The popularity of the use of colored and galvanized profiled steel for fencing areas is based on affordability, beautiful appearance and low weight of the material. However, any fence should be stable, strong, durable and not afraid of wind loads. To ensure these conditions, reliable fastening of the supporting poles to the foundation is required.
Possible options for the foundation foundation
Compared to most structures, corrugated fence can be considered easy. But, in addition to weight, it is necessary to take into account wind loads, which on a continuous canvas can be very significant, as well as:
- soil type and its stability;
- groundwater level;
- soil freezing depth;
- pillar material;
- distance from the road;
- height of the fence.
If you take into account all these factors, it becomes clear that for the guaranteed stability of the fence base is simply necessary. Therefore, the question of how to make a foundation for a fence from corrugated board will be very relevant.
There are several options for installing a foundation for a fence from a steel profiled sheet:
- rubble;
- concreting of pillars;
- tape design.
Rubble - a mixture of stone and sand, which is poured into the pit around the installed column and compacted well. This method of installing supports will be reliable only on dense, stable soils in the complete absence of groundwater. It should be noted that clay, even dry, does not apply to such soils.
Concreting pillars Suitable for all types of soil except heaving and loose sand. However, such foundations must be made to a depth below the freezing point of the soil by 150-200 mm. In many regions, the depth of the foundation will exceed 1 meter. This will require a large amount of concrete, significant labor costs and lead to overuse of pipes.
The best option would be shallow strip foundation. In this design, the concreting of the pillars is carried out to a shallow depth, and the reinforced concrete beam provides the fence stability. The tape connects all the supports into a single solid structure, which does not require much deepening.
It should be noted the durability of such a support and a beautiful appearance, combined with a sheet of profiled sheet. The technology of construction of the strip foundation is so simple that it can be done independently, without resorting to professionals.
What is required to complete the work
In order to make a strip foundation for a fence from a professional flooring with your own hands, you need to purchase the following materials:
- cement grade M400 or M500;
- washed or river sand;
- crushed stone of the middle fraction;
- plasticizer;
- steel reinforcement with a diameter of 8 and 6 mm;
- knitting wire;
- board or sheet material for formwork;
- pipe for poles;
- bituminous mastic.
During operation, it will be necessary to dig holes, install the formwork, assemble the reinforcing cage, prepare concrete and pour it. Therefore, from the tool you will need:
- shovels;
- buckets;
- concrete mixer;
- solution tray;
- hammer and hacksaw;
- grinder for cutting fittings and pipes;
- tamper;
- paint roller and brush;
- roulette.
To dig holes under the posts, you can use a manual or mechanical Yamobur. It is more convenient and faster.
Work Stages
Like all construction work, the process of installing the foundation for a fence from corrugated board consists of several successive stages. These include:
- marking, clearing and leveling the territory;
- digging holes under pillars and grillage;
- formwork assembly;
- installation of reinforcing cage and poles;
- concreting;
- backfilling.
Simultaneous pouring of concrete under the pillars and grillage is allowed, but in this case you will need more assistants, since the work must be carried out without interruption until its completion.
Marking the grillage and places for installing poles
The recommended width of the foundation tape is 250-300 mm. Given the installation of formwork, it will require a trench with a width of 350-400 mm. Therefore, to mark the grillage, hammer along the edges of the straight fence line 2 pegs at this distance from each other. Pull the cord over the clogged pegs.
The accepted span length between the pillars is 2.5-3.0 m. Measure the distance between the pegs and divide the result by 3. When receiving a fractional number, round it up. So you know the number of columns, and by back division the exact length of the span between them. Now you can hammer the pegs in the place of installation of the supports, starting from the extreme.
Excavation
After marking, you can begin excavation work. To simplify this step, it is recommended that you first dig a trench along the entire length of the marked section of the fence, and then deepen the pits in the places where the posts were installed using a shovel or a Yamobur. The depth of the trench is 400-450 mm. Deepening the pits - at least 1/3 of the planned height of the posts.
For pillars, a profile pipe of 60x60 mm is usually used, which after the foundation is left unchanged or bricked. In the first case, a sufficient diameter of the pits will be equal to 400 mm and this will simply be a depression in the already dug trench. If brick pillars are planned, then the minimum size will be 500x500 mm.
In order to have a place for knitting the reinforcing cage in the future, the soil should be thrown to one side. This will provide a free approach to the trench and pits during operation.
After excavation, it is necessary to prepare a support pillow. To do this, fill the bottom in trenches and pits with a layer of crushed stone 100 mm thick and compact well. Pour a layer of sand of the same thickness on top, spill with water and compact again. It is allowed to fill the finished gravel and sand mixture, which is sold cheaper.
Formwork assembly
As the formwork of the lower part of the round pits, hydroisol or roofing material can be used. The material should be rolled into a tube and lowered into a pit. If the section of the recesses is square, then you will have to use sheet material, which will then remain in the ground. It is best to use dense polystyrene for this. It will protect the concrete from moisture and ensure the durability of the structure.
For trenches, you can use boards from boards, chipboard, plywood or any other material. This part of the formwork after concreting will be removed. Inside the formwork space, it is necessary to install spacers made of wood equal to the width of the foundation, and on the other hand add soil to fix the shields. You do not need to do a solid bedding. Formwork height 50-100 mm above ground level.
Reinforcement cage
At this stage, it is necessary to assemble the reinforcement in a specific structure and correctly install it in the pits and trench. After that, place the posts and fix them vertically.
The reinforcing cage of pillar pits is 4 vertical pieces of reinforcement with a diameter of 8 mm, interconnected by horizontal jumpers of 6 mm. To make jumpers, bend squares from the reinforcement, the size of which should be such that the metal of the rods does not reach the formwork by 5-7 mm.
This will protect the fittings from corrosion. The height of the vertical segments should be slightly higher than the upper point of the foundation. The connection of the individual frame elements to each other is carried out using a knitting wire.
The frames prepared at the edge of the trench should be lowered into the pit pits so that the reinforcement does not touch the pillow with a gap of 5 mm. To do this, you can use stones or special plastic supports, which can be bought at the store.
The design of the reinforcing cage is 4 horizontal rods of 8 mm fixed with jumpers of 6 mm in the same way as described above. The assembled structure is installed inside the formwork and is wired with vertical rods from the pits. Work at this stage ends with the installation of pillars and their fixation in a vertical position. The lower part of the pipes is recommended to be coated with bitumen mastic.
Pouring concrete
For the installation of a strip foundation for a fence from corrugated board, it is necessary to prepare concrete of grade 250-300. The ratio of the components of the mixture depends on the brand of cement that is at your disposal. It is even easier to order ready-made concrete at a specialized enterprise.
You do not have to knead and deliver the material. The supply of the mixture from the mixer will significantly speed up and facilitate the process, and the rise in price in the end will not exceed 15%.
Initially, pole pits with installed supports are poured. Then the vertical installation of the posts is checked again. After that, concrete can be poured over the entire trench and compacted with a vibrator or simple bayonet. The whole process must be performed continuously. The setting of concrete in a separate area should not occur.
Final stage
The following work can only be done after concrete has set in 3-4 days. To complete the construction of the foundation for the fence from corrugated board, you must:
- remove and remove the formwork along the entire length of the trench;
- with a roller, treat the concrete surface with bituminous mastic or primer;
- fill the remaining voids with earth and compact the bedding.
After this, it is recommended to make a cement screed 30 mm thick on the surface of the foundation. This will increase the durability of the structure and improve its appearance. In addition, the posts should be painted to protect against corrosion and the holes should be covered from above. Installation of the profiled sheet can be done in 2 weeks, when the concrete has completely hardened.