Construction of houses on screw piles, in our country, the case is relatively new, although in America it was first used in 1850 during the construction of a lighthouse. Many people are skeptical about this technology, but in its defense I can say that the lighthouse is still standing.

Foundation on screw piles

Foundation on piles

What are screw piles, and why is their popularity growing every year? There are many advantages, and one of the main ones is the speed of installation. Unlike a concrete foundation, a pile foundation does not require time for drying and shrinkage.
A screw pile is a pipe with a thread at one end and a flat head at the other. Depending on the density of the soil and the characteristics of the landscape, piles can be up to 2.5 meters in length. And the wall thickness ranges from 5 mm to 15 mm. Outside, they are covered with a special ship's soil, which protects the metal from corrosion.

Foundation construction on screw piles

Today, some manufacturers present their unique models of screw piles with minor external changes, but in fact, there are only three options:

  1. End threaded piles
  2. Piles with carvings throughout the "body"
  3. Piles with blades at the end

Of course, there is a tangible difference in price, and if the first two options differ only in ease of installation, then a pile with blades can significantly compact the soil around itself. This is especially true in places with unstable soil and strong soiling.

Foundation cladding on screw piles

To summarize, under all of the above, I will list a few bright competitive advantages building a house on a pile foundation:

  1. Ease of installation
  2. The ability to use screw piles in any kind of soil except rocky
  3. The cost is almost two times lower than that of strip concrete casting
  4. Installation can be carried out even in winter.
  5. Possibility of building a house on plots with difficult terrain
  6. There is no need to be afraid of ground movements, even if the construction is seen near the reservoir

But, despite the obvious advantages, the foundation on screw piles has a significant difficulty, namely, how to close the basement of the house. There are several options, and in order to choose the right one, you need to dwell on each in more detail.

Base / plinth finishing options

Regardless of which option for finishing the basement is chosen, first of all, you need to take care of the support crate. Houses on a pile foundation have under the foundation air gap, which must be closed.
It is best to collect the crate from shaped pipe with unequal sides, for example, 40/20 mm - this is not only convenient for further finishing the basement, but also creates an additional strong bond between the piles.

Important: if a tree is chosen for the lathing, then it must be well treated with impregnations and several layers of soil.

Depending on the height of the base, the number of battens is also calculated. There should be at least three of them, but if the height is more than a meter, then the distance should not exceed 35-40 cm between the guides.
When the crate is ready, you can proceed to the choice of finishing materials.

Base lathing

Basement siding

I will list only the most basic ones:

  • Relatively low cost. Taking into account all the components, the final cost will still not be high.
  • Ease of installation. You can close the basement of a house on stilts on your own, without resorting to the services of specialists.
  • Resistant to wear and tear. The dense plastic from which the siding is made is not subject to decay, and will last for more than a dozen years
  • Huge selection of textures. Siding mimics natural materials and can be customized to suit the landscape
  • Ease of care. The plinth trimmed with siding can be safely washed even with the use of strong detergents

Basement siding

Facing brick

One of the most costly ways to close a house plinth with screw piles. In order to do brickwork you need to have certain skills, so it is better to seek the services of specialists.

Important: in order to make reliable masonry, it is necessary to "tie" it to the pile foundation. This can be done using small metal pins, which are welded to the crate and subsequently walled up in the masonry.

Advantages of brickwork:

  • Brick retains heat well and will not freeze the base of the house even in severe frosts
  • Facing brick does not require additional finishing and restoration after a few years
  • Masonry provides additional support for the entire house and reinforces the pile structure
  • Few material can compete with brick for durability

But, despite all the obvious advantages, there are a number of disadvantages, which also cannot be ignored:

  • The cost of materials and work, make brickwork the most expensive option for finishing the basement
  • Masonry is time consuming
  • Variety in appearance is limited by the choice of brick color

Facing brick

Corrugated board

A popular material that was originally created as a roofing material, but today it is used almost everywhere. You can close the plinth with corrugated board yourself in just a few hours, and from the tools you only need a metal saw and a screwdriver.

Advantages of corrugated board:

  • Large selection of colors
  • Profiled sheeting is a very light material and will not create additional stress on the pile foundation
  • Low price
  • No additional processing required

Unfortunately, corrugated board has a number of significant disadvantages that make it less attractive compared to other materials:

  • Decking is afraid of scratches. The polymer coating is easily scratched, and corrosion begins in these places
  • Appearance is limited to only one option, although it can be of different colors
  • In places of contact with the soil, the corrugated board quickly begins to rot
  • In a few years, the paint fades and loses its gloss

Finishing the plinth with corrugated board

Flat slate

Finishing the foundation on screw piles using flat slate, is losing its popularity today. Slate is a capricious material, which, in addition to everything else, is recognized as harmful to human health, due to the high content of asbestos in its composition.

This option has few advantages, but for the sake of fairness they must be mentioned:

  • You can make the finishing with slate yourself, if you have a certain set of tools
  • Slate is not rotting and insensitive to the environment
  • The service life of this material is not limited

Of course, there are much more disadvantages, and I will list only the main ones:

  • Despite its density, slate is a very fragile material, the slightest inaccuracy in cutting or drilling will lead to its destruction
  • Unpresentable appearance
  • The cost of flat slate is somewhat higher than the cost of corrugated board or plastic siding
  • Slate is very difficult to attach to the pile foundation

Flat slate

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many options for finishing the foundation on piles, and most of them can be done independently. The main thing is to understand what requirements the finishing material must meet. It is necessary to approach the choice with all responsibility and not be guided by considerations of economy.

The task is to complete the started construction log house for year-round use. By the time of the beginning of cooperation with Rovshan, we had a flooded 6x8 basement made of blocks on a concrete slab with poor waterproofing, on which there was an old 6x6 log house (transported from another site) with sloppy ...

made by the roof. The driveway needed to be repaired rafter system roofs, waterproofing the basement, install a drainage system and storm sewer around the house, install a frost-resistant septic tank of 3 wells, install a water supply system (there was already a well), ventilation, prepare a street entrance to the basement, build a terrace, sheathe everything outside with an imitation of timber, completely insulate the first and second floors, install windows on the first floor and the terrace , implement fine finishing the first floor (the final finishing of the basement, the second floor and the terrace was left for later), finish the bathroom with tiles and install a warm floor, a shower cabin and a toilet, install a cast-iron stove with a chimney and thermal insulation, install entrance and interior doors, mount a through staircase, basement / 1st floor / 2nd floor, pour the formwork around the house, paint the house outside and inside, bring in electricity and wiring inside the house, install a kitchen. In short, a lot of things had to be done in order to live peacefully this winter. The brigade started work in mid-July, by mid-September all work was completed (2 months). Rovshan regularly personally supervised his employees, visited the site more often than I did, helped with the purchase of building materials, and also helped to correct the shortcomings that were made by the previous team. At the facility, in a neighboring old house, at the time of the work my mother lived, who was completely satisfied with Rovshan's brigade, they are very nice and tidy guys, we did not have any language problems. The site was cleaned regularly. Small alterations were done quickly and without unnecessary talk. As for the cost of the work, everything was clear, as agreed. Rovshan very carefully and disciplinedly conducts all paperwork, intermediate acts, add. agreements, accounting of expenses and transferred funds. It turned out more difficult with an estimate for building materials, it was not possible to calculate everything in advance, and we spent much more than planned. I am writing a review a month after the end of all the work, the house is used to its fullest, because of the shortcomings - the specialists who then installed the uninterruptible power supply say that the electrical wiring in the house is not very neat. The rest of the flight is normal, although the main test is awaiting the house in winter and especially in spring, when the snow melts and the drainage system starts to work actively. In the spring I will write an addition to the review (if the profi.ru allows it).

It is often asked - what is the best finishing of the basement of a house on screw piles? Let's figure it out!

In the modern world, there are a great many different kinds of options and solutions for the improvement and strengthening of your home. Since ancient times, people have tried to make their refuge as practical, convenient and safe as possible. We all know that the base of the structure is the most important part in the construction of a home. It performs the function of supporting the structure for many years, despite the natural and climatic conditions.

Making a house base on screw piles with your own hands: basic information

It is not at all difficult to build a plinth for a house on screw piles at home with your own hands. Desire, enthusiasm, led by a creative approach, a small amount of effort and the information below will help you in the shortest time possible to finish the basement for your home beautifully and efficiently with your own hands. The decoration, made according to certain unwritten rules and criteria, will serve your family faithfully for many years. Quality is the main aspect in solving any problem. It is especially important when creating and decorating your own wooden house... Our home is our fortress.

Definitely, upon completion of the main workflow for the construction of piles, the structure must be closed. Sheathing - a kind of disguise - is one of the final stages of the entire labor process.

When erecting piles, there is a small gap between the ground and the base of the house, an open space. A screw pile structure, upon completion of the main work process, must be closed and finished to give aesthetic completeness and integrity.

Often, this leads to a kind of stupor for a person who decides to do everything with his own hands. Ignorance forces many to seek the help of specialists. You can finish both wooden plinths and concrete house on screw piles with your own hands, without spending money on the services of construction companies. The video below shows how easy and fast you can do everything yourself, without having any skills in the field of construction.

Completion of the erected structure is carried out in two main stages:

  • sheathing;
  • finishing.

How to sheathe the basement of a house on screw piles?

It is possible to engage in the cladding of screw piles at any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions. It is advisable to free the area from debris and grass before starting work. It is best to use a mesh to cover the ends of the screw piles. The mesh sheathing protects against pets and further curious situations in the country. This is also important in winter period, in severe frosts, in order to avoid deformation of the soil under the house. For summer residents, this is especially important, therefore, it is necessary to sew up and close up in good faith, without leaving any extra gaps and free space.

Corners metal pipes and wooden planks necessary for lathing and creating additional strength.

You need to pay attention to the condition of the soil and the depth of groundwater in your area. The hinged plinth is quite close to the ground, therefore it is necessary to provide for the threat of flooding by groundwater. If the likelihood of flooding is high, it is better to abandon wooden structural elements in favor of metal elements.

According to the instructions, a good-quality foundation filling provides for a small ventilation of the underground space. Before we sew up the basement of the house on screw piles, we leave small holes in several places. They are necessary for air circulation and must remain open even in winter, protecting both the cottage and frame house from dampness and unnecessary moisture. The gap must be covered with a net to exclude the entry of pests, rodents, as well as the ingress of debris. The hole should always remain open, regardless of the season, ensuring normal air circulation.

So that there is no defrosting of communications, you should initially make foam insulation for installation.

For sealing the basement of a house on screw piles, the following two lathing options are most popular and practical:

  • metal plates;
  • wooden guides.

Thanks to these materials, finishing the foundation is not difficult. They decorate and create 100% imitation of an expensive stone or luxury wood. If you do not know how to close the pile foundation country house, choose this method - it looks complete and aesthetic. In the same way, you can close up a frame house.

If you chose a tree during decoration, you must first treat it with a special antiseptic in order to avoid corrosion and decay of the boards in the future.

Plates covering the base are fixed using self-tapping screws or welding. This is the most reliable and durable way of fixing the skin.

Before installing the material, the place of contact of the frame skin with the ground must be sprinkled with sand on average 30-40 centimeters, as in the photo.

The alignment of the finishing coat is done in the corners. Seams are sealed and rubbed with a special hermetic liquid.

The final stage is fixing the missing elements, as well as creating an ebb and drip.

How to decorate the basement of a house on screw piles: decor options

The hinged finish of the plinth has a large number of clear advantages, the main of which are:

  1. Undeniable cost-effectiveness compared to other finishing methods.
  2. Ease of creation and short construction time.
  3. Protection from moisture, which in the future will relieve any manifestations of mold.
  4. Beautiful design and aesthetic appearance.

If desired, you can make the cladding with bricks. This is a more expensive option, which has both advantages and some disadvantages. The advantages include high strength and stability, protection against various types of mechanical damage. An invaluable advantage is undoubtedly thermal protection from cold in severe frosts and the possibility of creating a basement, depending on your preferences. The disadvantages include the complete impossibility of erecting on unstable and heaving soil and the rather high cost of brick material.

Currently, a new, most expensive and unusual option finishing of the basement of the house - mosaic plaster. it unusual solution problems will appeal to even the most fastidious perfectionist. The mosaic-style acrylic resin finish looks incredibly ambitious and emphasizes the success and sense of taste of its owner. This finishing method, like the previous one, is easy to create with your own hands and does not require a long time.

You can also decorate with decorative plastic panels. In economic terms, this is one of the most budget options... However, the aesthetic aspect is undoubtedly inferior to the previous options. Brick and stone look richer and more elite. But, plastic panels durable, not subject to external, weather and chemical influences. In this case, ventilation is carried out naturally and there is no need to leave special gaps to avoid condensation. There is a wide range of panel designs, you can choose the most natural and embossed for a smooth transition from the walls of the house to the base.

Perhaps the most economical method that does not require large costs and physical effort is the installation of a concrete base and its subsequent plastering. Plaster is the most acceptable option if it is impossible to purchase expensive cladding or bricks. There is no need for digging trenches and erecting guides. Initially, a blind area is made, which is then carefully finished with waterproof elements (mainly, these are non-cement slabs). At the base, the surface of the cultivated area is covered with sand. Finally, the cultivated surface is carefully plastered.

Finishing options that you can do yourself at home are a huge number, in taste and color. The choice must be approached seriously and responsibly, having previously carefully calculated all the possible pros and cons. Following the video instructions set out, agreeing with the photo and following the exact sequence of actions, as soon as possible, you can easily build a basement for your house on screw piles, without resorting to outside help. Good luck in your endeavors!

Pile foundations are quite widespread. This is due to the low cost of the device and the possibility of using it even on soft soils. But during construction, a problem arises: how to close the basement of a house, arranged on screw piles?

The buildings located on the considered supports have a ventilated underground. A grillage is provided for tying the piles. It connects free-standing elements into one system. The grillage can be made of concrete or metal. When installing wooden or frame houses, the harness is made of wood.

The plinth cladding will be attached to the piles or walls of the house. To complete it, you will need to make a frame or crate. The most convenient way to make and fix wooden planks. Their cross-sections will depend on the pitch of the piles and the mass of the material used for sheathing.

There are several options for resolving the issue of how to close the pile foundation from the outside. The decoration of the basement of the house can be made of the following materials:

  • siding;
  • brick;
  • plastic panels;
  • metal profiled sheet.

The choice of material depends on aesthetic and economic considerations.

Important! Whatever cladding of the basement of the house is chosen, it is necessary to provide for air vents in it.

They are necessary for the normal ventilation of the space under the building. Lack of air can lead to direct danger to human life. You can often hear about the dangers of a gas such as radon. It lies in the ground, but often rises and accumulates in the basements of buildings and underground. Constant ventilation will help to avoid the accumulation of hazardous substances. Closing the vents for the winter is highly discouraged.

A building on screw piles is the easiest and cheapest to sheathe with such material. The cladding has the following advantages:

  • low cost (even including components);
  • ease of do-it-yourself installation;
  • durability;
  • wear resistance;
  • resistance to decay and mold;
  • a wide range of colors;
  • ease of use.

But along with the advantages, siding also has a number of disadvantages. For example, it will not work if you need to insulate the basement of a house on screw piles.

Installation technology

It is quite simple to make the cladding of a house, you just need to know the order of work and the nuances of their implementation. The plinth arrangement is carried out in the following order:


All wooden elements are treated with antiseptic compounds before starting work. This is necessary to prevent damage by fungus, mold and decay. As an additional measure, fire retardant treatment can be carried out.


Siding is the most common option. In this case, finishing the building is easy and quick. The device should be started after the completion of the construction of the house, when all communications have already been connected. To prevent the pipes from freezing in a ventilated underground, they are wrapped in heat-insulating material. Most often for these purposes is used mineral wool... You can use ready-made elements of thermal insulation for pipes, or you can make insulation using mineral wool mats (wrapped in rolls).


Pay attention to the soft waterproofing of the blind area

Siding is a great option to close the space under the house. To fasten the panels to the crate, it is necessary to prepare self-tapping screws.

Brick finish

The cladding can be made from more serious materials. Brick will allow you to build strong and durable protection. You can also choose this type for aesthetic reasons.


Finishing a building with bricks begins with laying the foundation for masonry. Just as in the case of siding, it is required to provide for an interlayer that compensates for the deformation of the soil in the winter. There are two base options:

  1. Monolithic non-recessed tape. This option is not recommended for construction on heaving soils. It can be used only with coarse and sandy soils (medium to coarse sand).
  2. At a distance of 50-70 mm from the ground, a corner is welded to the metal heads of the piles. The shelf of this profile will become the base for the brick wall. It is recommended to take an equal angle corner with a shelf width of 120 mm. The thickness of the rolled products is determined depending on the height of the masonry and the distance between the piles. If in doubt, take a thicker product.

The length of rolled metal can be 6 or 12 m. They are chosen depending on what are available and on the length of the walls of the building.
Brick laying must be carried out with bandaging. To connect the elements together, a masonry mortar made of sand and cement is used. The average thickness of the seams is set equal to 10-12 mm.

Brick trim has the following advantages:

  • good thermal insulation performance of the material (it is worth choosing a hollow ceramic brick with increased performance);
  • no need for additional finishing;
  • maintainability;
  • durability.

Also, the finish is characterized by a number of disadvantages. These include a large mass and cost, labor intensity, limited color solutions.

Plastic panels

Fastening materials to piles is carried out using the same technology as in the case of siding. Sewing up the space under the house with panels provides the following benefits:

  • attractive appearance;
  • a wide range of colors and textures (you can choose imitation of brick or natural stone);
  • rigidity;
  • resistance to mechanical and chemical influences;
  • not susceptible to decay;
  • affordable price.

But when choosing, it is worth remembering that despite the efforts of the manufacturers, natural brick or stone looks better than finishing made of artificial materials.

Corrugated board

A profiled sheet or corrugated board is simply enough to attach to a wooden crate. The frame is arranged in the same way as for the installation of siding. The specially coated metal material is highly durable, easy to operate and maintain. There are many colors available. But the basement structure made of corrugated board is not suitable for all buildings, it is important to pay attention to the sheathing material of the main structure.


The principle of fastening the profiled sheet is very simple

When choosing siding, brick, panels or corrugated board for work, it is required to strictly observe the fastening technology and take into account the appearance of the building, the integrity of the facade should not be violated.

Upon completion of the main stages of building the house, they begin to finish the basement of the pile-screw foundation. Decorative cladding for such a base is important, as it gives the appearance of the house an aesthetic completeness, and also performs a protective function. The screw foundation is open to atmospheric influences, the wind blows under the house and water flows. This affects both comfort and durability of the structure if the base is not covered with trim.

There are 2 types of cladding:

  • installation of a hinged plinth;
  • erection of brick foundation walls.

The first method is much simpler - you just need to install decorative panels on a wooden or metal crate attached to the piles or walls of the house. In the second case, you will have to do a little concrete base... What unites both methods is that even an inexperienced person can handle the job.

Materials for finishing the hinged plinth

Advantages of decorative panels:

  • profitability;
  • high speed and ease of installation - even when working alone, the task can be completed in a day;
  • ventilation of the foundation, thereby protecting the piles from condensation.

Various decorative panels are used for finishing the base of the screw base using hinged technology. Which of them is better to use - we will consider later in the article.

Siding

Basement siding - This is the most common finishing material for a pile foundation. Popularity is due to low cost, high mechanical strength, resistance to moisture and temperature extremes. Biological destruction (mold, decay, insect damage) does not threaten such a base. In addition, there is a wide range of siding colors - from simple solid colors to panels that imitate natural stone.

Thematic material:

They are made from different polymers - polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam and others. They are distinguished by a wealth of colors, textures and shapes. In addition, they simultaneously play the role of insulation.

The plastic is strong enough, immune to atmospheric and biological influences, and belongs to economical finishing options. However, panels look less attractive compared to siding.

Corrugated board

Such metal sheets are easy to process, durable, resistant to moisture and temperature extremes. Installing them is no less simple than other options for finishing materials. The only drawback is the narrowness of the scope. Sheathe the foundation with corrugated board is possible only in combination with some types of wall decoration. For example, to wooden house such a base will not work.

You can also sew up the subfloor with cheaper materials - slate or DSP sheets covered with painted plaster.

Installation technology for hinged plinth trim

Installation begins with the assembly of the battens. For its manufacture, either wooden slats, or a metal profile. In the first case, the frame elements are screwed to steel brackets, which are welded to the piles in advance. The profile is welded directly to the parts of the screw foundation.

As a rule, the crate consists of two parallel boards, one of which is attached directly under the wall of the house, and the other at a height of 150-200 mm from the ground. This distance may vary depending on climatic conditions in the region. It is necessary to make sure that 50–70 mm remains from the edge of the decorative plates to the ground surface - this is necessary to compensate for the thermal expansion of the soil.

After installing the parallel elements of the battens, vertical slats or a metal profile are mounted. This is done to ensure greater structural strength if the base is too high. In this case, the installation step is 400–450 mm.

A shallow trench 30 cm wide is dug around the perimeter of the house and covered with sand. Then they are mounted on the crate insulation material... Fix on top of it roll waterproofing, the end of which is lined over the sand. The edge of the roll is tamped into sand. Lay on top paving slabs... This design is called a blind area and plays a role drainage systemprotecting the base from excess moisture.

If as finishing material siding is selected, a starting profile is installed on top of the insulation in the lower part of the basement. Decorative panels are inserted into it, which are then mounted to the crate through the thermal insulation using self-tapping screws. The corners of the structure are reinforced with special profiles that come with the siding. To protect the basement from precipitation flowing down the walls, metal drips are installed over the finish.

Hinged panels are mounted, guided by several rules:

  • wooden elements of the crate are carefully treated with antiseptic and antifungal impregnations;
  • slabs decorative material installed with small gaps to ensure ventilation of the space under the house;
  • the drainage area is constructed at a slight slope from the building (no more than 5 °).

If, instead of siding, plastic panels or corrugated sheets are used for finishing the foundation, the technology for installing the material is even simpler. The starting profile is not needed, the trim is fixed directly to the batten, keeping the gap between the bottom edge of the board and the ground.

Such a capital finish gives the building an aesthetically pleasing appearance and provides reliable protection underground space. If necessary, the plinth can be converted into a basement. However, brick finishing is more expensive than installing hinged panels, and the work requires more time and effort.

There are two options for installing a masonry plinth:

  1. On a tape of reinforced concrete. The possibility of using this method depends on the characteristics of the soil - if it expands strongly during freezing, this option is not suitable.
  2. On metal profile, which acts as a shelf for bricks.

Installation in the first way is carried out in the following order:

  1. Dig a trench around the perimeter of the building (you do not need to make it too deep, since the mass of the basement is small).
  2. The walls are covered with rolled waterproofing material.
  3. A reinforcing strap is formed in the trench.
  4. Pour in a cement-sand mortar.
  5. They are laying bricks. Ventilation holes are provided in each wall of the basement.
  6. Perform decorative trim masonry - for this they use plaster or any other material.

In the second case, the work will take less time and effort. A metal equal-flange corner is welded to the piles at a height of 50–70 mm from the ground to provide ventilation. The length of this profile is 6 or 12 m - you can choose any one depending on the length of the walls of the house. The thickness of the steel is matched to the height and weight of the base.

Thus, there are several ways to close the pile-screw foundation. The most acceptable option is chosen based on the complexity and cost of the work. Plating the basement will add attractiveness to the house and extend the life of the screw piles, so it is not worth tightening the finishing.


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