How to make a blind area with your own hands

A paving or asphalt path around the house is not just an element of the landscape, but a functional structure. The purpose of the blind area is to protect the foundation from the negative effects of the external environment. It is not difficult to make it, so home owners often arrange the design on their own.

What is a blind area

A blind area is a covering around the perimeter of a building, which is necessary for water drainage. The construction is made of waterproof material. It is of two types:

• rigid - waterproof monolithic concrete or asphalt pavement;
• soft - a protective tape made of bulk materials (gravel, crushed stone) or tiles, moisture is removed using an internal waterproofing layer.

The blind area is not limited to the top decorative coating. Under it there is heat and waterproofing, as well as backfill, which protects the foundation from heaving of the soil.

The need for a blind area and the requirements for it

One of the elements of complex building protection is a drainage coating around the perimeter. It is necessary to protect the foundation and basement from precipitation and flood waters. When it rains, water runs down the roof and falls onto the area near the walls. The soil gradually erodes and subsides. The foundation of the house, due to constant contact with moisture, loses its strength. In winter, the freezing of water that has penetrated into the foundation and basement leads to rupture of the masonry, the formation of cracks. Damage reduces the load-bearing capacity of the structure.

In addition to the main protective function, the coating performs other tasks:

• Additional thermal insulation of the base of the building. When creating a blind area, a layer of insulation is part of the overall pie. This allows you to prevent freezing of the soil, improve the thermal insulation of the basement and basement.
• Decorative function - a blind area of ​​decorative tiles, natural stone or cobblestones is used as an element of landscape design. In terms of structure and color, the material is selected in harmony with the facade of the house. A neat tape around the perimeter gives the building a finished look. The sufficient width of the pavement allows it to be used as a track.
• Barrier from soil swelling - the structure goes into a depth of 40-50 cm, being a barrier around the foundation. It evenly distributes the deformation effect of the soil resulting from seasonal freezing.

The device of the blind area regulates the construction requirements for the foundations of buildings. According to the norms, its width depends on the type of soil and the size of the roof overhang. On average, the indicator is 100 cm, but it can be increased to meet the recommendations of specialists. The size of the coverage should exceed the size of the roof overhang by 15-20 cm. The advice is not relevant if a competent spillway system is arranged. Precipitation from the roof goes down the drain and ends up in the storm sewer. For sandy soil, the width of the concrete tape can be reduced to 70 cm; on clay soil, it should remain at least 1-1.2 m.

The second important criterion is the angle of inclination. According to the norms, it is 1-10 °.The slope is selected based on the amount of precipitation in the region, the design features of the coating. If it performs the function of a path, then you should not exceed an angle of 3 °, otherwise it will be dangerous to move along it on ice. The slope should be from the wall, in which case the water will drain into the drainage or storm trays. The material of the blind area is also important - crushed stone, tiles, paving stones require a slope of 5%, concrete tape - within 3-5%. According to the rules, the outer edge of the structure should protrude 5 cm above the ground.

The length of the protective cover is not regulated, but it must be continuous and cover the entire perimeter of the house. The thickness of the blind area layers according to SNiP data is:

• sand - 10-15 cm;
• crushed stone - 6-10 cm;
• concrete - 7-12 cm.

The size of the layer of bulk materials is given in a compacted form. To create a frost-resistant concrete coating, you will need M400 or M500 cement. The sand must be clean, free of impurities. The size of the crushed stone fraction is 30-40 mm.

In areas with solid, stable soil, the blind area for the pile foundation may not be arranged. It is enough to organize the correct drainage of rain and melt water. An internal or external drainage system is being built with drainage pipes that direct the water to the storm sewer.

Varieties of construction

Several types of blind area are used to protect the foundation. They differ in design features, materials and manufacturing technology. Any structure consists of internal bulk layers and an external coating. The protective tape is hard and soft.

From concrete paving stones

The material meets all the requirements of frost resistance and moisture resistance, has high mechanical strength. The thickness of the elements is 6-8 cm. They come in a classic rectangular shape or curly. It is easy to work with paving stones; a home master can lay it, following the technology. Concrete products are installed on compacted layers of sand and gravel. Before the layout, a drawing (diagram) of the future coating is drawn up. A side is placed along the edge of the track. The paving stones can be rammed with a vibrator, the seams are sprinkled with sand.

From stone paving stones

The blind area of ​​a building made of paving stones is a beautiful landscape solution. The material for it is granite, basalt, and in some cases sandstone. The geometric shape of the parts is different, usually sawn stone is used, less often chipped. The texture and color are selected in accordance with the architectural features of the plinth finish. Stone paving stones are more durable and more reliable than concrete products. She is not afraid of temperature fluctuations, moisture, mechanical stress.

From paving slabs

The paving slabs around the house are an attractive design with a long service life. Piece elements are made in two ways: casting and vibrocompression. Vibro-cast tiles are attractive in appearance; they are made in various colors and shapes. Its disadvantage is insufficient strength. Vibro-pressed products are made of simple shapes and muted shades, but they are much stronger. The coating is laid on a base of sand and crushed stone. To exclude horizontal movements, a border of concrete slabs is installed.

From rubble

A soft crushed stone blind area is a budget option that does not require much effort when installing. The base of the bedding layer is clay. To create waterproofing, you will need to buy plastic wrap or other canvas. Sand is poured on top of it, at the same time a slope is formed. Next is the geotextile, part of which is installed on the wall. Finishing backfilling is carried out with crushed stone of the middle fraction (30-40 mm). A blind area of ​​rubble around the house is made on mobile heaving soils. The soft structure is not affected by ground movements.

Concrete structure

The device of a rigid concrete blind area requires a lot of effort and time, but the result is a coating that retains its integrity for decades.Clay or clay and sand serves as a bedding layer for it. The structure on heaving soil requires reinforcement with a metal mesh. The concrete mix is ​​poured into the formwork installed around the perimeter of the house. So that the material does not crack during expansion, expansion joints are left every 3 m of concrete tape and along the basement. It will take 4 weeks to cure.

Styling tools and technology

With an independent installation of the blind area, you will need not only to buy material, but also to prepare the necessary tools:

• bayonet shovel and excavation pick;
• cord, measuring tape and pegs for marking;
• construction mixer and buckets or concrete mixer;
• a hammer;
• building level;
• spatulas;
• mallet.

Step-by-step instructions for installing a concrete blind area include the following points:

1. Site marking. 70-120 cm are measured from the wall of the house and pegs are driven in along the entire perimeter. A cord is pulled between the stakes. The markup shows the outer boundary of the structure.
2. Excavation. The next step is excavation. A trench up to 50 cm deep is dug with a pick and a shovel. When choosing a soil, the bottom is made with a slope of 2-3 cm from the wall.
3. Waterproofing - the bottom of the trench is tamped with clay, which will serve as a hydraulic lock. It is covered with roofing material, thick plastic wrap or a special membrane. One of the edges is led onto the wall. Waterproofing is laid with an overlap of adjacent canvases.
4. Bed ramming - a layer of clean sand is poured and carefully rammed. Its height should be 10-20 cm, depending on the depth of the ditch. Then a layer of crushed stone is poured up to 10 cm. The material is taken from mixed fractions.
5. Thermal insulation. For insulation of the blind area, rigid polystyrene foam plates are used. He is laid on a sand cushion. Sheets 50 mm thick are laid in two layers with overlapping seams. This prevents the appearance of cold bridges.
6. Formwork installation and reinforcement. For a concrete structure, formwork is assembled from boards with a thickness of 20-30 mm. They are held together by nails or bolts. Reinforcement is carried out using a mesh with cells of 100 mm or a strapping frame made of reinforcement. Every 22-2.5 m, wooden slats are laid between the mesh, which will indicate the damper seams.
7. Concreting. A mixture of M400 Portland cement, sand and gravel is used as a filling. The mixture is prepared in portions and poured into the formwork. It should fill the frame evenly, leaving no voids. On the formwork, the mortar is leveled by the rule. To release air in several places, the concrete is pierced with a rod. To increase the strength of the coating, the surface is sprinkled with dry cement with a layer of 2 mm. The concrete should dry for 28-30 days. For uniform evaporation of moisture, the surface is covered with polyethylene.

Ceramic tiles or paving stones laid on top will give an aesthetic look to a gray concrete surface.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before choosing the type of blind area, you should weigh the pros and cons.

Advantages of soft construction:

• no shrinkage;
• resistance to temperature fluctuations and soil heaving;
• when using paving stones and tiles, an attractive architectural element is obtained;
• simplicity of the device.

Disadvantages:

• germination of grass;
• contamination of a crushed stone or gravel embankment.

Rigid construction advantages:

• asphalt or concrete tape is highly durable;
• durability of operation;
• waterproofness.

Disadvantages:

• with any deviations in the technology of laying layers or pouring concrete, cracks may occur;
• the coating is not decorative;
• the work is laborious and long.

If there is insufficient data to assess the construction conditions, you should consult a professional.

Common mistakes when creating a coating with your own hands

Haste during the installation of protective structures or lack of information about the laying technology leads to problems with the operation of the blind area. Among the most common mistakes:

• Insufficient width - a narrow strip will not prevent soil from being washed out by water falling from the roof during rain.
• A small slope - a lack leads to stagnation of moisture on the surface. Excessive inclination is also dangerous and makes it difficult to walk on the surface.
• Absence of expansion joints - soil movement and natural expansion of concrete when heated without laid expansion joints lead to the destruction of the structure. Seams are left between the blind area and the outside of the plinth, as well as across the concrete tape itself.
• Insufficient size or unevenness of the sand and gravel cushion - poorly compacted layers shrink. In soft structures, the waterproofing layer can be damaged, and cracks will appear on the surface of the concrete coating.
• The use of sand with an admixture of clay - contaminated components deteriorate the quality of the concrete solution. Its strength and operating time are reduced.
• There are no grooves for water drainage or drainage - the drainage of water from the building will not be effective if it does not enter a special drainage system. Through it, moisture should go into the storm sewer or simply be diverted away from the building.

The blind area around the house is a high-quality protection of the foundation from destruction. The covering of decorative materials makes the functional structure an advantageous element of the landscape.