How to lay a brick plinth with your own hands on an uneven foundation? Brick plinth on a strip foundation What is needed for such masonry

The plinth is the lower fragment of the wall, which is located directly above the foundation. It encloses the underground space. At the floor level of the first floor there is the upper part of the plinth. Its design will give the building significant stability.

Base structure depending on the foundation

There are different types of bases. If a strip foundation is constructed during construction, then in this case the plinth is the upper part of this foundation; it is located above the level of the blind area or ground.

If the foundation is columnar, then walls called a fence are built between the pillars. They are intended to protect the underground space from dust, moisture and its insulation. On the inside of the fences, sand and slag are used for additional insulation. The fence is made from the same material that is used for the foundation pillars of the building. If it is made of brick, then it is lowered into the ground the width of a whole or half a brick on a ground of about 50 cm. In the case of the presence of clayey soils, a cushion of sand, the thickness of which is 150-200 mm, must be prepared under the intake.

When all the work is completed, the base is plastered with cement mortar.

In the case of building a building on columnar foundations, special attention must be paid, because this is a responsible and labor-intensive process.

If the soil is heaving, then the base is made in the form of a reinforced concrete lintel between the pillars, especially if the external walls are made of small blocks or bricks. It is reinforced in the lower part with metal rods with a cross section of 8-12 mm. A monolithic or prefabricated plinth should not rest directly on heaving soil. Between the supports in the space it is necessary to leave a gap of 10-15 mm in height. It is then covered on the sides with boards that are treated with an antiseptic or asbestos-cement flat sheets; they help prevent soil pressure on the bottom of the lintel during frosts.

If the structure is incorrectly defined and the base assembly is made, then deformation of it and other structures is possible. Therefore, it is not recommended to make fences or plinths between the columnar supports of some light structures: porch, terrace, shed, veranda. The absence of a plinth in these structures is justified by economic and operational considerations. Good ventilation of the open basement helps reduce air humidity there and extends the life of wooden structures.

To ventilate the subfloor in the basement, one hole with a cross-section of 15x15 cm is made on all sides of the house. They must be located at least 150 mm from the ground level. Before frost, these holes must be filled with bricks and covered with clay.

Return to contents

Three types of base

There are certain types of plinths, knowledge of the structure of which determines how to install them correctly:

bulging, the thickness of its walls is greater than that of a house. Such a plinth can be laid out when the building has thin external walls. In this case, it is necessary to take care of protection from precipitation in the form of special metal canopies covering the ledge;
the walls of the residential building have the same thickness and are located on the same level;
sinking, with a wall thickness much less than that of the building. It is recommended to make this type of construction from brick if there is a need for additional protection from upper sedimentary waters. These devices are mainly built where the annual rainfall is high.

Return to contents

Solid concrete plinth

Monolithic concrete can be used in formwork. A good option would be to build it without horizontal and vertical seams along the entire perimeter of the house. You can increase the strength of the base by placing a reinforcement cage inside, made from old pipes, angles and wire. If the base is of significant thickness, then the internal formwork can be brickwork.

The outer surface of a concrete plinth can be given all sorts of textures if the proper matrix is placed in the formwork: corrugated fiberglass, rubber mats. After stripping, the concrete surface is cleaned of sagging and leaks, cracks and voids in it are sealed, and covered with liquid cement mortar or cement laitance. You can also paint it, but any paint does not last long on the base.

When laying a plinth from standard factory-produced concrete blocks, they must be selected in height, calculating the minimum thickness of the masonry joints. In such cases, grouting or jointing will be of higher quality and more reliable.

Return to contents

Brick base

Brick is the most commonly used material for constructing a plinth. Experts recommend using only red brick. Before construction of the basement floor begins, it is imperative to provide for the presence of special ventilation holes, which should be located 15 cm from the ground level. At least one hole must be made every 3 m; it must be covered with some kind of shutter or special metal mesh.

The process of installing a plinth is responsible and complex. You can lay it out yourself, but it is best done by specialists. The reliability, strength, and durability of the house depend on the base and foundation.

In any case, there is a certain technology for proper installation. At the initial stage, you need to set the corners correctly, and then the base is laid out along them. This early stage is important. The first row is installed according to the width of the base; no mortar is used here. It is necessary to construct it strictly observing the level, because moving the rows in the future is prohibited. Next, you need to measure all sides to make sure that the future structure is even. The masonry must be completely level.

The maximum permissible discrepancy can be 2 cm. They can be straightened during further laying, but if the distance is large, then it must be corrected immediately, otherwise problems will arise later.

Then it’s time to install the red brick plinth itself. After measurements, you can begin installation. The base is laid with bricks and mortar consisting of cement and sand. Put: 1 part cement, 3 parts clean sand, water (you need enough of it to get a plastic and thick solution).

The base must be at least 380 mm wide. It depends on the following circumstances:

if foam is used as an insulation layer, then the thickness should be 380 mm;
in the case of using bricks without insulation when constructing a basement wall, the required thickness is 500 mm.

When constructing a basement, the height of the foundation should be from 30 to 40 cm. Then the basement can be made beautiful and high, that is, you can build a fairly spacious room, which can be a boiler room or a utility room.

It is necessary to remember about ventilation to create normal conditions for air circulation. You can lay a brick plinth using various methods using whole bricks or their halves, but you must remember about the correct construction and tying the brick corners. They carry the intended load and should not be neglected.

On top of the foundation is often used to form a basement for a workshop, garage, basement or household needs. The technique has been used for several centuries, its advantages are obvious: additional thermal insulation of the house, durability of the structure, minimal clutter of the site with auxiliary buildings, etc. It is better to lay a plinth made of red brick, since it is based on clay, it is durable, minimally subject to wear and resistant to moisture.

Types of base

Every third house with a brick base was built with their own hands, the percentage is even higher if we take into account only the strip type of foundation.

The construction of a brick plinth is divided into several types:

smooth. When placing a building in one plane, it is important to maintain the same thickness of the walls of the base and living space. In order to improve the aesthetic appearance, decorative borders or cornices are used; they will visually help separate the property from the home;

The base is a transition from the foundation directly to the structure itself

speaker It has an impressive appearance and clearly distinguishes the features of the foundation from the residential building. Flashings are always installed on top of the plinth structure. It is important to decide on the thickness of the walls; only after calculating the width do they determine the amount of brick and mortar, then they begin to make the foundation;
sinking. Brick is prone to destruction from exposure to atmospheric phenomena; to prevent this negative phenomenon, a sinking type of base is used. It is more often used in rainy regions. Here the base is somewhat thinner than the main walls.

What materials and tools will be required?

When laying a plinth with 1 or 2 bricks, you will need the same materials and tools, but in different quantities.

Materials:

reinforcing masonry mesh;
brick, preferably red, but silicate is also suitable;
base for cement mortar: cement, sand, other additives as desired (plasticizers, frost-resistant additives).

Before laying a brick plinth, you should prepare the following tools:

When building a basement, you should think in advance about what material you will use.

level - to determine the plane and evenness of the wall;
construction cord, used to create markings;
a plumb line helps to form a strictly vertical position of the wall;
ordering is used to create a beautiful wall;
a hammer with a pick will be useful when it is necessary to separate bricks;
a trowel helps when working with the solution;
shovel for mixing cement;
templates, metal rods will do.

What kind of brick is needed for the base?

An important stage of construction is the selection of a suitable type of brick, it must have:

high strength;
durability;
resistance to negative atmospheric influences;
decorative qualities. After construction, the design of a summer cottage or garden should only improve;
frost resistance, withstanding numerous cycles of freezing and thawing;
low moisture absorption capacity;
ecological purity of raw materials;
high-quality adhesion with cement to eliminate cracks and the formation of defects.

Deformation of the material after the construction of the structure or increase in load is unacceptable, so it is important to pay attention to determining the stability and strength of the brick.

Solid brick should be used for construction

The following types of brick correspond to the listed characteristics:

silicate. However, it is not advisable to lay a brick base on a strip foundation made of silicate type, since it has low resistance to high humidity. Prolonged exposure to moisture will lead to swelling of the material, loss of strength and gradual destruction. It is permissible to make a foundation of sand-lime brick, having first determined the level of humidity in the region. If the humidity is high, waterproofing of the foundation is necessary, but the base will need to be finished;
red. Made from compressed clay with heat treatment. It gives the base the necessary strength and is more, but not completely, protected from moisture. When choosing, it is better to give preference to M150 brick; it can withstand up to 60 freezing cycles. In climates with high humidity, it is recommended to use M250;
ceramic. It has the greatest durability. Clinker bricks are a type of ceramic; they are the most reliable for building a basement. The base uses a special type of clay, which is baked at elevated temperatures. Clinker bricks are resistant to moisture, frost-resistant and have optimal load-bearing capacity. Often used during the construction of wells and boreholes.

Finishing the outside of the base is an optional procedure, but when using silicate, red brick it helps to increase the durability of the base and prevents deformation.

It is better to purchase the material with a small reserve

Calculation of the number of bricks

At the work planning stage, it is important to correctly calculate the amount of bricks. Many factors influence the quantity: length, thickness and height of the wall, complexity of the shape of the structure, the presence of decorative inserts. The dimensions of the base and determining the need for building materials are always calculated in advance; construction costs depend on them, and the purchase of bricks is one of the largest expense items.

The thickness and height of the building should be calculated taking into account the dimensions of the building blocks. Additionally, the thickness of the seams between the rows is taken into account; it is mainly 10±2 mm. According to SNiP 3.03.01-87, the thickness should be 12 mm, but an error of -2 or +3 mm is allowed; in practice, 10 mm is the optimal indicator for calculations. If reinforced material is laid, the seam size can reach 16 mm.

The thickness can not only be a multiple of the size of the brick, but halves are also often used: half a brick, one and a half, two and a half bricks. There is always a seam between several blocks. If the wall is made of 2.5 bricks, then the total width will be: 250 + 250 + 120 + 20 = 640 mm, where 250 mm is the length of the whole block, 120 mm is the size of half the element and 20 mm is the thickness of two seams. Laying a base with 1 brick for the first time is the best option, since it does not require any calculations, but is used exclusively for lightly loaded buildings.

It is worth considering that bricks can be one and a half and double. The only difference is the height of the block: standard - 65 mm, one-and-a-half - 88 mm, double - 138 mm.

When determining the quantity, a footnote is always made for the stock. It is recommended to buy 5-15% more than the calculated quantity; more precisely, the percentage of the reserve is determined based on the skills of the builder.

The basement is the above-ground part of the building and is located above the foundation

Mortar for laying the plinth

Preparing a sufficient volume of masonry mortar will help you not to be distracted by purchasing material.

The calculation of concrete for construction depends on the masonry technique, but there are average indicators:

laying 1 m3 in 1 block takes 0.221 m3;
for a one-and-a-half wall 1 m3 – 0.234 m3;
for double – 0.245 m3.

For masonry, it is recommended to use Portland cement M300, M400 or M500, clean sand of medium fraction and lime. A little clay will help increase the elasticity of the composition. Before laying, the solution should be homogeneous, plastic and without large elements: gravel, shells, slag, compressed cement, etc. Before preparation, it is recommended to sift the sand through a small sieve. When carrying out masonry and insulation, the solution is made simple, without impurities, and the mixture for the foundation can be made with fillers.

A construction mixer is used to mix the solution, but it is possible to install an attachment on an electric drill.

When determining the mixing proportion, it is worth considering the brand of brick. The greatest strength will occur when using approximately the same brand of solution. During the calculation process, corrections are made for soil moisture. Usually a solution of M75, M100 or M125 is prepared.

Reliably installing a plinth is a difficult task, but with a little experience you can do it yourself

To produce a cement-sand mixture, the following proportions are used:

If limestone is planned to be added to the composition, the ratio of ingredients will be:

Checking the foundation for horizontal compliance

After pouring the foundation, a water level should be used. One side of it is fixed at any corner of the building, and the second is moved between the other corners. If the surface is smooth in all areas, it is suitable for masonry. If there is a discrepancy in the indicators, the error should be measured and the level adjusted.

For large discrepancies, leveling is carried out with a solution; the area with the highest point is taken as the base. If the error is within 1-2 cm, you can level the base by applying a larger initial seam. A drier solution is used for it, otherwise the concrete will spread under the weight of the brick.

Initially, the corners should be set correctly; to do this, pegs are driven into the corners. A cord is pulled diagonally between them. The length of each segment is compared; if the structure has an ideal angle, the length should be equal. If there is a difference in size, a conclusion is drawn about a violation of the geometry of the structure. An error of up to 2 cm is eliminated during the laying process.

Construction site waterproofing

Waterproofing is irreplaceable; it performs important functions:

prevents negative effects on the base;
provides moisture impermeability;
increases the durability of the structure;
protects against cracks and other deformations.

The issue of waterproofing needs to be resolved before you start laying bricks

An important task of waterproofing is to eliminate any cavities in the foundation. The layer will prevent the passage of moisture even if there are through holes. If there is a cavity in the masonry, water will get into it, which will expand when freezing and cause a crack.

The highest quality waterproofing involves laying not only a horizontal layer, but also a vertical one, located between the base and the plinth. Tightness is a guarantee of reliability and high-quality protection of the building.

The most common options for waterproofing material:

soft rubber coating;
laying a two-layer roofing felt with an intermediate layer of mastic;
the use of glass insulation is a new durable material with high-quality protection.

How to lay a brick plinth correctly?

The construction of a brick plinth differs little, regardless of the thickness of the wall and the number of rows.

Step-by-step instructions on how to lay a brick plinth:

During masonry, a plumb line and level are periodically used to monitor the correctness of the work.

1 brick

Laying a base of 1 brick is used for lightly loaded structures: garages, agricultural buildings, workshops, etc.

If you do everything yourself, you can simplify the task a little and lay the bricks one next to the other

The installation procedure is carried out according to a single system, but it is important to adhere to the basic rules:

during the laying process, the seams of one row and another should not be allowed to coincide;
the wall must be reinforced to prevent cracks from appearing;
It is recommended to cover the brick base with cladding.

In 2 bricks

Laying a plinth with 2 bricks differs only in the technique:

dressing is performed infrequently, once every 2-3 rows is enough;
It is better to perform reinforcement once every 2-3 rows;
acceptable brick offset in each row is 25%, ideal is 50% of the brick width.

Subtleties of masonry with 1 and 2 bricks

The work on laying blocks is not complicated, but there are certain nuances of implementation:

Before laying, the brick is moistened in water, this will help prevent rapid setting and level the position of the block;
It is better to prepare a solution with the addition of lime;
the cement mortar should have a medium consistency so that it does not spread and lies down easily;
reinforcement is performed every 2-3 tiers. If the basement is low, laying metal is an optional procedure;
It is better to start construction from corners located diagonally from each other;
It’s easier to control the brick level using a stretched construction cord.

The direction of laying bricks should be alternated from row to row

Brick base protection

Installation of a protective layer will be required if construction needs to be suspended. The easiest way is to lay a waterproofing film on top of the brickwork, which will protect against moisture and sunlight.

Making a plinth is the most important stage in building a house, because the durability of the entire structure depends on the correct execution of the masonry.

It will be useful for a novice builder to:

accurately determine, with possible errors and margins;
find out how to insulate the basement of a house, and what are the best materials for retaining heat with resistance to weather conditions. It is often used because the material is durable and easy to install.

Conclusion

Basement is the lower part of the external wall of a house, built on a foundation and designed to protect the walls from the destructive effects of moisture. A house without a basement is at risk of mold infestation and rot, may lose its ability to resist cold weather and increase heat transfer between indoor and outdoor areas.

One of the indisputable conditions is the strength of the base, because it bears the entire weight of the walls of the house. That is why the materials used must be of high quality, characterized by frost resistance, low moisture resistance and pressure resistance.

There are three plinth options used in construction:

Base width

To select the overall width of the plinth, you should refer to the building design drawing to determine the material that will be used to construct the walls. For example, for gas silicate bricks (commonly known as foam concrete) with a side size of 600 X 300 X 200, the thickness of the masonry should be 30 cm, and if additional insulation of the walls is planned in the future, then a width of 38 cm is what is needed. But when using brick as a decorative element on top of foam concrete blocks, the thickness increases to 60 cm.

Base height

The question of where the base ends remains controversial to this day. The most reliable option is to determine the height based on the maximum amount of snowfall over several decades. The base, calculated using this simple technique, will protect the walls from the effects of capillary moisture, thereby increasing the reliability and durability of the built house.

But basically the height corresponds to the level at which the floor of the first floor of the building is located. This rule also applies to houses with a basement.

Designers usually prefer tall, as it gives the home lightness and grace.

Construction of a recessed brick plinth on a reinforced concrete strip foundation

The following instructions are intended for construction on a ready-made foundation.

Setting angles when building a plinth

One of the most important rules for laying a plinth is the correct alignment of the corners, because incorrectly aligned corners will lead to further curvature of the walls and, accordingly, defects in the construction of the building.

The simplest way is this:

Place a row of dry bricks in all corners, determining the width of the planned base. Angles are set according to level.

Using a tape measure or twine, measure the lengths of all sides and both diagonals - the dimensions must coincide down to centimeters and be correspondingly equal.

It is also worth checking future walls for possible curvature, using the same twine along the inside of the line from corner to corner.

Waterproofing the upper surface of the foundation

Insulation is necessary to further protect the base from groundwater.

Two layers of roofing felt are laid on the foundation in the following ways:

on bitumen mastic or heated bitumen;
connection with a burner, treating the surfaces of roofing material.

You can use rubemast, glass roofing material (stekloizol), euroroofing material.

After setting the corners, it’s time to start laying the base. To create it, bricks are usually used, bonded with cement-sand mortar. Only solid red brick is used for construction.

It is advisable to start the laying from the corners, then lay the rows opposite each other on one side with a thickness of the applied solution of about 20-25mm.

A plumb line checks the accuracy of laying the vertical surface after 3-4 rows of bricks.

After the final check of the corners, the wall laying begins. To make the row even, a thick fishing line is stretched between two corners.

The minimum height is at least 4 laid rows, finishing in the form of natural stone, finishing tiles or siding is allowed.

If the house has basements, ventilation holes are left on each side of the base at a height of 10-15 cm from the soil, measuring from 7 x 25 to 15 x 25 cm. If the length of the building exceeds 3 meters, the vents are in increments of 2.5 meters and covered with nets or small gratings.

To protect against moisture penetration, you need to lay waterproofing materials, making a distinction between the plinth and the brick wall; for cheap construction, you can use, for example, roofing felt, folded in half. Of course, you don’t have to make do with only them; the choice of materials for insulation is now quite extensive. Double waterproofing is necessary in order to protect the house not only from the external influence of the elements, but also from the influence of groundwater on the foundation.

Video - how to make a brick plinth

Brick is an environmentally friendly and reliable material, as a result of which it is often used in construction. Masonry with 2 bricks is suitable for the construction of buildings of varying degrees of complexity. Brick walls built using this method can withstand significant loads. The long service life and strength of the structure can be ensured by the proper professional level of the performer or pedantic adherence to the step-by-step manual.

What will be needed for such masonry?

The main tools for working with red brick (aka ceramic) are:

putty knife;
trowel (trowel);
construction level;
cutter;
cord;
pickaxe, furnace hammer;
plumb line, rule;
roulette;
shovels (bayonet, shovel, sapper).

Close attention must be paid to the choice of the binding component – the solution. The mixture for binding bricks is made on the basis of cement. For greater thickness and strength, sand is added to the cement.. The ratio should be approximately this: 3 parts sand to 1 part cement (depending on the brand of cement). The solution is mixed with water.

Cement-lime mortar is also used. However, it is not suitable for the construction of large structures. It is mainly used to form decorative elements in the interior. The solution is characterized by unusual plasticity and low thermal conductivity.

For the construction of fireproof structures, fireclay fireclay is added to the cement. To prepare the solution, a concrete mixer is required.

Calculating the size of the building

When using bricks, precision is important. Since all the details of the future structure are identical, you can easily calculate the height and width of the future structure with a masonry of 2 bricks.

With typical dimensions of red brick corresponding to GOST, the parameters are calculated as follows:

the width of the masonry of two bricks will be 510 millimeters;
the height of the structure based on 2 brick blocks and the seams between them is 154 millimeters (the height of one brick is 65 millimeters, the height of the seam is 12 millimeters).

Knowing the dimensions of the future building, you can calculate how much material will be needed to construct the masonry.

Work technology

Any of the bricklaying methods is based on the rotation of the tie and spoon rows. They took the names from the edges of the brick block. There are three surfaces of this building material. It's poke, spoon and bed.

The bed is the largest face of a brick block; its other name is working. The bed can be lower or upper. It depends on how it is placed in the brickwork. The spoon is the side perpendicular to the bed, it is the second largest. The poke is perpendicular to all faces. This is the smallest part of a brick block.

There are 5 basic variations of brickwork in 2 components.

Cross. First of all, lay out 3 stitch rows, and then the same number of spoon rows. After this, the action is performed again in the same order the required number of times.
Chain (double-row). This is the most affordable and uncomplicated way to build walls. First, lay out 2 lines in parallel. Each subsequent row is placed parallel to the previous one and properly reinforced with cement mortar. You should get a model of a ladder with a shift of 3 centimeters.

Artistic. This type of masonry involves the formation of a facade pattern through painting, joint patterns and technology for laying brick blocks. The facade is not a flat surface, but an intricate relief with architectural elements (these are niches, ledges, columns, slopes and other three-dimensional patterns). This method of masonry is also called patterned-relief.
Single row. It is implemented using the technique of stepwise alternation of bonded and spooned rows. Most often, this method is used to build fences.
Multi-row. With this system, the wall is laid in even layers of 6 rows of brick blocks. Moreover, only every 6th row is a bonded row. Others are spoon ones. Longitudinal vertical seams are tied every 6th row.

Masonry scheme

The two-brick scheme involves laying brick blocks in horizontal rows. Here it is necessary to take into account the geometric characteristics of the building, its purpose, and the greatest load. Among other things, you need to keep in mind the thermophysical properties. The total thickness of the walls consists of the dimensional parameters of the brick and the cement layer.

The strength characteristics of the building are directly related to the choice of dressing scheme, which is carried out in the transverse or longitudinal direction. It is imperative to take into account the fact that the masonry option under discussion is associated with high pressure on structures that bear operational loads, in particular the foundation. As a result, when choosing such a method, you should first of all worry about its proper strength. A strengthened foundation is best.

DIY base

For the base, as a rule, a masonry of 2 brick blocks is chosen. It turns out to be quite strong and able to withstand any load. But we must not forget about the solution, it is also of great importance. The best option is M75. It has good ductility and rigidity.

To give the base even greater strength, every 4 rows it is necessary to reinforce it with a specialized steel mesh with a cell size of 50x50 millimeters. When constructing a basement, it is necessary to take into account the load of one upper brick block - it must fall on 2 lower blocks. Another extremely important point is that when you lay a base of 2 bricks, you will need to ensure that the rows are perfectly even.

Also remember to properly tape the corners.

For the base, as a rule, two dressing schemes are used.

Chain (single row). It is chosen mainly because of its simplicity. The first row is laid out with a poke, and the second row is laid out using the “spoon-poke-spoon” method. But when constructing the corners of a plinth with two bricks, the chain and single-row methods are partially different.
Multi-row. Here the first two rows are laid out like a chain pattern, and all the next ones (including the 6th) are laid out only using the spoon method.

Universal single-row corner pattern

When creating most buildings, you need to lay out corners. This is the most difficult process in the construction of structures. It is important to take several factors into account here.

Also, for convenience, it is worth changing the brick laying technique.

1st row- a base is laid, which is arranged using the spoon method in only one place, in the rest - a pin pattern.
2nd row- laid in the same way as the entire wall, but when turning, a joint must be made that will add strength.
3rd row and onwards– all brick blocks must be laid clockwise using the spoon method.

The last 2 rows will be the finishing rows. They must be implemented in the same way as the first 2, only in the opposite direction.

It is extremely important not to disturb the masonry not only in the corner itself, but also at a distance of 2 blocks from it, in order to obtain optimal strength characteristics of the walls. This makes it possible to create a high-quality load-bearing structure without damaging the wall pattern.

Pillar masonry

For laying a pillar, a 3-row dressing system is used (640x510; 510x510; 380x510).

Installation of brickwork

To build a wall of 2 bricks, it is necessary to take into account not only the masonry technology, but also the rules for pairing the elements with each other.

There are two basic mounting methods:

press;
right next to each other.

Pressing is one of the most common methods used in the construction of walls. A rigid cement solution is used for it, since shrinkage with this installation method is the least.

The basement is a “transition” from the foundation directly to the building, therefore, when constructing it, it is very important to comply with all rules and standards, and in no case deviate from the project (if there is one).

A brick base can be laid on a foundation made of any material, be it reinforced concrete or rubble masonry. It is only important to take into account the weight of the future walls of the building so that their heaviness does not create an excessive load that will be higher than the bearing capacity of the base. Usually a brick base is laid out for wooden or panel houses.

Construction of a brick plinth

Most often, the foundation protrudes from the ground at a distance of 30 to 90 cm. The height of the base should not be less than 50 cm. Of course, if the building is being erected on a slope, then the height of the base may increase. In buildings with a ground floor, its size can reach two meters.

The construction of a brick plinth has its own characteristics, since it does not fully resist moisture, which affects its durability. The construction of a brick plinth on a strip foundation is one of the most convenient and therefore widespread methods, since the plinth is, as it were, a continuation of the foundation.

Which brick to choose

It is best to use solid brick. The advantage of solid brick is that, unlike hollow brick, it will allow less moisture to pass through. After all, a hollow brick will sooner or later accumulate condensation inside itself, which will penetrate the material and gradually destroy the brick. This will only take a few years. The result is destruction of the brickwork and deformation of the entire structure.

Brick laying - photo

If we talk specifically about the brand of brick, then it is worth paying attention to solid baked brick, the technical indicators of which in terms of stability and resistance to compression will correspond to M-200 and higher, and the level of frost resistance will not be lower than F 50.

In addition, in order for the brickwork of the base to last longer, you need to take a responsible approach to ensuring it is insulated from moisture and temperature changes.

Moisture protection

Before you begin laying the first row of bricks, a layer of waterproofing should be laid on the foundation.

For this, two layers of roofing felt glued together with bitumen grease (this is the cheapest option), mastic or bitumen grease (all surfaces are treated with it) or a mixture of quartz sand, cement and active additives can be used.

Having finished laying the basement bricks, you should lay the second layer of waterproofing at the height of the lower level of the basement floor.

Often, in order to provide more reliable protection of the base from moisture, a base-screen made of reinforced concrete slabs or thin sheets of asbestos cement is erected around it.

Thermal insulation of the base

In order to protect the basement masonry from temperature changes, the best material is polystyrene foam. It is fixed to the outside of the finished base. It is important to choose the right adhesive material - mastic or glue - they should not contain acetone, solvent or any other solvents. It is better to choose cold mastic.

But if there are financial restrictions, then simply plastering the surface of the base will be suitable for insulation, and there is no need to glue insulation.

Start of masonry

The best mortar for laying brick plinths is the M-75 mortar.

The solution should be laid out and leveled well. The layer thickness is at least two centimeters. A mesh of reinforcement is placed in this layer of solution, for which VR-1 wire with a cross-section of 4 mm is used. Cell size – 50 by 50 mm.

After completing these “procedures” you can begin installation.

Having laid out four rows of the base, you need to lay out the reinforced mesh again. Compliance with this condition will provide the brick plinth with strength and spatial strengthening.

Installation rules

The brickwork of the plinth should be laid out in horizontal rows. You can independently build a brick plinth using a single-row laying, alternating layers across the walls (bonded) and along the walls (spoon).

Blind area device

When constructing a plinth, creating a blind area is a mandatory step, since it protects the plinth from surface water. Its maximum width is no more than 60 cm. But it is also worth taking into account the extension of the roof of the building - the width of the blind area should be 20 cm larger.

The materials for it are asphalt, concrete, stone. You need to start installing it from the corner, having previously treated all joints with sealant.

Plinth cladding

Installation of cladding is another stage of waterproofing. Since the brick base is exposed to the influence of the atmosphere and does not withstand moisture well, materials with a long service life and a high level of moisture resistance are usually chosen as finishing materials.

These include ceramic tiles and stone - both natural and artificial. The use of plaster is also possible.

Installing a plinth on a strip foundation is a painstaking task, but the waste of effort and time will certainly be justified, because the plinth protects the building from external factors, and besides, it gives the building a complete and unique look.