Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

One of the first and most important stages in the construction of any building is the arrangement of a supporting structure that can withstand the loads created by the structure and ensure its safety and integrity for many years of service. The compact 3x4 m bathhouse is no exception. Despite its objectively modest dimensions, this building also requires a high-quality and correctly installed supporting structure.

DIY foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse

DIY foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse

While studying the information below, you will learn how to choose a suitable foundation for a 3x4 m bathhouse, on the basis of what indicators the choice of a specific structure is determined, how to correctly calculate it and directly construct it. The information obtained will help you choose the best type and optimal dimensions of the support, as well as refuse the services of third-party contractors, significantly saving the budget allocated for the construction of the bathhouse.

Choosing a foundation type

When choosing the optimal base for the construction of a 3x3 bathhouse, various factors must be taken into account. The main one is the soil structure in this area.

If you have already done construction on this site, then you know the structure of the soil. Otherwise, it is necessary to dig a hole at the site of the proposed construction. Thus, the composition of the soil will be clear, and you will be able to determine the depth of the foundation.

What design for a bathhouse is optimal? First of all, when building a high-quality foundation, there should be no problems with floor screed in the future.

Important! It is recommended to give preference to a strip base if the soil is marsh, garden or forest soil. Also, the ribbon design should be used for clay mail.

It is advisable to use a columnar foundation if the soil is sand, gravel or loam.

The next stage of construction is to decide what materials the bathhouse will be built from. This factor also influences which base is more appropriate to use.

When using bricks, blocks or frames, it is better to opt for a strip base. When building a structure from natural logs or beams, it is recommended to use a columnar base.

Most often, a bathhouse is built from natural materials. In this case, a columnar base should be used. The posts must be installed at a distance of about a meter deep into the ground.

Important! If the foundation or the structure itself is calculated incorrectly, repairs may be needed in the future.

Calculation of concrete cubic capacity for a slab foundation


Volume of cubic capacity of concrete for a slab foundation
Calculation of cubic capacity of concrete for slab foundations is even easier, you don’t even need to draw:

  • finally decide on the height of the foundation. Let the slab be 300 mm high.
  • you know the width and length of the slab
  • multiplying all the quantities will give you the cubic capacity of the required concrete

Features of the strip base

This type of foundation is suitable for buildings with basements or ground floors. However, it is also used for baths. For its construction you will need concrete mortar and reinforcing rods.

Building a foundation for a 3x3 bathhouse with your own hands begins with digging a trench and filling it with fine sand. The finished pillow is compacted.

This foundation is suitable for any type of structure, and it is also extremely easy to install. However, it also has disadvantages. The main one is high cost.

Features of a columnar foundation

A special feature of this design is the use of pillars at its base. They can be made from various materials, for example, concrete, stone or brick.

As a rule, such a base is used in the construction of small structures, so it is optimal for a 3x3 bathhouse. It can be used in clayey soils with deep groundwater.

  • Construction does not require expensive materials and tools;
  • The amount of material required is much less than for a strip structure, so its construction will be cheaper;
  • Construction will take a minimum of time. It will only take a few days to build a columnar foundation for a 3x3 bathhouse with your own hands;
  • Easy to build, so you can do all the work yourself.

Columnar base construction technology

The installation of a columnar foundation differs from other types, primarily in that piles are used for its construction.

Let's consider the main stages:

  • Design of the layout of pillars and marking on the ground;
  • Preparing pits for piles. Their depth should be about one meter. The radius should be slightly larger than the radius of the piles;
  • The bottom of the finished pit should be filled with sand and water and compacted;
  • Installation of a pipe about 1.4 meters long and its waterproofing;
  • Backfilling with crushed stone;
  • Pouring concrete into a pipe. In this case, the pipe should be lifted so that the solution partially spreads along the bottom. The concrete base created in this way will make the foundation stronger and more durable;
  • Compacting, which requires a shovel or pin.

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x6 bathhouse

When building a 3x6 bathhouse, a strip or column foundation can also be used. However, in some cases, a slab base can also be used, which is made from used reinforced concrete slabs.

To work with a strip foundation you will need crushed stone, sand, cement, reinforcement and waterproofing material. The columnar structure will require less materials, but can only be used for stable soils.

For a structure of this size, the distance between the pillars should be no more than two meters. Additionally, it is recommended to install reinforcing bridges between the pillars. However, in some cases, wooden beams can be used as lintels.

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How to make a foundation for a 3x4 bath

Foundation for a 3x4 bath

Every owner of a country house sooner or later comes to the idea of ​​​​the need to build a bathhouse. A larger number of ready-made projects, posted in the public domain, facilitates the process of choosing one or another option and its production. Regardless of their experience in construction work, people often strive to build a building with their own hands. Today we’ll talk about where to start, how to build a foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse - one of the most affordable types.

Composition of concrete.

The proportions and quantities of cement, sand and crushed stone for preparing concrete are given by default as a guide, as recommended by cement manufacturers.

The same goes for the price of cement, sand, and crushed stone.

However, the composition of the finished concrete greatly depends on the size of the crushed stone or gravel fractions, the brand of cement, its freshness and storage conditions. It is known that during long-term storage, cement loses its properties, and with high humidity, the quality of cement deteriorates faster.


Calculation of material for the foundation/

Please note that the cost of sand and crushed stone is indicated in the program for 1 ton. Suppliers announce the price per cubic meter of sand, crushed stone or gravel.

The specific gravity of sand depends on its origin. For example, river sand is heavier than quarry sand. 1 cubic meter of sand weighs 1200-1700 kg, on average - 1500 kg.

With gravel and crushed stone it is more difficult. According to various sources, the weight of 1 cubic meter is from 1200 to 2500 kg, depending on the size. Heavier - smaller.

So you will have to recalculate the price per ton of sand and crushed stone yourself or check with sellers.

However, the calculation will still help you find out the approximate costs of building materials for pouring the foundation. Don’t forget the wire for tying reinforcement, nails or screws for formwork, delivery of building materials, costs for excavation and construction work.

Where to install a bathhouse on the site

As a rule, the main structure on the site is the house. It should be closer to the main entrance. The bathhouse, as an auxiliary structure, is often located in the depths of the territory. At the same time, you should not remove it from the house as much as possible - long walks will not be beneficial for steamy guests and owners.

Location of the bathhouse on the site

When planning the location of the building, it is necessary to take into account the proximity of the septic tank, since the process of using a bathhouse is accompanied by the formation of a large amount of wastewater. It will also be convenient to connect a separate elbow of the home water supply to it. To provide the building with fuel, it is desirable that there is convenient access to it. Otherwise, the firewood will have to be transported in a wheelbarrow.

Do not forget about fire safety requirements and the convenience of neighbors. Smoke from the sauna chimney should not reach neighboring buildings and, if possible, neighboring areas. First determine the preferred direction of air movement in your area.

Types of bath foundations

For the construction of a bathhouse, as for most other capital buildings, any of the currently widely used types of foundations are suitable. The most widespread of them are the following:

  1. A slab foundation is the most complex and expensive to manufacture, having the maximum strength characteristics of all analogues. Used on troubled heaving soils.
  2. Pile and pile-grillage are one of the types of foundations on separate supports. At the same time, currently all piles can be divided into several types:
  • By type of installation - driven-in, screw-in (screwed-in), monolithic with in-situ filling;
  • According to the material - steel and reinforced concrete.

Screw piles are most widely used for bathhouse construction. To strengthen and additionally connect the upper parts, grillages are used - wooden, steel or reinforced concrete beams attached to pile heads.

Types of foundation for a 3x4 bath

  1. A strip foundation is perhaps the most common base option for a small bathhouse. It is a continuous closed block, brick or reinforced concrete strip, installed at a particular depth depending on the quality of the soil at the construction site.
  2. A columnar foundation also refers to a type of foundation on separate supports. The posts are individual rectangular structures made of brick or concrete blocks. They, like piles, are installed in the corners of the future log house, at the junction of internal partitions and under the walls in increments of about two meters. This is the best lightweight foundation for a 3 by 4 bath.

Despite the abundance of options, choosing a specific one is a rather difficult and responsible task. A mistake at this stage can lead to the collapse of the entire structure or the need for expensive foundation repairs or replacement.

In order for the foundation of a 3x4 bathhouse to last as long as possible, it is necessary to choose the right type of foundation. For a one-story building located on dense clay or loamy soils, the best option would be a shallow shallow strip base. It is not difficult to make a bathhouse with your own hands, does not require special skills, and is accessible in terms of the materials and equipment used.

Heavier two-story or attic buildings are best installed on a recessed strip foundation. It is installed based on the soil freezing level, which in different regions of our country can range from one to two and a half meters. In this case, the volume of work and the required material increase, but the strength of the base also increases.

How to properly install a strip foundation

This is also a fairly popular base not only for small baths, but also for other types of buildings. Before you start laying out the foundation, you need to prepare the soil at the construction site. It all starts with marking the site.

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

Important: when marking the foundation, it is important that all angles are 90 degrees.

For marking, you will need pegs and ropes, the length of which is equal to the line of the walls of the bathhouse. Pegs are driven in at the corners, and the rope is pulled between them at approximately right angles.

To obtain a right angle, you need to pull a diagonal rope, the length of which should be exactly five meters.

If the site has fairly hard soil, then the depth of the trench that needs to be dug for the foundation can be only 40 cm, but if the soil is heaving and friable, then a trench is dug 70 cm deep. A sand cushion is placed at the bottom of the trench, which must be compacted well.

Formwork

For formwork, boards are taken; if possible, it is better to use old lumber, since after pouring it will become unusable. If there is no old material, then you will have to buy the required number of boards.

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

The formwork is erected in one step, all at once, and then the concrete must be poured in the same way. The height of the formwork is calculated based on the depth of the dug trench, for example, for shallow digging, 80 centimeters is enough, in other cases a meter. The width of the formwork should be at least 20 centimeters.

Reinforcement

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

Approximate amount of reinforcement for tying the base: 4 meters per linear meter of foundation. Using a knitting wire, a square is created from the reinforcement and placed in the trench. All that remains is to pour the concrete.

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

What you need to know when pouring:

  • the solution should be poured all at once;
  • as soon as the pouring is completed, the concrete is compacted and leveled;
  • Drying time: almost a month;
  • work is not carried out until completely dry.

Video of arranging a strip foundation:

a very informative video, it shows that to preserve the lumber and for better removal of the formwork later, the lumber is covered with plastic film. How to make the base yourself.

Calculation of the foundation for a bathhouse

Before making a foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse, you need to correctly calculate its parameters. The main criterion determining the size of the future foundation is the mass of the structure. To determine it, it is necessary to summarize the following indicators:

  1. The mass of material for the walls of the bathhouse and ceilings - floors and ceilings;
  2. The weight of the roof truss system;
  3. The mass of roofing material;
  4. A lot of interior decoration, shelves, stove, doors.

An example of calculating the foundation for a bathhouse

Therefore, the basis for calculating the foundation of a 3x4 bathhouse is a high-quality building design. It is necessary to decide in advance on all the basic parameters.

Necessary calculations

Before starting work, you need to choose a type of foundation based on the characteristics of the soil on your site, calculate its parameters based on the weight of the structure and properly prepare the concrete solution.

If the soil in your area freezes deeply and is heaving, then you should choose a deep foundation. In the case of dry, non-heaving soil, a shallow strip foundation is suitable.

strip foundation for a bathhouse - soil preparation

The general calculation of any foundation for a building should include determining the type of soil and the pressure loads on it of the structural elements of the building. Based on the obtained values, the dimensions of the foundation are determined.

In addition, the snow load, furniture, equipment and the number of visitors simultaneously in the building are taken into account. In other words, the calculation of a strip foundation must take into account everything that has mass.

Preparing the work site

A fairly important point, which is often not given due attention, is the preparation of the future place of work. The construction site must be leveled, all plants must be mowed, trees and bushes must be cut down. A mandatory element is uprooting the roots.

Preparing the work site for the foundation

In case of high humidity in the area, it is necessary to carry out drainage in advance of building a foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse with your own hands. To do this, trenches are dug along the perimeter of the future building, into which perforated pipes are laid, having a general slope towards the septic tank or beyond the boundaries of the site.

Installation of a columnar foundation

In the case of a low mass of the future structure and the absence of an attic or second floor, a columnar foundation is quite suitable for a 3x4 bathhouse. Its use will significantly reduce the overall costs of construction, since there is no need to purchase or manufacture a large amount of concrete mixture and reinforcement.

Columnar foundation for a bathhouse

Columns can be made from high-quality bricks or concrete blocks of one composition or another. For installation, we first mark the area at the site of future construction.

Marking the area for a columnar foundation.

We determined the size of the foundation for the 3x4 bathhouse. With its orientation to the cardinal directions and relative position with the existing buildings on the site, too. Now, in the cleared area, drive two pieces of reinforcement or wooden pegs at a distance of 3 meters from each other. This will mark the first short wall.

The next pin should be 4 meters from the right one, and 5 meters from the left one. The fact is that the sides of a classic right triangle are in a ratio of 3:4:5. Hence, it is easy to obtain a right angle on the ground using two tape measures and two pre-installed rods. In our case, we can easily mark the next 3x4 meter wall of the bathhouse with our own hands. We also orient the remaining fourth pin using two tape measures at a distance of 4 and 5 meters.

Marking for a columnar foundation

Additionally, to mark the perimeter, a strong nylon cord is pulled between the rods and tied around the corner pegs. Recesses for foundation columns should be located in the corners of the building, at the junction of external walls with partitions and along the perimeter. In our case, corner posts, connecting posts and one in the middle of the partition will be sufficient.

Digging holes for posts

The next stage is making the recesses. It is not advisable to use construction equipment in this case. To work with your own hands, you will need the following tools:

  • Bayonet shovel;
  • Shovel;
  • Pickaxe or pickaxe;
  • An ax for cutting off any existing roots;

Making recesses for posts

The size of the recess in the plan should be between 60x60 - 80x80 cm. This is necessary for free placement when digging and further laying the posts. The depth of the holes depends on the type of soil, its moisture content and the calculated mass of the structure.

Laying foundation columns

As noted, a columnar foundation is a fairly simple type of foundation to make with your own hands. In addition, its use is economically beneficial. To make prepared depressions, pour a couple of buckets of clean, seeded sand into the bottom, lightly moisten it by sprinkling from a watering can and compact it thoroughly.

We pour concrete onto the sand cushion. To do this, we first make a reinforcing mesh from rods with a diameter of 10-12 mm, connecting the rods with a weld or twisting them with soft steel wire. Next, we lay out concrete in a layer of 10 cm on the sand, lay down the mesh and lay out the concrete again. The total layer thickness should not exceed 20 cm.

Let the concrete sit for several days to gain maximum strength. Next we lay out the columns on it. For them, it is better to use solid ceramic bricks that have high moisture resistance. Cement foundation blocks are also suitable instead. In this case, the concrete fill should be 40-50 cm larger, and instead of a sand cushion it is better to make a crushed stone one.

Laying bricks and blocks with your own hands is done using cement-sand mortar of grades M400 and higher. The thickness of the joints for bricks should not exceed 1 cm, for blocks - 1.5 cm. We raise the columns above the soil level by 25-30 cm. We fill the free parts of the holes with previously extracted soil. We cover the upper ends of the foundation elements with roofing felt for waterproofing. Using this technology, you can make a foundation for a 3x3 bathhouse with your own hands.

How to arrange a columnar foundation

A base for a bathhouse made of pillars does not require a large amount of material or financial investment. This is one of the economical options. For this type of base the following materials are used:

  • logs;
  • brick;
  • reinforced concrete foundation blocks;
  • asbestos-cement pipes, which are filled with concrete mixture;
  • concrete.

Interesting: no matter what material is best used for the arrangement, each element of the columnar foundation must be carefully insulated. This can be done using mastic or roofing felt.

How to make a columnar foundation - instructions

  1. pillars are installed in the corners of the structure, at the intersections of walls and under all walls, both internal and external, at a distance of no more than 1 meter from each other. It is easy to calculate that under a 3x4 bath you will need to install 8-12 pillars;

    Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

  2. The depth of the hole should be 70 centimeters, but it can be greater if the soil in the area is loose and heaving. Sand should be poured into the bottom of the hole and compacted. Cover the sand with roofing felt for waterproofing and install a fully insulated pole, which should rise 40 centimeters above the ground.
  3. As soon as the pillars are installed, you need to install a fence - this is a wall between the pillars that will protect the subfloor from the negative influences of the environment. For this you can use brick or aerated concrete blocks.

Video of arranging a columnar base made of asbestos-cement pipes:

This video very clearly and competently shows how to properly install asbestos pipes for the foundation.

Installation of strip foundation

Terrain marking

The installation of a strip foundation has several significant differences from the construction of a columnar foundation. They appear already at the stage of marking the tape on the plane. In this case, it is necessary to install two cords along the outer and inner perimeter. The distance between them should correspond to the width of the base.

Marking for strip foundation

For marking, you can use the method described in the strip foundation installation technology. But a 3x4 rectangle will only be auxiliary. Our markings will be figures with dimensions of 2.8x3.8 and 3.2x4.2, respectively. That is, the width of the tape, for example, will be 40 cm.

Digging a trench

The strip foundation is mounted not in separate recesses, but in a closed trench, which must be made along the perimeter of the walls of the 3x4 bathhouse and under the partition separating the steam room from other rooms. In this case, you can extract the soil not only with your own hands, but also with the use of special construction equipment.

The width of the tape is calculated similarly to the calculation of the columnar base. It should be taken into account that concrete can withstand a load of 2 kg per centimeter of area. The strip foundation should be laid to a depth exceeding the freezing level by 15-20 cm.

Digging a trench for a strip foundation

Please note that the width of the trench must exceed the width of the tape by 200 mm. This is necessary for installing panel formwork, which is often made independently or rented. On clay and loamy soils there is no need for formwork for the underground part of the foundation.

Features of formwork installation

The formwork consists of panels made from edged boards 25 mm thick or sheet wood materials - plywood and OSB. For ease of installation, pointed stakes are nailed across at intervals of 50 cm. With their help, the shields can be easily driven into the ground.

Formwork for strip foundations

Additional fixation of the formwork will help maintain the correct geometric shape of the strip foundation. For this purpose, external spacers made from scraps of boards are used, buried in the ground. Additionally, you can connect the panels to each other at equal distances with wooden slats. Reinforcement must be installed in the prepared formwork and concrete can be poured.

Formwork reinforcement

The installation of a reinforcing belt, which is a steel frame made of reinforcement, helps prevent the destruction of the concrete base for a 3x4 bathhouse. To make it, the rods are tied with knitting wire, installing several pins vertically and passing 4 or 6 rows of horizontal rods between them. L-shaped reinforcement helps strengthen the corners.

Strip foundation reinforcement

To make an armored belt, you can tie separate longitudinal structures at the top, then install them in a prepared trench and combine them there with L-shaped (at the corners) and T-shaped (at the joints) inserts. If possible, continuous, non-composite pins should be installed along the length.

Concreting tape

Concrete can be poured into a trench with an armored belt. Ideally, filling should occur in one go. Otherwise, if you have to pour concrete in parts, a decrease in the strength characteristics of the bathhouse base may occur. You can get a large volume of the mixture only in one case - when purchasing it at the nearest concrete plant.

To save money, it is possible to make concrete with your own hands directly on the construction site. In this case, mechanical assistants will be required - electric concrete mixers. Even when using them, work may require a full day of daylight. It is advisable to involve additional forces in the process. It will be faster to make a smaller foundation for a 3x3 bathhouse with your own hands.

After pouring concrete, you should not leave the strip foundation unattended for a long time. After setting, its surface is covered with thick canvas, which is periodically moistened, preventing the top layers from drying before the inner ones. Only after a couple of months will the foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse made with your own hands be ready for installation of the wall frame.

Calculation of concrete for strip foundation


To calculate the concrete, you will need all the dimensions of the foundation.
Calculate concrete for a strip foundation, start with a sketch:

  • draw on paper the configuration of your foundation in the form of a rectangle
  • indicate the dimensions: width and length of the entire foundation
  • Draw the cross member on the foundation diagram if you have a cross wall. The crossbar in the foundation diagram will play the role of a stiffener, so you shouldn’t give it up even for a simple foundation for a log house for a bathhouse
  • Draw a cross-section of the foundation strip next to the diagram. Usually, for a bathhouse, this is a rectangle 300 mm wide and 400 mm high, in the case of a shallow strip foundation

Now you can safely count, because everything is visually obvious:

  • by multiplying the dimensions of the cross section of the future tape, the area of ​​this section is determined: 0.3 x 0.4 = 0.12 m2
  • by multiplying the cross-sectional area of ​​the tape by the perimeter of the foundation, the cubic capacity of the entire foundation is obtained

Also make an allowance for concrete losses of 5%:

  • upon delivery to the trench
  • when laying in a trench due to unclear adherence to the geometry of the formwork
  • for residues in the mixer that stick to its walls

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4 bathhouse: detailed instructions

Since ancient times, the bathhouse has been especially popular in Rus'. And in our time there are lovers of the Russian steam room who are not averse to building it with their own hands on a summer cottage or personal plot. What is it like, a modern bathhouse?

Firstly, this is not only a place for washing the human body, it is also a space for cleansing the spirit, getting rid of accumulated fatigue and stress.

Secondly, visiting a Russian bathhouse is a kind of national ritual with the choice of a broom, light steam and mandatory relaxation in the fresh air.

During the times of Kievan Rus, it was customary to build structures intended for a bathhouse on the shore of a body of water (so that after a steam room you could freshen up directly in the cold water in the open air). Nowadays, the bathhouse can be located either inside a living space or as a separate building. It’s easier to build a bathhouse with your own hands remotely from the house.

We build a bathhouse with our own hands

The first important point when starting to build a bathhouse with your own hands is choosing a site for construction. Experts recommend carefully considering its location:

  • in the depths of the yard;
  • far from the street and road.

In this case, the distance to the fence can be 1.5-2 meters, and from residential buildings - at least six meters (these standards are given in the fire safety rules).

The second step includes the design and layout of the future structure. If you turn to specialist planners, you will receive a well-designed optimal project specifically for your family. But you can try to make such a project yourself. In this case, you need to take into account:

  1. The size of the building depends on the area of ​​your land.
  2. The area of ​​the future bathhouse is directly proportional to the number of people who will use it (standard size 3 x 4 for a family of 4-5 people).
  3. The number of functional rooms is a dressing room (for undressing), a shower room (for washing), a steam room (steam room).
  4. In all adjacent rooms, doors can only be opened from the outside (according to fire safety rules).
  5. Windows should be small in size (to prevent heat and heat from escaping).

After you have purchased everything you need (materials and tools), proceed to building the bathhouse itself: pouring the foundation, erecting walls, laying the stove, installing shelves, decorating the bathhouse with appropriate accessories.

Concrete works

The composition and grade of concrete depend on the calculated loads, as well as weather and climatic conditions. For light buildings, in the summer, M200 concrete is used. If it is cold and the bath is heavy, use concrete mortar M300/M400.

concrete strip foundation m300

In addition, in winter it is necessary to introduce modifiers into concrete that plasticize it, increase frost resistance, and speed up hardening.

When making a strip foundation for a bathhouse with your own hands, do not forget that the optimal ratio of sand, crushed stone and cement is 3:5:1, while the water-cement ratio is 0.5. The volume of concrete can be calculated by multiplying the height, width and length of the foundation in meters, so you will get the required amount of solution in cubic meters.

pouring concrete into strip foundation formwork

After placing the concrete in the formwork, pierce it in some places with an iron probe in order to remove air . It’s even better to rent a construction (deep) vibrator and use it to compact the concrete mixture as much as possible. This way you will significantly increase its strength characteristics.

The formwork can be removed, depending on the weather, after 5/6 days . For the first 2/3 weeks, do not forget to water the foundation, so its hardening will occur more efficiently and correctly. After 28 days, the concrete will completely harden, and construction of the walls of the bathhouse can begin.

Foundation for a bathhouse: its meaning

Laying the foundation is the beginning of any new building, not just a 3 x 4 bathhouse. But this business also has its secrets. You can make two types of foundation with your own hands (depending on the soil on your site):

  1. Columnar - on fine gravel, coarse sand, loam or clay (pillars made of brick, stone, concrete are located in the corners, at the intersection of walls and under frame posts).
  2. Belt - on liquefied (swamp) soil, forest or garden soil (trenches are dug around the perimeter of the building and filled with concrete).

Screw piles are a type of columnar foundation. It is this type of pile-screw foundation for a 3 x 4 bathhouse that you can install with your own hands on swampy or waterlogged soil with non-uniform heights. To install the piles, you don’t need any special tools; you just need to call one of your stronger friends for help.

The strip foundation type includes a monolithic base, which is made of concrete poured into a previously prepared pit measuring 3 x 4.

Types of foundations

Do-it-yourself foundation for a 3x4, 4x4, 3x5 or 4x6 bathhouse

Before you start arranging the foundation for a bathhouse, you need to have an idea of ​​the types of foundations and choose one that suits your structure. Main types of bases:

  • strip foundation;
  • columnar foundation;
  • foundation slab;
  • tire foundation;
  • prefabricated monolithic foundation made of blocks.

There are some factors that determine the choice of one or another basis. It is important to take into account not only the type of soil on the site, but also the specific gravity of the building itself, and since we are building a small bathhouse, its specific gravity will not be prohibitive.

Important: if the soil on your site is hard—clay mixed with sand and gravel—then you can safely build a columnar foundation. And if it is unstable or loose, then you cannot do without a strip foundation.

A columnar foundation is suitable if the walls of the building are made of timber, logs, or foam blocks. This foundation is also suitable for a frame bath. If you plan to build walls made of brick or aerated concrete, then you should install only a strip foundation, regardless of the type of soil.

Step-by-step instructions: how to build a foundation for a bathhouse with your own hands

If you have decided on a place to build a future bathhouse, designed it, purchased the necessary materials, prepared tools, you can proceed to the most important stage of building a 3 x 4 bathhouse with your own hands - laying the foundation. To do this you need:

  1. Determine the soil type of your building site.
  2. Choose the type of future foundation for the 3 x 4 bathhouse, depending on the soil of the site.
  3. According to the project, make markings.
  4. Dig a hole or several holes (depending on the foundation), fill it with sand (about 20 cm), fill it with water, and compact it.
  5. Install pillars (pipes, piles).
  6. Sprinkle with fine crushed stone (50 cm) for stability.
  7. Fill with concrete and compact.

After the foundation for a 3 x 4 bath has been poured, you need to make a base with your own hands. This is a continuation of the upper part of the foundation, which is necessary to protect the structure from moisture.

Experts advise: if you doubt your capabilities and are unlikely to be able to make a high-quality foundation for a 3 x 4 bathhouse with your own hands, then it would be best to turn to specialist builders. The foundation is a very important part of any building (not just a bathhouse), on which the entire structure rests.

How many screw piles are needed for a 3 by 4 foundation?

The foundation for a small 3 by 4 bathhouse on screw piles involves the use of 6 screw piles. For small one- and one-and-a-half-story bathhouses made of timber, logs, and frame bathhouses, screw piles with a diameter of 89 mm or 108 mm are used; the length of the shaft depends on the results of test drilling and the selected height of the building’s base.

Before constructing a 3 by 4 meter foundation, our specialists will determine the type of soil, its bearing capacity, freezing depth, and groundwater level. Next, the foundation will be installed, taking into account the characteristics of the soil, the construction project and the topography of the place where the object will be located. After this, you can immediately begin tying the foundation and building the facility.

Free calculation of the cost of the foundation

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