How to make a foundation from asbestos-cement pipes? Do-it-yourself technology for installing a foundation made of asbestos pipes Racks made of asbestos-cement pipes

A foundation made of asbestos pipes is suitable for any unloaded structures, be it a private bathhouse or a garage, a terrace or a frame residential building. Such a columnar base is quite easy to build with your own hands.

A base made of asbestos pipes requires minimal effort and time. It is not suitable for heavy buildings and houses. But there is practically no alternative to it when constructing light buildings in areas that are flooded during floods. A columnar foundation made from inexpensive products has the required resistance to destruction caused by wetting of the structure.

Columnar foundation made of pipes

The main advantages of such bases are as follows:

Low cost of materials and economic feasibility of construction. A pile foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes is always cheaper (and significantly) than block and buried strip structures.
Easy to calculate base. Its design is easy to do with your own hands, without spending money on turning to professional designers.
Asbestos pipes are not subject to corrosion and can be processed mechanically without any problems. They also do not change their linear parameters when the ambient temperature fluctuates.
Short construction time without the use of special equipment and the preparation of a finished foundation made of pipes.

The disadvantages of the structures under consideration include their relative fragility (a base made of asbestos products has been in use for 60–70 years) and the impossibility of arranging a cellar in a house built on a similar foundation. But this is not a problem, because the basement can also be built as a separate structure.

Visually, the foundation made of asbestos products consists of pillars installed in several lines. These rows of pipes are a reliable basis for the construction of the planned building. The basic principle of constructing such a foundation is to pour concrete mixture only in certain areas, and not along the entire perimeter of the structure.

You need to decide on the number of supports that will make up the columnar foundation, as well as its depth. No knowledge of higher mathematics is required to perform such calculations. The depth of the pipe base depends on:

the magnitude of the load on it for future construction;
depth of soil freezing in a specific area.

The lighter the structure you build, the less stress it will put on it. In most cases, the depth of the base of asbestos-cement products is taken to be about 150 cm. In this case, pipes of different cross-sections are used. If a frame house is being built, it is recommended to use products 25–30 cm in diameter. But to build a light summer veranda or gazebo with your own hands, pipes with a cross-section of 10 cm are enough.

Creating a foundation from asbestos pipes

It is easy to find out about the depth of soil freezing in a particular region from reference tables (they are abundantly available on the Internet). Note! Such signs always indicate the amount of freezing of bare soil - without taking into account snow cover. In areas where a lot of snow falls, the depth values recommended by the reference book can be reduced by 5–10 cm.

Second point. You should add about 40 cm to the depth indicated in the reference table. The resulting value will tell you the exact length of the underground part of the asbestos-cement products. And the pipes should protrude about 30 cm above the ground. If the floods in your area are quite serious, you can “stick out” the piles higher above the ground.

Support pillars must be placed under the central part of the building, along its perimeter and at all angles. It is important to install enough piles so that the load from the building is distributed evenly across them. In this case, the load on one support should be a maximum of 800 kg.

To do the work yourself, you will need asbestos-cement pipes, a concrete mixer, a grab or a hand drill, construction sand, gravel, cement, reinforcement, and a shovel. It is with the help of this set of tools and materials that you will build a reliable columnar foundation.

House on a foundation made of asbestos pipes

Prepare the site for the construction of the foundation:

You clear the ground and remove the turf from the area where the foundation will be built, then cut off the fertile part of the soil.
Carefully level the site.
Take the rope and pegs. With their help, you mark the contours of the future structure, mark the intersections of the walls and the location of the corners of the building. Install stakes at the points where the asbestos-cement supports will be located.

Now you dig holes for the piles with a shovel. The diameter of such mini-pits is taken to be slightly larger than the cross-section of the pipes used. If you have a drill, it is easier and faster to make wells with it.

Important! The depth of the pits is taken to be approximately 0.2 m greater than the calculated length of the part of the supports located underground. This is done so that you can equip a sand cushion in each well.

Do-it-yourself columnar foundation - a guide to action

In the prepared pits we make special pillows from. The thickness of the finished sand layer should be 0.2 m. Pour the sand, tamp it, water it with ordinary water, and compact it again. Then place a piece of roofing material on the made layer and perform the following operations:

Install asbestos cement pipes into the pits. Level them and fix them. Temporary fastening of the supports can be done using small wooden beams.
If groundwater flows close to the surface in the area, asbestos pipes should be waterproofed with bitumen mastic. Fill the pipe products with it to the soil level and wait until the composition dries.
Drive reinforcing bars around the pipes. Their length is taken in relation to the length of pipe products by 20 percent more. Be sure to maintain a distance of about 70 mm between adjacent rods.
Prepare the concrete solution. Mix 2 parts sand with one part cement M 400, add water to this composition. Stir the resulting composition until it becomes a liquid dough. Add water as needed.
Pour gravel (2 parts) into the mixture and mix it vigorously.
Pour concrete to a height of 0.4–0.5 m around the pipe product and directly into its center.
Raise the pipe 0.2 m and wait for the concrete mixture to harden. The support is raised in order to give the foundation additional resistance to pushing out piles during soil heaving.

High-quality hardening of concrete occurs in 8–14 days. After this, you can safely mount supporting elements on a self-made columnar foundation to install the planned structure on them.

One of the options for inexpensive, but quite durable, do-it-yourself asbestos pipes for private construction. However, this type of foundation is only suitable for the construction of light buildings: wooden houses (timber or chopped), or structures. The construction of heavy brick buildings on this type of foundation is not recommended.

DIY pipe foundation. Savings and simplicity.

Many builders see the disadvantage of this foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes in that during its construction there is no possibility of creating a basement or underground floor. In fact, this allows you to save a significant part of your budget and not have to bury hundreds of thousands of rubles, or even millions, that you will spend on concrete to store potatoes in the winter. Nowadays, this type of structure is popular, especially in areas with a threat of flooding.

In addition, many are captivated not only by the economic benefits of this foundation, but also by the extreme simplicity of its construction, which is important if you are building a house with your own hands.

In terms of strength and durability, a foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes is not inferior to other types of structures.

Basic calculations of a foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes

The calculations will be based on:

number of asbestos-cement pipes (1 for every 2.5-3 m.)
the required length of the pipes themselves (depending on the depth of soil freezing and the planned elevation above the ground),
pipe diameter (according to the weight and dimensions of the building),
the required volume of concrete for pouring (for pouring ten-meter supports with a diameter of 10 cm, 0.1 cubic meters of concrete will be required, for supports with a diameter of 30 cm - 1 cubic meter of concrete mixture),
number of reinforcing bars (3-4 for each support).

Stages of constructing piles from pipes

The construction site is cleared along the width of the future structure with a distance of 2-3 m from the outer edges. The top fertile layer of soil is replaced with a sand mixture.

2. Marking of the future foundation is carried out on the prepared area. To do this, pegs are stuck into the ground and a rope or fishing line is stretched, which is leveled using a level. The purpose of this marking is to control the erected supports, which must be level and at the same level.

3. Next, the process of installing asbestos-cement pipes begins. In the marked area, wells are drilled, the diameter of which should be slightly larger than the diameter of the pipes themselves. For work, you can use either a regular construction one.

4. Sand is poured onto the bottom of the well; sometimes it is necessary to create a concrete pad wider than the diameter of the pipe. The sand at the bottom is compacted. If a concrete pad was poured, it makes sense to wait for it to harden.

5. A waterproofing material is placed at the bottom of the well, which will protect the concrete mixture from moisture loss.

Pouring concrete into an asbestos pipe through a sieve

When all these preparatory activities are completed, an asbestos-cement pipe is released into the hole. The support is fixed in a strictly vertical position and secured with spacers.

How to fix an asbestos pipe for a foundation

A metal frame is placed inside the pipe and concrete is poured in portions, the mixture is processed with a vibrating drill to remove air pockets.

Pouring concrete through a sieve into an asbestos-cement pipe

Ready time for pile foundation made of pipes

It takes up to 28-30 days for a foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes to gain strength, but installation work can begin 14 days after the last support is poured.

After installing all the supports and strengthening with cement, the top layer of the foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes is checked using a laser level and, if necessary, excess parts are cut off.

Any capital construction begins with the construction of a foundation on which walls and the structure as a whole are installed. One of the most popular foundation options today is a pile foundation. Support made of metal pipes is a fairly convenient type for the construction of one-story buildings, utility buildings, garages and small houses.

Arrangement of a pile foundation is a fairly simple process that takes place even faster than the construction of a monolithic or strip foundation. In addition, a foundation made of piles is universal, since it can be used on various types of soil, including floating and heaving soils. Depending on which piles are selected, such a foundation can withstand different loads.

Support characteristics

The main feature of a foundation made of asbestos pipes is the process of its construction. Externally, such a base consists of pillars installed in the corners, as well as in the locations of load-bearing walls at a distance of one to three meters from each other. The main advantage of a foundation made of asbestos pipes is the speed of its construction, as well as fairly low financial costs.

Moreover, in order to equip a foundation of supports, a very small amount of concrete solution is required. If for a strip or monolithic foundation you need to first dig a pit or trench, then for a pile foundation this is not required, you just need to make a few wells. Accordingly, the site owner’s time and money are also saved.

If you follow all the necessary rules and construction technologies, pipe piles, like the foundation as a whole, will last quite a long time and will maintain the strength of the entire structure for many years. It is important to take into account when arranging a pile foundation that it will not be possible to create a basement in this way. Most often, pile foundations are used in areas with uneven soil, for example, on slopes, or in areas with weak soil, where a monolith or strip foundation will collapse.

Supports for pile foundations are made from a variety of materials, for example, asbestos cement, concrete, metal, wood or brick. The most durable foundations are those made of concrete and asbestos-cement pipes and pillars. Such supports have a number of advantages:

Very high level of strength.
High speed of construction work.
Resistance of the material to spreading.

Another important advantage of using supports for arranging the foundation is that there is no need to use heavy and large construction equipment. As a rule, in reality it is enough to use a regular drill, a concrete mixer, as well as standard available tools. The advantages of a support base are:

Simplified procedure for conducting communication systems.
Compared to the construction of a monolithic or strip foundation, the labor intensity of construction work is lower, as well as the lower cost of materials and lower expenditure of physical strength.
Protection of the building from flooding during periods of river overflow and heavy rainfall. The fact is that the main part of the structure when using a pile foundation is located above the ground by about 30 centimeters, and sometimes more.
There is no need to carry out any excavation work, since there is no need to dig a pit or trench.
High speed of completion of all work, no need to spend additional time waiting for the concrete to dry.

Despite the considerable number of advantages of a foundation with piles, such a foundation also has a number of disadvantages that must be taken into account:

A pile foundation cannot be used in areas where there are too large differences in height, as well as moving layers of soil that lie deep enough.
The use of supports for piles allows structures with a small mass to be installed on such a foundation. This is especially true for bases made of PVC pipes. For this reason, foundations on pipes are used mainly only for the construction of one-story buildings.
Inability to organize a basement or ground floor.
The duration of use of a foundation made of pipe structures, as a rule, does not exceed 85 years, which is significantly less than the service life of other types of foundations.

Types of columnar base

The pile can be made from various types of products. The following are actively used in construction:

asbestos-cement;
wooden;
concrete;
metal;
plastic.

The foundation, made on piles of asbestos-cement pipes, is considered the most durable. In addition, such a base has a number of other advantages:

Asbestos products have a low cost, which reduces the final cost of all work.
To equip a foundation of this type, it is not necessary to additionally construct formwork for pouring concrete mortar.
No special equipment is needed to install asbestos products.
Before installing the supports, it is not necessary to create a special cushion of sand and gravel.

In addition to asbestos products, other types of supports and technologies are used when constructing the foundation. For example, it is quite common to make supports and piles from steel pipes. In addition, for the construction of small lightweight buildings, the use of piles made of plastic pipes is common.

Construction stages: detailed instructions

Preparatory work

Before making a foundation, it is necessary to study the site where construction work will be carried out. The first step is to determine the following factors:

Estimated total mass of the entire structure.
Soil freezing depth.
Features of the soil in the selected area, as well as the characteristics of the soil layers.
Depth of aquifers.

We make markings

Then, taking into account all the features of the territory, it is necessary to mark the site and indicate the places where future piles will be located. To ensure that the pipes steel well and maintain a stable position, sufficiently deep wells are made. You can make them yourself using a gasoline-powered drill or using hand tools.

Drilling of the wells

Pipes must be installed in the corners of the future building, as well as in places where the walls of the building will intersect. As a rule, asbestos-cement pipes are installed around the perimeter of the structure at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other. The holes must be drilled so that their depth is approximately half a meter lower than the freezing depth of the soil. On average, the depth of the well is about two meters. The diameter of the hole is selected depending on the width of the pipes. The installed supports should rise 50 centimeters above the ground level.

Reinforcement

After preparing the wells and installing asbestos-cement pipes in them, additional steps must be taken to secure the support in the soil. You can do this in two ways:

Fill the inner surface of the pipe and some parts around it with concrete mortar.
Secure the supports with metal rods.

In the first case, before pouring, fittings are placed in the pipe, which is selected to be approximately half a meter longer than the pipe itself. The reinforcement should be placed 25 centimeters into the soil, and protrude at this distance above the pipe. Then all the pipes inside are filled with concrete. After the concrete has dried, further work can begin.

In the second option, the pipe is initially filled to only a third part. Then it is immediately raised a short distance from the bottom of the well so that part of the concrete solution pours out, forming some expansion at the bottom. After this, the entire pipe is filled with the solution to the very top. In this case, the reinforcement does not protrude at the top; instead, a special metal pin is installed, which protrudes above the surface of the support by about 30 centimeters. It is to this pin that the rest of the structure, in particular the grillage, will be attached.

When constructing such a foundation, special attention should be paid to reinforcement. It must first be treated with a special solution that protects against corrosion. This will allow you to maintain the strength, stability and stability of the building’s foundation for a long time.

When constructing the foundation of a pipe structure, it is very important to strictly follow the construction technology. Otherwise, the base will be skewed, resulting in deformation of the entire building.

Injecting concrete into a well

If there are loose layers of soil in the area, then before installing the pipes it is imperative to prepare a gravel cushion at the bottom of the well so that the support is more stable. When installing asbestos pipes on floating soils, the piles can be further strengthened with trenches filled with concrete mortar.
In addition, an additional option for strengthening casing pipes for piles is to drill holes closer to the top of the pipe and install anchors in them. Metal rods are then attached to these anchors.

A foundation on piles made of asbestos-cement pipes is convenient because it can be installed fairly quickly. In addition, the pile foundation allows you to quickly and easily install pipelines, as well as other types of communications. This does not require large financial or time expenditures; you can save on equipment and labor.

The foundation is the base of the structure. The service life of the entire building will depend on the strength of this structure. In fact, this is the main element of any building, because if it subsides or moves, a number of negative factors may appear:

swelling of floors;
inability to close doors;
general distortion of the structure;
destruction of the house.

We present to your attention material on how to make a thoughtfully and reliably columnar foundation from asbestos pipes.

Easy to install. Complete exclusion of special construction equipment.
Affordable cost of materials.
The work can be carried out in the shortest possible time.
Possibility of construction even in flooded areas.
Long service life.
The reality of doing the calculations yourself.

Professionals unanimously claim that making a foundation from asbestos pipes with your own hands is not particularly difficult. However, it should be taken into account that when constructing a pile foundation, the possibility of building a basement is lost. In addition, when using this construction method, it is necessary to take into account that the floors under the building require thorough insulation and wind protection.
It should also be noted that a pile foundation can perform extremely negatively on moving soils. But such a situation can most often occur when asbestos pipes were installed contrary to current building codes.
Asbestos-cement foundations are very often used for buildings that have a frame, which are made of timber, wood, wood concrete and other alternative lightweight types of materials: bathhouses, verandas, outbuildings, gazebos, cabins, etc. In addition, using a grillage, you can combine the material with a slab or concrete strip. The scope of application of a foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes with your own hands is very extensive; it is erected in areas where flooding occurs, there are highly heaving soils, and also where the soil can freeze to more than one and a half meters.

Carrying out calculations

To carry out the necessary calculations, you need to know two main parameters:

Soil freezing temperature.

To determine soil freezing, you can use reference information. The relevant sources contain data on soil freezing without snow cover. In addition, if the level of snow precipitation is high enough, the figure given in the reference book can be slightly underestimated.
You can add a value from 0.3 to 0.5 meters to the reference data - this indicator will indicate the correct depth of the underground part of the piles. Note that their bases should be visible above ground level, approximately 30 cm, however, if there is a risk of flooding, this figure can be increased by a few centimeters.

Asbestos-cement pipes for foundations usually have a diameter that correlates with the weight of the future building. For log buildings, a volume of 20-30 cm is best suited, while for small gazebos the diameter of the pipes can be only 7 cm.
The load on the structure being built will depend on the complexity of the structure and the material from which it will be made. To carry out calculations, you need to take into account not only the walls, but also the roof, finishing and insulation.
Existing piles are placed around the perimeter of the structure, as well as at its corners and at the intersection of load-bearing walls. Their distance should be no more than one meter. The approximate load on each pile should average 800 kg. If the resulting weight is higher than the specified value, the number of piles should be increased.
At the end of the actions taken, the required number of pipes and fittings becomes known. The calculation should be made according to the following principle - 2-3 rods of reinforcement for each asbestos pipe.

Step-by-step instructions for foundation production

So, you have the material, the desire and the readiness to make a foundation from asbestos-cement pipes with your own hands. Let's consider step by step how to correctly build this structure:

Design. The construction of frame structures belongs to the group of simple works. Thus, the average weight of a one-story cottage is 8 tons. This means that for such a foundation you need to use 10 supports, the cross-section of which will be equal to 20 cm. Design documentation in finished form can be found on the global network, however, as an alternative, it can be ordered from specialists. Today, statistics of work carried out on the construction of private houses shows that the majority of customers want an individual construction project.
Preparation of the site followed by marking. To prepare the site for the appropriate construction activities, the following steps must be followed:
- clear the area of stones and trees;
- mark the corner marks of the foundation - dig in metal rods or wooden posts with a rope stretched over them;
- step back two meters from the possible boundary of the foundation being built and mark the area from which it will be necessary to remove fertile soil (more than 30 cm) in the future. Such manipulation is necessary so that later weeds do not sprout from under the building;
- remove the turf, level the area and fill it with sand and gravel mixture. Compact the site.
Drilling wells for supports. In the case of independent work on the construction of a structure made of asbestos pipes, it is allowed to use an ordinary garden drill. It is common for teams of specialists from construction companies to use special equipment (automatic motorcycle or hole drills). The diameter of the well for support should exceed its volume by 10-12 cm. In turn, the depth should be 20 cm greater than the intended height of the piles. This approach is necessary for the manufacture of a special foundation “pillow” from nonmetallic building materials.
Preparatory work for the construction of a columnar foundation from asbestos pipes and installation of these pipes. The bottom of the prepared well is carefully filled with crushed stone and sand, methodically compacted and filled with water. The top layer is covered with waterproofing - it can be a film or roofing felt. The supports are immersed in the pit and secured with slats. The base is covered with sand. The length of the pillars should have a margin of slightly more than 10 cm; subsequently, thanks to this technique, you can easily level the height of any support. If the soil has high humidity, it is recommended to treat all pipes with a special solution based on bitumen or polymer.
Concreting and reinforcement. The prepared concrete mixture is poured into asbestos pipes to a depth of 30–40 cm. Next, the supports must be raised by 20 cm and secured. In this way we get a kind of concrete base, through which the pillars will be more stable.
The final stage. After the concrete layer has hardened, a reinforcement cage is installed into the pipe, which is connected by wire jumpers or transverse frames made of thin reinforcement. Next, the solution is filled to the required level. To remove any air bubbles that appear, you can use a wooden strip or metal rod. The top layer is covered with cellophane film to achieve uniform drying of the concrete solution. The drying period must be at least 21 days.

Initially, asbestos-cement pipes were used quite limitedly in private housing construction. Firstly, asbestos pipes scared people away with myths about the carcinogenicity of the material, and secondly, there was little experience in using this type of material in foundation construction. Today, a columnar foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes can be called a successful compromise between low cost and high resistance to moisture and load. Another undeniable advantage is that making a columnar foundation from asbestos pipes with your own hands is much easier and faster than any other option for a columnar foundation.

Construction of a foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes

The general design and principle of manufacturing such a foundation is not much different from other options for manufacturing pile supports with pouring concrete into a prepared form. In our case, the frame and concrete solution are poured into an asbestos-cement pipe body immersed in a drilled hole in the ground. Pile foundations on asbestos-cement supports are valued primarily for the following points:

The production speed of such a foundation is much higher, and the labor intensity is significantly lower than any other bored supports, including TISE piles, frame cast piles, second in this indicator only to expensive screw and reinforced concrete options;
High resistance of the asbestos-cement pipe base to any moisture, without loss of strength of the pile support, material degradation, or corrosion;
On piles made of asbestos-cement pipes, it is possible to raise the base of a building to a height of 30-40 and even 100 cm with proper load distribution, which is not always possible in some cases for other types of pile structures.

Do-it-yourself foundation installation on asbestos-cement pipes

The design of a foundation with supports made of asbestos-cement pipes cannot be called ideal. It can be easily and quickly assembled and built within two days, provided you have a concrete mixer, a hand drill for drilling wells, an angle grinder, a welding machine, concrete mortar and prepared steel reinforcement 8 mm thick. Before you start making such a foundation, you need to pay attention to its disadvantages:

The strength of asbestos-cement foundation supports is relatively low. The rigidity and load-bearing capacity of pile elements is sufficient for the construction of a frame, log or aerated concrete building, provided that the construction is carried out on dense and heavy soils;
Drilling work must be carried out to a depth of at least 150-180 cm; due to the low strength of the piles, it is necessary to drill a large number of wells, and almost all the work must be done with a hand drill;
Unlike their competitors - TISE cast-in-place piles, asbestos-cement piles do not have an “anchor” property, therefore, if the foundation manufacturing technology is violated, there may be cases of supports being squeezed out by heaving soils.

We make piles from asbestos-cement pipes

Before starting work on preparing the site and marking places for drilling wells, it is necessary to determine the exact number of required asbestos-cement supports and their diameter. Most often, asbestos-cement pipes with a bore diameter of 100 or 150 mm are used to make supports. A 200 mm pipe is much less commonly used. It is mainly used in cases where it is necessary to repair the asbestos pipe of a columnar foundation. Accordingly, it is necessary to select the offset of the cutting edges of a hand drill to match the size of the asbestos-cement pipe. The diameter of the well must be at least 10 mm larger than the outer diameter of the asbestos-cement support.

For example, for a “weaving” - a 100 mm asbestos-cement pipe, the outer diameter for the “BNT” brand will be 118 mm, and for the more common “VT” - 122 mm. Accordingly, the diameter of the well should be 128 and 132 mm. For the 150th pipe, the well diameter should be 170 and 180 mm. This gap is indicated for a depth of 150 cm; if drilling is carried out to two or more meters, the gap size must be increased by another 30%.

After a well of the required diameter and depth has been drilled, a mixture of sand and screenings must be poured onto the bottom to form a cushion at least 10 cm thick. This will compensate for the shrinkage of the concrete mixture inside the asbestos-cement pipe.

Before installing an asbestos-cement pipe, it is recommended to treat the outer surface with bitumen mastic, regardless of the groundwater level. Next, we install the pipe into the well cavity and pour a small amount of solution inside, no more than 2-3 liters. After pouring, lightly lift the pipe and push it down several times to ensure that the poured layer of mortar is leveled over the surface of the cushion, as in the video:

At the next stage, we align all asbestos-cement supports along a vertical plumb line so as to achieve the most even position horizontally and vertically, after which we fix the pipes using wooden slats. Inside each asbestos-cement pipe we place a package of three ten-millimeter reinforcement rods. Each rod must be equidistant from the pipe walls and other rods.

Pouring asbestos-cement supports with concrete

The most critical stage in building a foundation is pouring concrete into the inner space of the pipe. Concrete mortar is prepared from grade 300 cement, sand and fine gravel or screenings, previously washed with water. The consistency of the solution should be such that the mixture, poured into a funnel with a neck size of 50 mm, flows freely without the formation of plugs.

Depending on the support diameter and depth, each pile will require at least 40 liters of concrete mixture. After pouring the first part, the concrete inside the support is carefully pressed down with a thin rod for 10-15 minutes, after which the rest of the solution is poured.

The gaps between the pipe and the walls of the well must be sealed with remaining mortar to prevent rainwater from leaking inside. This will significantly increase the service life of the supporting elements. The upper end of the support may change its position as the concrete hardens and shrinks. The final alignment of the ends of the asbestos-cement columns can be performed no earlier than two weeks after pouring the piles. If work is carried out in the hot summer, it is better to cover the piles with plastic film bags to reduce moisture loss due to evaporation and avoid concrete cracking.

Grillage or frame, what to use

At the final stage, after leveling the height of the pile heads, it is necessary to install the supporting frame of the foundation or fill in the grillage. The latter option is used most often for aerated concrete walls, wood concrete masonry, and any cement-based building materials. If you are building your panel house or room from profiled timber, the frame can be made from oak timber with a cross-section of 200 mm or channels, which makes it relatively easy to replace the pile or repair it if necessary. In any of the listed options, it is necessary to provide methods for connecting the reinforcement of asbestos-cement piles with the load-bearing elements of the frame.

Conclusion

Asbestos-cement piles are practically resistant to corrosion, even after prolonged exposure to water. But the material has an alkaline reaction, so when installed in acidic soils, the smooth outer surface of the pipe can become corroded by cavities, especially if the waterproofing is damaged. To avoid problems of this kind, sand must be filled in the area where the outer part of the pile passes into the ground. It is not recommended to use any other mixtures for these purposes. In such conditions, a pile foundation can easily stand for 30-40 years.

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How to save on the cost of the foundation of a house, but at the same time not lose its strength characteristics? One of the reliable structures is a foundation made of asbestos pipes, which can be safely used in the construction of frame houses or any light buildings. You can find out how to correctly calculate, select materials and build such a foundation in this article.

How to choose pipes

An asbestos pipe for a columnar foundation is selected with an average diameter of 250 mm. The cavity of the product must be filled with concrete. In some cases, under heavy loads, the inner part of the pipe is additionally reinforced.

If you select pipes of small diameter (100 mm), then it becomes difficult to fill them with concrete. There is a possibility of voids appearing, which will significantly reduce the service life of the foundation. Such pipes are most often used for lighter structures (for example, gazebos). But you need to be prepared for difficulties in installing such pipes.

For heavy buildings, pipes with a diameter of 300 mm can be used. It is easier to work with such material, because filling with concrete will be easier.

Advantages of a columnar foundation

The choice of asbestos-cement pipes for a columnar foundation has the following advantages:

low cost;
ease of installation;
strength;
durability.

The acceptable cost is determined by the fact that materials for the work can be purchased at a lower price than, for example, for the construction of concrete blocks.

Easy installation allows you to install the pipes yourself. There is no need to hire specialized equipment. This is a big plus for those areas where it is difficult for cars to pass through. In addition, it is possible to erect a structure on a columnar foundation within a week, unlike a monolithic one, which must be left to harden for a month.

The special composition of asbestos pipes (disperse-reinforced) makes the material resistant to negative environmental influences.

This provides moisture resistance and strength to such a foundation. Pipes have a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Despite these advantages of asbestos pipes, it is necessary to correctly calculate the material. If you do not follow the technology, then all the advantages are reduced to zero. After all, further construction of a house on a foundation that cannot withstand a certain load will be dangerous.

Basic principles of construction

Before installing a foundation made of asbestos pipes, you need to familiarize yourself with several principles:

Build only light structures on it.
Consider the type of soil.
Carry out calculations.
Adhere to foundation construction technology.

Work on the device should be divided into several stages:

Carrying out calculations.
Preparing the area.
Installation of the foundation.
Formation of grillage.

Work begins with design. Installation cannot begin without preliminary calculations.

Calculation of grounds

Calculation of the foundation begins with determining the soil type of the soil. To do this, the depth of freezing of the ground is determined.

The length of the piles must exceed the freezing depth of the soil.

The importance of soil freezing differs in different regions. These indicators are determined using reference data. But please note that these values are indicated without snow cover.

It is also necessary to take into account the load of the future structure. On average, the depth of the piles is about 150 cm. As for the diameter of the pipes, it differs depending on the load (for a frame house or a small veranda, these indicators will be different).

To correctly calculate the bases, you should use the instructions:

Determine the weight of the house.
Determine soil resistance.
Calculate the area of the foundation.

The general formula for calculating the minimum total base area looks like this:

It follows from this that P is the weight of the building, kg,

R0 is the soil resistance, which is determined by calculation, kg/cm2.

For the safety margin, a coefficient of 1.3 is introduced into the formula.

Calculation example

Let's give an example: there is a frame house with wall dimensions of 6x7 m, a height of the first floor of 2.8 m, and a pediment of 2.6 m.

The specific gravity of the frame walls is γс = 50 kg/m2.
The specific weight of a roof made of sheet steel is γк = 30 kg/m2.
The specific weight of interfloor ceilings is γp = 100 kg/m2.

Load of interfloor ceilings during operation γnp = 210 kg/m2.

The soil on which the house will be built is loam (R0 - 3.5 kg/cm2), with a freezing depth of 1.2 m.

Calculation of the number of pipes

To calculate the required number and size of pipes for the foundation, several steps are performed:

The mass of the walls is determined.

The area of the walls of the house together with the gables will be equal to Sс = 89 m2. Based on this, there is a mass of walls:

Pс = Sс × γс = 89 × 50 = 4450 kg.

Then the mass of floors between floors (on the first floor and attic) is calculated.

Read how to insulate an attic roof in

The floor area is found (Sp = 84 m2). Floor weight:

Pp=Sp×γp=84×100=8400 kg.

At Sp=84 m

Pnp=Sp×γnp=84×210=17640 kg.

You can find out more about concrete floor slabs

The mass of the roof is determined.

The roof area is: Sk = 50 m2. Roof weight:

Pk=Sk×γk=50×30=1500 kg.

The preliminary mass of the foundation is calculated.

To do this, take an approximate number of pillars, for example 14. Based on the fact that every 2 meters of the foundation (along the perimeter) a pillar will be installed, then 14 pieces should be enough. Pole length L = 1.9 m.

The column volume is determined:

Vс=π×R2 ×L=0.24m3,

where R is the radius of the column (R = 0.2 m). Based on this, the mass of 1 column is: 0.24 × 2500 = 600 kg.

Total mass of pillars: 600 × 14 = 8400 kg.

Total weight of the house

To do this, all the obtained values are summed up (walls, floors, roofs, foundations) and the final number is 40390 kg.

The minimum total area of the bases is calculated using the formula given at the beginning of the section: S = 1.3 × 40390/3.5 = 11540 cm2.
When calculating the base area of 1 column, the number 1250 cm2 is calculated. (S=пr2=3.14 ×0.22) The total number of columns is calculated: 11540/1250 = 10 pieces.

It follows from this that as the diameter of the pillars increases, their number can be reduced and vice versa.

Only after this calculation can you begin purchasing materials and installing the foundation.

Preparation for arrangement

Preparing the area for the construction of the foundation consists of preparing places for installing piles. To do this, the land plot is cleared of weeds and vegetation. Then the area is leveled and sprinkled with gravel. (You can read about the types of gravel, as well as its fractions and density here).

After this, pegs are placed in the places where the pipes are installed, and a rope is stretched between them. It is necessary to accurately measure the location of the foundation.

Foundation made of asbestos pipes. Step-by-step instruction

After preparation, the main work on the device begins:

drilling of the wells;
pipe installation;
frame installation;
filling.
tying pillars.

Wells are drilled in places where pegs are installed.

The diameter of the holes should be 10 cm larger than the diameter of the pipes.

Drilling is performed mechanically or using a hole drill. The depth of the pipes must be equal to the calculated value. After this, sand is poured into the well, filled with water and compacted.

Installation of pipes is done as follows: a pipe is inserted into the prepared well, filled with concrete (⅓ part) and raised by 15 cm. (For how to prepare concrete yourself, read the article Concrete: how to prepare it yourself.) Due to this, a concrete base is formed that will protect foundation in winter and protect it from bulging. You can find out how to correctly cut a pipe of the required size in this video. Step-by-step instructions for cutting a pipe are provided.

It is necessary to constantly check the installed pipes for level. They must be installed perfectly level.

The next stage is installation of the frame. To do this, fittings are inserted into the pipe. Its rods should protrude 10 cm above the pipe. After this, the remaining concrete is poured into the pipe. The space between the outer walls of the pipe and the inner walls of the well is filled with gravel and compacted.

Once the pipes are completely filled with concrete, they should be left for about 14 days.

This time is enough for the mixture to set. Then you can proceed to the final stage of work - the formation of the strapping.

Beam fastening fittings

Tying the posts (or forming a grillage) is necessary in order to evenly distribute the load on the posts. In addition, the grillage is a support for future walls. Therefore, this design must be performed efficiently, following the instructions:

Make formwork from boards on the pipes.
Pour sand into the bottom of the formwork.
Install the fittings on the sand, connecting them with the fittings that come out of the pipes.
Pour the concrete mixture.
After the concrete has hardened, remove the formwork.

Step-by-step instructions, from drilling wells to forming a grillage, are presented in this video

Advice from professionals

In order to get high-quality results, you can use several tips:

To fill pipes, use concrete grade M200 or M300.
After pouring the concrete, the pipes should be pierced with a metal rod. This will eliminate air gaps.
To further protect the pillars from moisture, you can lay roofing material in the well on a layer of sand.
The formwork must be without cracks.

A foundation from asbestos pipes can be made in a fairly short time. This will take a minimum amount of money and time. But it should be borne in mind that this option is suitable for light buildings.

DIY pipe pile foundation

The foundation is the foundation of a building, the durability of the structure depends on its strength. In fact, it is the main supporting structure of the structure, its movements or subsidence lead to distortions in the building structure, floors begin to swell and doors stop closing, and, in the worst case, the house may simply collapse . We propose to consider how to build an inexpensive and reliable columnar foundation from reliable asbestos pipes in this article.

Scheme of a columnar foundation made of pipes

It should be noted that recently this type of house foundation has become especially popular.

Advantages and disadvantages of a pile foundation

The foundation for a house made of asbestos-cement pipes is financially advantageous and reliable enough for the construction of light buildings and auxiliary structures such as log or frame houses, bathhouses, and outbuildings. To build a columnar foundation from asbestos pipes, you will need the pipes themselves, a garden drill, a concrete mixer (it can be rented during construction), several rods of corrugated reinforcement, sand and cement. Due to the labor intensity of execution, it is quite possible to build it with your own hands.

The following can be said about the advantages of such a foundation:

Asbestos pipes do not require large expenditures, are quickly built, and protect against moisture

compared to monolithic solutions, a base made of asbestos-cement pipes for a house will cost half as much and require half the effort and time;
Digging a pit for such a foundation is not necessary;
a pile foundation made of asbestos-cement pipes is built very quickly; upon completion of the work, you can immediately begin building a house, saving up to two weeks compared to a monolithic foundation;
the height of such a foundation above the ground is usually at least 30 cm, which will prevent water from entering the house during rainfalls and flooding, and if floods have ever occurred in the area, the piles can be raised even higher;
on a foundation made of asbestos-cement piles it is much easier to connect communications to the house - water supply, sewerage, gas supply, etc.

The use of such grounds is limited by the following factors:

such structures are applicable only if structures of limited mass are placed on them;
the duration of safe operation of pile foundations made of asbestos-cement piles is limited to 80 years;
in houses on such foundations it is almost impossible to build a basement;
foundation of a house from asbestos-cement piles is impossible in areas with floating soils.

Other materials, in particular metal or plastic products, are also quite suitable for these purposes. However, they also have disadvantages characteristic of the materials. Metal pipes corrode and are more expensive, while plastic pipes are limited in their exposure to negative temperatures.

Asbestos-cement pipes have the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion, which ensures the stability of the foundation during operation.

How to make a foundation

When starting construction, you need to perform a number of mandatory actions so that the work is not done in vain:

Determine the quality of the soil at the construction site to prevent contact with floating soil.
Determine the depth of soil freezing in a given area; the depth of immersion of piles made of asbestos-cement pipes depends on this.
Calculate the size of the pile taking into account the maximum redistributed load on the pipe of 800 kg. If the design load is greater, the number of intermediate piles must be increased.

Calculation of a columnar foundation made of pipes

Work order

Sequence of laying a columnar foundation

Mark the house plan at the selected location, marking the intersections of load-bearing walls with pegs.
Check the markings by measuring the overall dimensions along the diagonals of the markings. They should be the same.
Mark the locations of intermediate piles under load-bearing walls. The distance between them should be no more than 1 meter.
Use a garden drill to make a hole in the ground for the pile. The immersion depth should be 0.3 - 0.5 meters greater than the freezing value of the soil. The diameter of the hole is at least 5 cm larger than the diameter of the pile. The job is easy to do with your own hands
Backfill the base of the asbestos cement pipe with two layers of sand and gravel.
Compact the bedding and pour water on it.
Mark and cut the pipe with your own hands using a grinder to the required length, taking into account that the upper end exceeds the ground level by about 30 cm.
The immersed end must be treated with water-polymer waterproofing for the length of immersion in accordance with the instructions on the emulsion packaging. The work can easily be done by one person with his own hands.
Lower the pipe into the hole and secure it with wooden blocks.
Also install the remaining piles. Measure the diagonals again and, if necessary, adjust the location of the pipes.
Using a level, check the horizontal placement of the upper ends of the asbestos-cement piles and mark the level of pouring concrete into the pipes. Cut off protruding parts after the concrete has hardened.
Fill the piles with concrete prepared according to the following recipe: 2 parts M300 cement, two parts sand, two parts medium gravel, water. To check the consistency of concrete, mold it into a ball with a diameter of about 10 cm. It should sag slightly under its own weight, but not crumble or blur.
Install 3–4 reinforcement bars outside the pile, tying them with wire. Install reinforcing steel bars inside the pipe in the same way.
After loading the concrete batch inside or outside the pipe, pierce the layer of mass in several places with a rod and tamp it down to avoid the formation of air bubbles in the pouring mass.
After this, take a break for 5 - 7 days from performing any work on the construction site to give the concrete time to harden.
Check the horizontality of the upper ends of the piles, and if necessary, shorten the protruding ends with your own hands.

Grillage foundations

If it is necessary to strengthen pile foundations, a structural element called a grillage is used. This term refers to a concrete slab or beam that is placed on top of the vertical foundation supports.

Types of grillages

Types of execution.

They can be:

Types of grillages

High – the supporting element is located above the ground surface, used in areas with high groundwater.
Low - used for deep soil and in areas with a shallow freezing depth of the soil.
A raised grillage is a supporting element located at ground level. It is carried out by making formwork, reinforcement and continuous pouring of concrete. The most durable foundation for low-rise and larger construction, since the support turns into a monolithic structure.

Types of grillages according to materials used:

Wooden - a grillage made of timber, used for the construction of wooden houses, bathhouses, and outbuildings. Easy to do with your own hands. Needs high-quality protection of wood from rotting and pests.
Steel – made of steel structures, rods and screw piles. Used in lightweight construction, it is durable and stable. Disadvantage: susceptibility to corrosion.
Monolithic - a system of elements made of asbestos-cement piles and a cast concrete supporting surface, combining all components of the structure into a single whole. The most reliable and durable type of pile foundations.

Types of grillages by materials

If you want to make a foundation for a country house with your own hands, pay attention to the techniques described here. You will get a foundation of sufficient strength at low cost. I wish you success!

When choosing the type of foundation, the homeowner must first take into account the characteristics of the soil and the structure itself. Important criteria for choosing one or another foundation system are affordability, reduced installation labor, and the ability to carry out work without the use of special equipment. The foundation on asbestos pipes is suitable for “problematic” soils and has a lower cost compared to some other types of foundations.

Peculiarities

Just a few decades ago, asbestos-cement pipes were practically not used in private housing construction, which was due, firstly, to the myth that existed at that time about their environmental unsafety, and secondly, to the lack of knowledge and practical experience in the technology of using this material.

Today, columnar or pile foundations on asbestos foundations have become quite widespread, especially on soils where it is impossible to equip a strip foundation. Such soils primarily include clayey and loamy, moisture-saturated soils, as well as areas with a difference in height.

Using piles made from asbestos-cement pipes, you can raise the building by 30-40 cm, which is convenient for areas located in lowlands, floodplains, and also prone to seasonal flooding. Unlike metal piles, asbestos-cement piles are not prone to corrosion.

Asbestos pipes are building materials based on asbestos fiber and Portland cement. They can be pressure or non-pressure. Only pressure modifications are suitable for construction; they are also used in the organization of wells and boreholes.

Such pipes have a diameter ranging from 5 to 60 cm, can withstand pressures of up to 9 atmospheres, and are characterized by durability and good hydraulic resistance coefficients.

In general, the technology for their installation is standard - most pile foundations are installed in a similar way. Wells are prepared for pipes, the location and depth of which corresponds to the design documentation, after which they are lowered into prepared recesses and filled with concrete. Installation technology will be discussed in more detail in subsequent chapters.

Advantages and disadvantages

The popularity of the foundation of this type is primarily due to the ability to make an area with “problematic” soil suitable for construction. Asbestos-cement pipes can be installed with your own hands without the use of special equipment, which distinguishes them from metal piles. It is clear that this reduces the cost of the object.

The absence of a large volume of earthworks, as well as the need to fill large areas with concrete solution, makes the installation process less labor intensive and faster.

Asbestos-cement pipes are several times cheaper than piles, and they demonstrate better moisture resistance. There is no corrosion on the surface, no degradation of the material and no loss of strength. This allows construction to be carried out in excessively moisture-saturated soils, as well as in flooded areas.

If we compare the cost of a columnar foundation on an asbestos-cement base with the cost of a strip equivalent (even a shallow one), then the former will be 25-30% cheaper.

When using piles of this type, it is possible to raise a building to an average height of 30-40 cm, and with proper load distribution - even up to 100 cm. Not every other type of foundation demonstrates such qualities.

The main disadvantage of asbestos-cement pipes is their low load-bearing capacity. This makes it impossible to use them for construction in marshy areas and organic soils, and also imposes certain requirements for construction. The object must be low-rise and made of lightweight materials - wood, aerated concrete or frame-type construction.

Due to the low load-bearing capacity, it is necessary to increase the number of asbestos-cement pipes and, accordingly, wells for them.

Unlike metal analogues, such supports are characterized by the absence of an “anchor” property, and therefore, if the installation technology is not followed or errors in calculations occur during soil heaving, the supports will be squeezed out of the ground.

Like most pile houses, objects with an asbestos-cement base are built without a basement. Of course, if you really want to, you can equip it, but you will have to dig a pit (equip a powerful drainage system on moisture-saturated soils), which in most cases is irrational.

Calculations

The construction of any type of foundation must begin with the preparation of design documentation and drawing up drawings. They, in turn, are based on data obtained during geological surveys. The latter involve laboratory soil analysis in different seasons.

Drilling a test well allows you to obtain information about the composition of soils and their characteristics, thanks to which the layering of the soil, its composition, the presence and volume of groundwater becomes obvious.

The key to a strong foundation is an accurate calculation of its bearing capacity. The supports of pile foundations must reach solid layers of soil that lie below the freezing level. Accordingly, to carry out such calculations, you need to know the depth of soil freezing. These are constant values that depend on the region; they are freely available in specialized sources (the Internet, official documentation of bodies regulating construction rules in a particular region, laboratories that analyze soils, and so on).

Having found out the required freezing depth coefficient, you should add another 0.3-0.5 m to it, since this is how asbestos-cement pipes protrude above the ground. Typically, this is a height of 0.3 m, but if we are talking about flooded regions, the height of the above-ground part of the pipes increases.

The diameter of the pipes is calculated based on the load that will affect the foundation. To do this, you should find out the specific gravity of the materials from which the house is built (they are set out in SNiP). In this case, it is necessary to sum up not only the weight of the wall materials, but also the roof, facing and thermal insulation coatings, and floors.

The weight of 1 asbestos-cement pipe should not exceed 800 kg. Their installation is required along the perimeter of the building, at points of increased load, as well as at the intersection of load-bearing walls. Installation step – 1 m.

Having received information about the specific gravity of the material, another 30% is usually added to this value in order to obtain the coefficient of the total pressure of the house in use on the foundation. Knowing this number, you can calculate the number of pipes, the appropriate diameter, as well as the amount of fittings (at the rate of 2-3 rods per support).

On average, pipes with a diameter of 100 mm are used for frame buildings, as well as non-residential buildings (gazebos, summer kitchens). For aerated concrete or log houses - products with a diameter of at least 200 -250 mm.

Concrete consumption depends on the diameter of the support. So, about 0.1 cubic meter of solution is required to fill 10 m of pipe with a diameter of 100 mm. For a similar pouring of a pipe with a diameter of 200 mm, 0.5 cubic meters of concrete are required.

Installation

Installation must be preceded by a soil analysis and drawing up a project that contains all the necessary calculations.

The next step will be to apply markings - according to the drawings, pegs are driven in at the corners, as well as at the intersection points of the supporting structures, and a rope is pulled between them. Upon completion of the work, you should make sure that the resulting “drawing” corresponds to the design one, and also double-check the perpendicularity of the sides formed by the corners.

After the marking is completed, they begin drilling the pipes. A drill is used for the work, and in its absence, the holes are dug manually. Their diameter is 10-20 cm greater than the diameter of the supports. Depth - 20 cm greater than the height of the underground part of the pipes.

This “reserve” is required to fill the layer of sand. It is poured to the bottom of the recess about 20 cm, then compacted, moistened with water and pressed down again. The next stage is the primary waterproofing of the pipes, which involves lining the bottom of the well (on top of a compacted sand “cushion”) with roofing material.

Now the pipes are lowered into the recesses, leveled and secured with temporary supports, usually wooden. When immersing pipes in soils with a high level of moisture along the entire length of the underground route, they are covered with bitumen waterproofing mastic.

You can order concrete mortar or prepare it yourself. Cement and sand are mixed in proportions 1: 2. Water is added to this composition. You should get a solution with a consistency similar to flowing dough. Then 2 parts of gravel are introduced into it, everything is kneaded well again.

Concrete is poured into the pipe to a height of 40-50 cm, and then the pipe is raised 15-20 cm and left until the solution hardens. This technology allows you to create a “base” under the pipe, thereby increasing its resistance to soil heaving.

When the concrete solution has completely hardened, the pipe walls are waterproofed with roofing felt. Between the walls of the recess and the side surfaces of the pipe, river sand is poured, which is compacted well (the principle is the same as when arranging a “pillow” - sand is poured, compacted, watered, and the steps are repeated).

They stretch a string between the pipes, once again make sure that the level is accurate and begin to reinforce the pipe. For these purposes, using transverse wire jumpers, several rods are connected, which are lowered into the pipe.

Now all that remains is to pour the concrete solution into the pipe. The use of a vibrating hammer allows you to prevent air bubbles from remaining in the solution. If it is not there, you should pierce the poured solution in several places with reinforcement, and then close the resulting holes on the surface of the solution.

When the solution gains strength (about 3 weeks), you can begin leveling the above-ground part of the foundations and waterproofing them. One of the positive features of these supports is the ability to speed up the foundation preparation process. As you know, concrete needs 28 days to fully gain strength. However, the pipes bordering the concrete act as permanent formwork. Thanks to this, further work can begin within 14-16 days after pouring.

The supports can be connected to each other by beams or united by a monolithic slab. The choice of a specific technology is usually based on the materials used.

Beams are used mainly for frame and block houses, as well as small buildings for utility purposes. For houses made of aerated concrete or wood concrete, a grillage is usually poured, which is additionally reinforced. Regardless of the chosen technology, the reinforcement of the pillars should be connected to the load-bearing element of the base (beams or grillage reinforcement).