The correct proportions for concrete for the foundation of

The construction of any building begins with the laying of a solid foundation. It is this that will most determine the durability and reliability of the future home.

The quality of the foundation depends on the concrete used. In this article, we will look at what proportions the ideal solution for such a task should have.

Cooking technology

To have guarantees you have to do everything yourself by the rules. It is necessary to acquire the necessary ingredients, mix them in an optimal ratio and pour them under appropriate conditions. And now about everything in order.

Tip: first of all it is worth considering the option of ordering factory concrete. Although its price is much higher than homemade, but the quality is appropriate, moreover, you will save a lot of time. If you prefer a hand-made production, then go ahead.

Components

What is included in the proportions of concrete for pouring the foundation, and what functions it performs:

1. Cement. The fundamental knitting part. The proportions for concrete for the foundation of the remaining components depend on its quantity. To create a reliable base, a dry mix of M400 or M500 grades with the highest quality is best suited.

Tip: it is not recommended to keep the cement mixture unpacked for a long time. It has a high porosity and quickly absorbs moisture, after which it becomes unsuitable.

1. Sand. It serves just to eliminate pores, a large number of which, as we noted above, suffer from a binding component. It is worth choosing a fine fraction of good cleaning, or try to clean it yourself.

Tip: if the sand is wet, then it should be dried before using or take this moment into account when adding water, reducing its quantity. Otherwise, the solution may end up too liquid.

1. Gravel. Cutting reinforced concrete with diamond circles is required primarily because of this component, which is responsible for durability and resistance to high pressure. You can even say that the buildings are on gravel bound with cement.

Tip: when choosing this material should take into account its uniformity, since the same size of stones allow better distribution of the pressure exerted on the concrete.

1. Water. It is a dispersed medium that allows all components to mix into a single mass.

If we talk only about what proportions of concrete for the foundation are necessary, then perhaps we can stop. But it should be remembered that a quality foundation will be such only if it is reinforced. Therefore, reinforcement can also be considered one of the elements of a good foundation.

Ratio

Using the right amount of ingredients is very important. Since, due to the lack of cement, the foundation simply does not catch, with a small amount of sand it will be hydrophobic, and without the necessary mass of crushed stone for concrete it will not sustain the necessary loads.

And the lack of water will not allow to connect all the elements. Therefore, very seriously, consider the following information.

The proportions for making concrete for the foundation differ for different grades of mortar. The highest five hundredth we will not consider, as it is used only for industrial purposes.

We will also bypass the side and everything below three hundred, because they are designed for relatively little pressure and will suit baths, gazebos or greenhouses rather.

We will analyze in what proportion to make concrete for the foundation of the brands M300 and M400. These are the most rational options, combining affordable cost and sufficient strength characteristics.

Instruction:

1. M300 - if we take M400 brand cement, then 10 kg of sand and 37 kg of gravel will be required for its 10 kg. Water will need to be two times less than the total mass of the dry mixture, that is, 33 liters. As a result, you get 41 liters of the finished solution. As you can see, it turns out that it is very convenient to count the proportions of concrete to the foundation in buckets, as they usually have just a ten-liter volume. If we use a better and more expensive brand of binder M500, then the amount of the finished mixture will increase, due to the fact that a greater number of components can be fixed. It turns out the following ratio: 1: 2.4: 4.3, which will give 47 liters of concrete. So even more profitable.

1. M400 - again, the proportions of how to prepare concrete for the foundation will depend on the brand of cement used:

• M400 will require a ratio of 1: 1.2: 2.7, from which we get 31 liters of high-quality solution;
• M500 will allow to achieve more - 1: 1,6: 3,3, which guarantees 36 l of reliable concrete, the strength of which can be broken only by diamond nozzles.

You can calculate from the given data the necessary proportions of concrete to the foundation per cube, you can also always use one of the many online calculators on the Internet for these purposes.

Recommendations

Now let's pay a little attention to some points that should be observed when pouring the foundation, so that your efforts to mix concrete are not in vain:

• Positive temperature. In the cold, the water crystallizes and will not allow the solution to get stronger. If the need for construction work is too great, then use special frost protection additives or heated electric wire.

• Ensure uniform concrete pouring conditions without long breaks. This is necessary in order to avoid the formation of "cold" bridges that break the solidity of the structure.

• From time to time, punch the cement through the steel bar and tamper. So you eliminate the "air pockets", reducing the density of the concrete foundation.

Conclusion

It is very important to observe the correct ratio of all components of the concrete solution in order to achieve a quality result. Each element plays its important role. Follow the rules above and you will succeed.

The video in this article will provide additional information. Remember the importance of respecting the right proportions!