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What foundation for a wooden house?
Table of contents
- House foundations – why is it so important?
- Foundation for a wooden house. What should be taken into account?
Are you wondering what foundation for a wooden house will be the best? This type of construction is much less important than houses built in a traditional way. For this reason, you do not have to try to get extensive foundations, which are required for masonry structures. However, this does not mean that the issue of their stability or adaptation to the ground conditions of the plot can be ignored. If you dream of a wooden, atmospheric house, remember about these issues!
House foundations – why is it so important?
Nowadays, several different ways to create foundations are used. Traditional technology is still popular, but shallowly reinforced footing, foundation slab, wells or piles are also often chosen. They differ in the costs of implementation, the degree of assembly and interference with the ground. The possibilities of their use depend, of course, on the conditions on a given plot. In fact, the stability, durability, and thus safety of the facility depend on them.
A good foundation for a wooden house is the aforementioned slab. Its outer surface is perfectly smooth, which makes the assembly of the bases of the wooden structure very efficient.
Foundation for a wooden house. What should be taken into account?
The contractor should start building the foundations after the constructor accepts the design of the whole, taking into account the parameters of a specific plot. This golden rule applies to every type of house, including wooden ones. Due to their lightness, the latter can be built even in areas where a house built using the traditional method would not exist. The foundations of a wooden structure have a much lower weight to carry, which also generates significant savings on the construction site.
Usually, if the quality and load-bearing capacity of the soil raises any doubts, it is necessary to carry out additional geotechnical surveys. When erecting a wooden house, this is rarely practiced.
Strip foundations for a wooden house
Before erecting a wooden building, as in other cases, the depth of the foundation should be adjusted to the level of ground freezing. When determining the depth, the following m.in are taken into account:
- climatic zone,
- the number of planned storeys,
- bearing capacity of the soil.
It is worth knowing that in Poland, depending on the specific region, the level of freezing ranges from 80 cm to 140 cm. However, the lightness of a wooden house allows you to reduce the size of the foundations.
Foundation walls for a wooden house
These components are usually made taking into account the underfloor void – a full-size basement is dispensed with. This, of course, does not mean that a wooden house with a basement is unattainable, although it generates additional costs. If you are not planning a basement, the foundation slab should work perfectly. The construction of a wooden house will then go quickly and efficiently. The team does not have to wait for the poured concrete to solidify.
Thermal insulation is equally important
What foundation for a wooden house will work best? One that will provide it with good thermal, moisture or water insulation. Therefore, it is worth investing in a good insulation material also in the case of a lightweight, wooden structure.
A good and effective idea is to make the so-called perimeter insulation, thanks to which heat loss from rooms is effectively reduced. Foundations and walls are not exposed to condensation.
In addition to the slab, wooden houses are also often built on strip foundations or point foundations. The final choice depends on the quality and durability of the soil on which the structure is to be erected. Therefore, this parameter should not be underestimated. After all, the safety, durability and longevity of the house is a guarantee of the comfort of its use.