an embankment (10 cm) of sand and crushed stone (these materials are mixed in equal proportions). It needs to be compacted and leveled, while maintaining the required angle of inclination.

A soft blind area needs an additional layer of crushed stone. Crushed stone (3-5 cm) is poured over the mixture and compacted. Thanks to this additional layer, the blind area will not be subject to subsidence during operation. Finally, you can disguise the boards of the formwork structure with decorative borders.

You can use additional information on building a blind area around the house. The video on how to make each layer clearly reflects all the features of this process:

Arranging a blind area from paving slabs with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

The construction of a blind area from paving slabs and paving stones is carried out in the same way. The choice of topcoat depends entirely on your budget and preferences.

Note! When using paving stones as a finishing coating, there are some restrictions: the foundation must be waterproofed.

Paving stones have only one significant drawback - the price of tiles for blind areas around the house is much lower than this material.

Average prices for paving stones:

Having analyzed the data from the table, you can see that the cost of purchasing paving stones or tiles for a blind area around a house largely depends on the size parameters, shape and color of the material.

Blind area around the house: video on how to make a structure, paving technology

For the blind area, a sand-crushed stone cushion is formed from tiles in the same way as described earlier. Only in this case will you need to make an additional layer of sand on top of it (8-10 cm).

When constructing a blind area from paving slabs, it is necessary to create a sand or sand-crushed stone cushion

The paving technology is simple enough that this procedure can be performed independently. You can start installing tiles from any angle that seems convenient to you. As you paving, you should move away from you. During the work process, it is recommended to use the bricklaying method.

Note! The arrangement of elements can be any. You can come up with it or use ready-made options, of which there are many on the Internet.

To ensure that the tiles fit tightly to the base, it is better to use a special tool - a rubber mallet.

Scheme for installing tiles using a mallet:

• lay tiles on the surface of the base;

When paving tiles or paving stones, it is better to use a special tool - a rubber mallet

• a wooden plank should be placed on top of the tiles;
• Using a mallet, you must gently and carefully press the tile, tapping the tool on the board.

Don't forget to use a building level to check. tile covering. Not only the tile itself, but also all the rows must be positioned evenly in relation to each other. In some cases, you may experience material subsidence. This problem can be solved by adding sand under the corresponding coating elements. The protruding areas can be brought into place using a mallet.

When paving, it is very important to maintain the required slope of the blind area. The entire surface of the system is laid with tiles. To cut the material to the desired size, it is recommended to use a grinder.

Blind area around the house: how to repair a concrete system with your own hands

During operation, the concrete blind area may be subject to destruction. But if you repair the blind area around the house with your own hands, you can not only extend the service life of this structure, but also significantly save on paying for the services of craftsmen.

The most common problems:

• occurrence of cracks;
• surface delamination;
• crumbling

The cost of repairing the blind area around the house, done with your own hands, depends on several factors. First of all, the cost of the work depends on the degree of neglect of the structure, as well as the method that was chosen to repair the damage. The type of material and its quantity are also important.

Elimination of cracks in the blind area using sealant

Do-it-yourself methods for eliminating cracks in a blind area

Cracks in the blind area can be of different types. Such damage may be classified as cracks, concrete breaks or cracks. It depends on the depth of the damage. Methods for dealing with cracks in each case will be appropriate to the depth and severity of these damages.

Helpful advice! All work to eliminate cracks in the blind area must be performed in the off-season (autumn/spring).

Table of methods for repairing blind areas and necessary materials:

How to eliminate delamination and crumbling

The second most common problem is delamination. Experts call this process delamination or dusting of concrete.

There are several prerequisites for the appearance of delamination:

1. Uneven hardening of the concrete solution (occurs in spring time when pouring concrete on a cold base).
2. The structure is too thick.
3. Exceeding the norm of air content in the solution.
4. Exceeding the proportion of crushed stone in the concrete solution.

Detailed instructions for repairing the blind area

If the surface of the blind area crumbles or delaminates, the structure should be treated using “cement dough”. To eliminate this problem, the use of compositions with liquid glass is allowed. The main components of the solution are water, cement, and liquid glass in equal proportions.

Damage elimination scheme:

1. Analysis of the situation, determination of damage boundaries.
2. Cutting down part of the concrete.
3. Treatment of the edge zone with a primer.
4. Applying the solution to the damaged area.
5. Covering the solution with film.

The area of ​​the completed repair should be kept under the film until the solution dries completely.

Note! If the damage is not repaired in time, you will subsequently have to dismantle the blind area and form a new structure. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out all repair work in a timely manner.

Blind area around a private house made of paving stones

Additional protective measures

There are several ways to protect a concrete blind area from premature destruction:

• ironing method;
• coating with a primer;
• liquid glass processing;
• cladding with natural stone or installation of tile covering.

Regardless of what type of structure you choose (rigid, semi-rigid or soft system), it is recommended to install a storm drain next to the blind area. Using this element you can eliminate siltation personal plot by draining the flowing water to a suitable place.

Reliable protection of the foundation from destruction by surface water is facilitated by the presence of a concrete blind area surrounding the building. The undoubted advantage of the design is its ease of manufacture. The only alternative option for creating a barrier would be a multi-tiered “pie”. The integrity of the building directly depends on the quality of the foundation, so it needs full protection. In parallel with the main function, the blind area provides comfortable movement along the building and gives it appearance completeness. Let's look at how to make a blind area around the house with your own hands in detail.

Blind area parameters

The dimensions of any construction structure and the rules for its arrangement are regulated regulatory documents, in our case this is SNiP 2.02.01-83. The correct concrete blind area corresponds to the following indicators:

The installation of a blind area around the house is carried out in a certain sequence; the option with paving slab cladding is shown in the diagram below:

Types of structures

The scope of work on decorating the blind area around the house with your own hands varies depending on the type of structure chosen, which can be rigid, semi-rigid and soft. Let's look at the main advantages and pitfalls of each option.

Tough

This group includes monolithic concrete products. The finishing coating is poured concrete or asphalt.

Comment! If the protective structure is planned to be insulated, a rigid type of system is the only acceptable device option. Organize insulation of semi-rigid and soft blind area inappropriate.

The operation of monolithic products continues throughout the service life of the building. But the construction of concrete protection around the house is accompanied by negative aspects:

• The process is labor-intensive and takes considerable time.
• High material costs.
• Asphalt pavement requires tar. It is practical to use this binder only in the case of large-scale asphalt paving work.
• In the absence of additional cladding, it does not have a sufficient decorative effect.

Semi-rigid

The protective underground layer of the semi-rigid system is represented by a multi-layer cushion. Decorative covering can be made from paving or ceramic tiles, paving stones. Sometimes reinforced concrete slabs, cobblestones or porcelain stoneware are used for this purpose.

To fill around the house, much less labor and materials will be required than for a monolithic blind area. The technology of the device is simpler, but is unacceptable for heaving soil, which can cause deformation of the system. A comparative analysis of cost, quality and external characteristics makes the semi-rigid blind area a leader compared to other types of protection around the house.

Advice! The matching of the blind area made of paving slabs and other paved paths contributes to the formation of an aesthetic appearance of the personal plot.

Advantages of a semi-rigid structure around the house:

• If the technology of the device is followed, the service life is from two to three decades.
• There are no climate restrictions, with the exception of permafrost.
• It can be done with little financial investment.
• Easily amenable to preventative repairs.

Soft

To protect the foundation of a soft type around the house, you will need a multi-layer cushion covered with a layer of crushed stone on top. This design is characterized by minimal investment of money and time. But it will bring benefits for a maximum of seven years. It can be done in any region, but they resort to a similar solution to install temporary protection around the house when there is a lack of finances.

A concrete blind area, made in compliance with all the rules, is presented in the following video:

Technology for manufacturing concrete blind area

Installing a protective structure made of concrete around a house begins with the purchase of materials. For these purposes you will need:

• Cement. It is optimal to choose the M500 brand.
• River or quarry sand without impurities that can spoil geotextiles.
• Crushed stone fraction from 5 to 10 mm.
• Natural clay or geotextiles will help you create a hydraulic lock around your house.

Site preparation

Excavation work to create a blind area around the house begins with removing the top layer of soil. The use of herbicides will help eliminate vegetation activity under a concrete structure. To accurately mark the boundaries of the blind area relative to the edge of the roof slope, use a plumb line. To mark around the house, the rope is pulled over stakes. In addition to the corners, to avoid sagging, they are installed at intervals of 5-6 m. Installing beacons on the base around the house at intervals of 1.0-1.5 m will help to create the correct angle of inclination of the blind area.

Hydraulic lock

A hydraulic lock can be made using a layer of fatty clay, the thickness of which is 10-15 cm. A waterproofing material - roofing felt, geotextile, PVC film - serves as a complete replacement. The film will maintain its integrity if you protect it with a sand layer 5-10 cm thick, located under and on top of the material.

Attention! The sand under the future blind area must be leveled, moistened and compacted.

The installation of the material should be done correctly without tension, so that it can move around the house along with the soil. When constructing a hydraulic lock with clay, only one sand layer is formed.

Shaping the pillow

Next, according to the technology of the device, it is necessary to make a pillow around the structure of the blind area. Initially, an embankment of crushed stone 5-10 cm thick is formed. The use of material of different fractions ensures better compaction. Gravel or broken bricks can be a substitute for crushed stone. At close location to the groundwater area, between the sand and crushed stone, it is necessary to make an additional waterproofing layer of geotextile. The edges of the material should extend onto the formwork.

The optimal thickness of the sand layer is 10-15 cm, taking into account high-quality compaction. The work can be done manually; a vibrating plate can facilitate the labor-intensive process. Periodic wetting with water increases the density of the sand cushion for the blind area around the building.

Important! The formation of a cushion around the house takes place with strict observance of the angle of inclination of the concrete blind area.

A well-arranged blind area around the house with your own hands contains high-quality drainage. The following design can cope with the task of drainage:

• Around the house you need to make a trench about 20 cm wide and 10 cm deep.
• The recess is filled with crushed stone or lined with a drainage pipe.
• The pipe is laid with a slope to ensure complete drainage.

At the same stage, storm water inlets are being installed around the house.

Installation of formwork

It is better to make formwork around the house from boards 30-40 mm thick. The height depends on the size of the concrete blind area. If dismantling of the structure is not planned, the boards are treated with an antiseptic solution, and it is also advisable to waterproof them using roofing felt.

Correctly make formwork around the building for a concrete blind area using a level. Stakes driven in from the outside can neutralize the impact of the bursting solution. Angles on bolts with a diameter of 10 mm will help to fix the formwork structure at the corners. In order for the blind area to have an attractive appearance upon completion of the work, it is necessary to make the internal seams of the formwork boards invisible.

Important! To make a blind area around the building correctly, you will need to create an expansion joint.

The seam is located at the junction of the walls of the structure and the blind area, as well as across the system. The absence of this element will cause cracks to appear in the concrete protective structure. It is necessary to make transverse seams at intervals of 2 m. Boards 20 mm thick will help to create gaps of the required size. If pouring concrete for the blind area around the building is not planned, the stage of arranging the formwork is excluded.

Installation of insulation

The following algorithm of actions will help to ensure high-quality insulation of the blind area:

• Sheets of foam plastic are tightly laid around the structure, and bricks are used as temporary fixation.
• The space between the plates is filled with polyurethane foam.
• After it dries, the protruding parts are removed with a sharp knife.
• On top of the foam plastic, it is necessary to make a second layer of thermal insulation for the blind area made of concrete in the form of polystyrene foam slabs.

Reinforcement and pouring concrete

To ensure the strength of the concrete blind area around the building, reinforcement is required. The cell size is 25 cm. Apply chain-link mesh not recommended due to excessive flexibility of the material. If there is no insulation layer, reinforcement cage placed above the blind area cushion at a height of 2-3 cm. This design contributes to the high-quality distribution of the concrete solution.

The key to pouring concrete is to ensure that the solution is evenly distributed and there are no air bubbles. “Bayoneting,” which is best done with a metal rod, will help eliminate voids. During the drying process of the cement composition, it is periodically moistened with water to avoid the appearance of cracks. Also, a blind area cast from concrete can be covered with a film to slow down the evaporation of moisture and uniform hardening of the protective structure around the house.

Conclusion

To protect the concrete blind area, you can make it iron-plated. There is a dry and wet processing method. As an option, the surface is coated with a primer, liquid glass or enamel.

To make the protective concrete structure around the building decorative, it is preferable to make cladding. The material used is tiles (clinker or paving), a natural stone, pebbles. In such a situation, concrete acts as a binding solution.

Another option on how to make a reliable blind area around a building is presented in the following video: