3 ways to make floors on the ground and not worry about their reliability

Floors on the ground are laid on top of rough layers laid directly on the soil. This method is applicable for utility rooms, old-type private houses that do not have a basement.

There are several ways to create a floor on the ground, differing in the materials used and the method of laying them. Let's figure out what the difference between them is, in what cases one or another method is applicable, and show how to create the right floor pie.

Construction of the floor begins with backfill. Source k-dom74.ru

Construction Features

Typically, technology allows you to install floors on the ground in a strip foundation. The method is not applicable for complex types of supporting structures that combine two or several types of foundation, for example, pile-strip.

Strip foundation in a private house Source betonbase.ru

There are several types of subfloors. Among them, concrete screed. Rely on: the structure can:

• on load-bearing walls;
• a cushion of soil backfill.

As a base, you can use plank flooring on wooden beams (joists). For each type of structure, a floor pie of a certain composition is constructed. Concrete cannot be poured directly onto the ground or clay.

Clay floor in outbuildings. Source 9ban.ru

It is necessary to prepare an intermediate base layer that provides:

• rigidity;
• thermal insulation;
• waterproofing;
• stability;
• ability to withstand loads.

Advice ! It is easier and faster to install wooden flooring. To arrange such a foundation, you do not need to carry out serious preparatory work.

The decision to lay floors on the ground is made based on the results of a soil study. It is important to know whether there is water lying close to the surface under the building.

Wooden floor on the ground Source prd.ru

What should load-bearing walls be supported on?

Strip foundation

Since this type of foundation is not load-bearing, resting heavy stoves, brick partitions and massive stairs on it is highly not recommended. In these cases, a strip foundation is used as a foundation for the internal walls.

When constructing partitions, the following method can also be used to avoid concrete fracture:

• Stiffening ribs are installed underneath them - reinforced concrete purlins that rest on the foundation; when the foundation moves, they will act as elastic inserts, dampening such deformations
• a gap is made in the thermal insulation layer and a reinforcement frame is installed into it, which is connected to the main floor frame; if the thickness of the insulation layer is insufficient, to avoid the appearance of cold bridges, you should go down 20-40 cm

In areas with severe frosts, concrete with the addition of cement of at least grade M400, which is frost-resistant, is used for pouring. Cement of similar brands should also be used for pouring screed on wet soil. This material also has higher water-repellent properties.

Positive and negative sides

Floors on the ground have several advantages:

• ease of installation;
• efficiency;
• sustainability;
• ability to withstand significant weight;
• minimal load on the walls or its complete absence;
• wear resistance;
• maintainability;
• suitability for coating with any type of finishing materials;
• possibility of installing a “warm floor” system.

Design disadvantages include:

• the need to lay a layer of insulating materials;
• impossibility of installation over a layer of bulk materials more than 60 cm thick.

Important ! Floors on the ground cannot be laid in areas of flooding, river floods and swampy soil with an unstable level and close groundwater. The design of the floors must be created according to technology.

Groundwater lying close to the soil surface Source avatars.mds.yandex.net

Creation sequence

The rough plank floor is easy to install. A sand cushion is made on top of the soil, which is covered with geotextiles. The insulating material is covered with insulation.

It is more difficult to create a concrete floor on the ground in a private house. Filling is done on top of several layers of building materials:

• sand;
• gravel;
• metal mesh (can be replaced with fiberglass);
• ten-centimeter concrete screed;
• waterproofing material;
• insulation (expanded clay, polystyrene foam, penoplex);
• additional protection from moisture;
• top concrete screed.

It is advisable to reinforce the last layer to avoid cracking when drying. If the homeowner decides to equip the home with a “warm floor” system, the structure will have to be assembled and configured before pouring the concrete screed. This is how floors are built on the ground; the correct pie provides high-quality heat and waterproofing, stability, and wear resistance of the structure.

Sand backfill Source izhevsk.ru

Tips from the experts

To avoid adverse consequences, you should remember some points:

• drainage protection protects against excess moisture, which cannot be avoided after melting snow or heavy rainfall;
• a floating concrete screed not fixed to the foundation will help you forget about the negative aspects associated with soil shrinkage;
• The geotextile fabric does not allow the sand cushion to absorb moisture from the concrete, which ensures complete hardening of the layer.

Concrete screed

Before carrying out work, it is necessary to collect information:

• about the composition of the soil;
• about the level of groundwater.

On swampy soils around the building, a drainage system is created to remove soil moisture during the rainy season and active snow melting.

The preparatory layers of backfill are applied one by one after the previous building material has been thoroughly compacted.

Thick layers of sand and gravel are difficult to make dense enough. Over time, the backfill will shrink, which will be greater the thicker the preparatory layers. Therefore, it is better to pour the rough screed directly onto the geotextile fabric. This technology ensures high-quality crystallization of the material.

When concrete is poured over a layer of gravel or sand, the liquid leaves the mixture. The hardening process is disrupted and the strength of the screed is reduced.

Important ! Each previous layer is carefully compacted, and when pouring the screed, the period necessary for hardening and drying the material is maintained. It will not be possible to make a high-quality concrete floor on the ground in one or two days.

The screed cracked due to a violation of the laying technology Source remontik.org
Violation of the manufacturing technology causes:

• deformation, destruction of the lower layers;
• loss of structural strength;
• formation of bumps, depressions;
• cracking of the screed.

Before work begins, hot and cold water and sewage pipes are installed. After pouring the concrete, in order to introduce communication systems into the house, you will have to break the tightness of the structure and break part of the floor pie.

Installation of floors on the ground is carried out in several ways, which differ in process technology and applicable materials. Each method has pros and cons. The choice of technology depends on the foundation, soil, tastes and preferences of the homeowner.

Pouring a concrete screed requires knowledge and skills from craftsmen. During work, “wet” solutions are used. The concrete hardening process takes time. Each new layer of building materials is placed on top of the completely finished previous one. A poorly dried rough screed may burst if the concrete is not allowed to gain sufficient strength.

Application of granite crushed stone

Due to its strength, granite crushed stone is more in demand and popular, although it is more expensive. There are six fractions of granite crushed stone.

Fraction No. 1 , crushed stone up to 5 mm. This waste crushed stone is used only for backfilling paths, walkways, and “washed concrete.”

Fraction No. 2 , crushed stone 5-10 mm. Used in the production of concrete products as an optimizing material (additive)

Fraction No. 3 , crushed stone 5-20 mm, consists of a mixture of two fractions 5-10 and 10-20 mm. The scope of application of this crushed stone extends to the production of ready-mixed concrete, concrete products, and is used in the construction of foundations, road surfaces, and bridge structures.

Fraction No. 4 , 20-40 mm. They are used in the production of reinforced concrete, the construction of roads, some railway tracks and tram tracks, and in the construction of foundations for residential buildings.

Fraction No. 5 , 25-65 mm. This fraction of crushed stone is used in the construction of railway tracks.

Fraction No. 6 , a mixture of crushed stone 20-70 and 40-70 mm. This granite crushed stone is used in reinforced concrete structures of increased strength, as well as in city and federal highways.

Faction No. 7 . Stones larger than 70 mm belong to the decorative fraction.

Video description

How to properly create a floor pie for pouring a concrete screed can be seen in the video:
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in finishing materials and installation of stoves and fireplaces.

Work must be carried out under certain conditions:

1. Filling is done at temperatures above +5 degrees.
2. The construction site or room must have a roof or canopy that protects from direct sunlight.

Sequence of work:

• Step 1 . First, a sand cushion with a thickness of 20 to 60 cm is poured. The layer is leveled and compacted to the maximum possible density. The backfill is filled and compacted using heavy rollers.
• Step 2 . Crushed stone is poured on top of the sand. Ideally, the layer thickness should be about 20 cm. By tamping the crushed stone, the density of the sand cushion increases.
• Step 3 . The backfill is covered with geotextile. The strips of fabric are laid overlapping by 15–20 cm. An overlap is made on the walls from the side of the foundation strip. A damping tape is installed around the entire perimeter. It provides a decoupling between the floor and the foundation strip.
• Step 4 . A metal reinforcing mesh is placed on top of the fabric and filled with concrete mixture. The rough screed must harden thoroughly. Work cannot be continued until the material has acquired sufficient strength.
• Step 5. Double roofing material is used for waterproofing. The material is laid on a rough screed, then treated with bitumen mastic.

Laying penoplex for insulating a concrete floor Source altpol.ru

• Step 6 . The insulation layer is created from penoplex. Choose brands intended for the foundation. This insulating material is characterized by increased density, resistance to moisture, temperature changes, and the effects of bacterial and fungal infections.
• Step 7 . The next layer is a vapor-waterproofing film placed on the penoplex. The material is laid so that there is an overlap along the entire perimeter over the damping tape on the walls. Its height should be 18-22 cm. The film strips are positioned so that they overlap each other. The sides are taped with construction tape.
• Step 8. A reinforcing fiberglass mesh is laid under the finishing screed. Concrete is poured on top of this material. The thickness of the last layer can be from 5 to 10 cm.

If a warm floor is created on the ground, then before pouring the finishing screed, the system is installed and pipes are laid. Concrete is poured after all commissioning work has been carried out.

Reinforcing mesh with damper tape around the perimeter Source vse-postroim-sami.ru

Dry screed

The technology for making dry screed is simpler. This method makes it possible to obtain results faster than when pouring wet mixtures. Expanded clay is used as a substrate for the finishing level.

Expanded clay backfill Source ad-cd.net

The installation of a floor on the ground begins with backfilling a sand cushion and pouring a rough screed. After the concrete layer has hardened and acquired the necessary strength, proceed to the following stages of work:

1. The waterproofing film is laid using the standard method. Strips of fabric are laid in overlapping rows. One sheet overlaps the other by 10-13 cm. The side sections of the film are covered with adhesive construction tape. The edges of the canvases along the entire perimeter are raised onto the wall. The lifting height corresponds to the thickness of the dry screed.
2. To create a flat horizontal plane of the floor, plaster profiles are used. Beacons are installed around the perimeter of the room. Their height is determined using a building level.
3. Create a pillow from expanded clay. The bulk material is compacted and leveled along the beacons.
4. The expanded clay layer is covered with available building material (tongue-and-groove plasterboard, plywood).
5. The slabs are covered with finishing material.

Recommendations for concreting

Finishing layer of concrete screed

Formwork is prepared for pouring the screed. In order for the floating screed to be located at a certain distance from the walls, it must be leveled with a building level. To make it easier to remove the formwork, the wood can be pre-treated with oil.

To avoid the appearance of cold bridges, the mortar is poured in one stage to create a monolithic screed without seams. You should work as quickly as possible so that the concrete does not have time to set.

Its mixing proportions directly depend on the brand of cement (see table). In order for cement and sand to be evenly distributed in the solution, you must first thoroughly mix the dry components, and only then add liquid.

Table of ratio of cement, sand and crushed stone

Mixing the solution in large quantities without using a concrete mixer in this case is simply unrealistic. If this is not available, it is better to purchase a ready-made solution, mixed mechanically, from a trusted manufacturer. To fill the concrete base, it is advisable to use cement of a grade not lower than M200-300, which does not crack when hardening.

Work begins from the far corner. A vibrator is used to remove voids. Level the concrete using a special construction tool in the form of a long metal strip - rules. After filling all the areas between the beacons, they are carefully removed and concrete is poured into the resulting holes. In order for the solution to dry evenly, the surface is covered with film and left to dry. During the first week, the concrete should be periodically moistened with water. It takes at least a month to finally gain strength. All work started before this time can lead to a weakening of the strength of concrete.

You can achieve a perfectly flat floor using a self-leveling mixture. It is poured over the rough concrete layer only after complete drying.

Plank flooring

The most budget-friendly ground floor on a strip foundation is constructed from boards. Wooden structures have a large number of advantages. They can be built in houses made of wood, stone, brick and concrete blocks.

Advantages of wooden structures:

• are cheaper than concrete screed;
• Wood beams can be installed independently;
• for the construction of a supporting structure and a plank floor, complex specific materials and tools are not needed:
• Wood structures put less pressure on the foundation of a house than a concrete screed.

Negative aspects of rough plank flooring:

• Wood degrades faster than concrete. It rots under the influence of moisture and fungus.
• The boards catch fire quickly.
• Wood is not resistant to moisture.

To protect wood from harmful insects and infections, building materials are treated with antiseptics, resins and other impregnations. Well-dried wood lasts up to half a century.

Video description

The sequence of installing a subfloor made of planks in the video:
The plank floor is mounted on a support system of longitudinal beams and transverse beams. Inside the room, columns are laid out along the walls of bricks. All free space between the supports is covered with expanded clay. For ventilation, leave 10-15 cm between the backfill and the plank floor.

A lag system is installed on the posts. The height of the supports is leveled. A plank subfloor is laid on top of the bars. The boards are laid:

• waterproofing film;
• insulating substrate;
• finishing material (laminated coating, linoleum, carpet).

There are several options for creating a floor pie along the wooden beams of the first floor. In the old days, logs were built from thick straight logs.

The building material was treated with resin. This impregnation provided protection from soil moisture, insects, and putrefactive bacteria.

Floor on joists Source lestnitsygid.ru

This design option consists of:

• from a clay pillow;
• waterproofing fabric, film;
• brick support pillars;
• beams and beams connected to each other by corners or any other types of fasteners;
• insulating material.