Someone will tell you that concrete in this case has no alternative. Like, only he - and even reliably reinforced with metal - can protect the foundation of your house from atmospheric waters. But take your time to make a decision. There is still an alternative - and this is a soft blind area, which in some respects will even surpass the traditional version. Let's figure out what a soft blind area is and how to use it.
Read in the article
- 1 When concrete fails: is a blind area needed in principle?
- 2 How to correctly make a soft blind area, and what materials are needed for this
- 3 Risk or smart decision in favor of modern technology?
When concrete fails: is a blind area needed in principle?
Concrete blind areas outwardly look soundly and reliably, but in practice they sometimes fail so that you have to invest money (and considerable money) to correct the situation. If the soil is mobile, that is, depending on the season, it heaves, then cracks appear on the blind area, and it even moves away from the foundation, leaving gaps for free access of melt and rainwater.
Is she really needed at all? There is also such an opinion - they say, if at the stage of arranging the foundation, you seriously approach its waterproofing, then there is no special need for a blind area. And if you also make the roof exit larger, then you can limit yourself to a slope, rammed with clay, to the side of the foundation. Or alternatively, just lay the tiles. This opinion has a right to exist, and it cannot be denied that there are examples of quite successful operation of such buildings.
How to correctly make a soft blind area, and what materials are needed for this
The main material that you need for this purpose is a profiled membrane. It is made of HDPE, has a thickness of 0.6 mm and not only does not allow moisture to pass through, but also stretches well in different directions. This membrane has an uneven surface, it has protrusions that help water not to stagnate on the surface, but to drain away from the house. The elasticity of the membrane helps it to adapt to possible ground movements without any damage. And the strength of the material is so high that you can easily walk on the gravel poured onto the membrane.
In addition, the material of such membranes is not afraid of temperature changes, the effects of aggressive substances, and is not affected by mold or rot. The density of the membrane does not allow plant roots to grow through it.
There is one significant nuance in laying the membrane - geotextiles must be laid on it as the first layer. This is a non-woven material that acts as a kind of moisture filter, preventing the soil from clogging the water drainage channels.
The membrane laying technology is quite simple:
- It is necessary to remove the soil around the foundation and make a small slope with the help of sand filling.
- The membrane is laid around the foundation in such a way that its edge rises 15 cm to the wall. This fold is held on the wall by clamps or in any other way convenient for you.
- Geotextiles are laid on top of the membrane (some manufacturers immediately sell the membrane with textiles in one roll). At the joints, the material is glued with a special sealed tape.
- Then gravel or rolled lawn, paving slabs are laid on the membrane.
Such a blind area has long been used in Europe. According to the technology, it is recommended to put a drainage pipe in the lower part of such a blind area to drain moisture into a sewer pit.
Risk or smart decision in favor of modern technology?
You need to face the truth: concrete is not always the right solution for a private house, and there are reasons for this, the main of which is heaving soil. A soft blind area is a durable and reliable structure, especially if it is made of high-quality material. And besides, such a blind area will cost you less than laying concrete and its subsequent annual repair.
If you are interested in the process of laying such a membrane - watch this video:
If you have experience in operating a soft blind area, and you are ready to share it, write in the comments!
