Monolithic belt for monolithic slab: device, recommendations and technology

Building standards for the construction of different in their parameters of the construction provide for individual design solutions. Their implementation is not always necessary, as some designs can be replaced by others, and taking into account the third factors, the need for the use of the recommended tool is completely irrelevant. But if it comes to matters of house reliability, then there should be no compromises. One of the structural elements, whose function is aimed at increasing the strength of walls, ceilings and foundations, is a monolithic belt. Under the overlap of the building, it is laid in those cases when the base parts of the frame can not fully accept the imposed load. If you omit this nuance, then in the process of operation, the formation of cracks in the places of joints of walls with ceilings is not ruled out.

General information about the technology

The need for this technical solution is due to the fact that, in the case of thin walls, the loads from the used ceilings will exert excessive pressure on the overall structure of the building. In such situations, additional reinforcement is practiced through a balanced distribution of mechanical efforts. Actually, the first in such equipment involves the foundation, the monolithic belt of which passes to the basement walls. It should be noted that these walls are constructed simultaneously with the floors. However, the sequence depends to a large extent on the material from which the foundation itself is made. So, if the foundation of the building is built on the ground without geological restrictions, then the belt can be superfluous. However, on the upper intersection of the above-ground part of the foundation walls, a monolithic belt is usually arranged. This is especially true for houses that are built from such masonry building materials as cellular concrete or expanded clay concrete.

Belt composition

As can be seen from the name, the foundation is a monolithic beam made of concrete. Actually, the cement mixture acts as the base of the belt, forming a reliable support. If it is a question of construction in the conditions of a home construction site, then you should also prepare the means for creating the formwork. From the beam a niche is formed for subsequent pouring of concrete. The formwork can be made of boards with a thickness of 2.5 cm. The more quality the wood, the more perfect the geometry of the structure - accordingly, and the monolithic belt will fit neatly into the frame of the house. Special attention is devoted to reinforcing the structure. The reinforcement with metal rods is the key to the strength of the beam itself, therefore, it is necessary to prepare for the introduction of reinforcing bars using, perhaps, a welding machine or a specialized tool for knitting iron rods.

Execution of the board basis

The wall or foundation is immersed in the board formwork. As a rule, the belt has a height of 30 cm. As for the width, it corresponds to the masonry material taking into account the thickness of the thermal insulator. Of these parameters should be based on the construction of the formwork. To begin with, it is necessary to fix the board with the underside to the wall with the help of self-tapping screws. Both sides of the formwork are connected by cross fasteners. By means of the level, it is necessary to control the horizontal of the lower part of the structure so that the monolithic belt is perfectly set and does not require adjustments in the future. The same must be done at the top. In the created design, the base for the reinforced belt will be laid. It is important to note that the most problematic areas of this box are corner spaces where boards form joints. These points should be further strengthened and, if possible, sealed with special compounds so that the solution does not leak.

Reinforcement of a monolithic belt

In the reinforcement of the design, metal fittings are used, the size of which is selected depending on the overlap parameters. Usually, to strengthen the span above the foundation, a rod with a large diameter is used. The standard diameter is 12 mm. Two lines of such rods are used in conjunction with the walls. Usually, the installation is done in a ladder configuration. That is, the elements are introduced obliquely in steps of 100 cm. For the lower levels with the same foundation, four contour rods are used. In the monolithic belt, the reinforcement is introduced not separately, but in the form of a formed rectangle. For this case, and need a welding machine, although you can confine yourself and tying. Also in modern homes use fiberglass reinforcement, which differs less weight and overall dimensions, while maintaining the same strength. It is possible to prefer this option of reinforcement, but it is more expensive. If there are doubts about the carrying capacity of the constructed foundation, then this option will justify itself even if the overestimation is taken into account, since plastic reinforcement will reduce the load on the foundation.

Pouring concrete

Special requirements for a concrete mix for a reinforcing belt are not provided. For him, if you want, you can include filler from the rubble, if it is a large area of pouring. Also, before the procedure, check the formwork for reliability and tightness. In extreme cases, it is possible to bring the solution to optimum viscosity values - so that it does not spread out when it is laid in a frame. Some technologies envisage the construction of a monolithic belt with the laying of reticulated reinforcement in the already filled solution. But this decision justifies itself only in the event that the position of the external elements of the reinforcement must be controlled. After the completion of the event, the structure should harden. On the full achievement of strength properties, as a rule, takes about 4-5 days.

Implementation of communications

Even before filling you can arrange all the necessary communications that will take place in the section of the belt tab. For the laying of pipelines special sleeves are used, through which the contour is passed. The chimney and duct design is immediately installed on the site, and later they can be connected to indoor and roof systems. All plugs are recommended to be fixed through with the help of self-tapping screws. Staircase is the most difficult element, which can be laid through a monolithic belt. Under the monolithic slab with the march, formwork is also installed, and its angles are additionally strengthened by the bars of the armature diagonally. That is, the possibility of implementing this communication should be considered at the reinforcement stage. For fixing the ladder through the formwork, the rods of the lower reinforced belt are passed.

Tips for implementing technology

When laying the belt in single-layer walls, inexperienced masters often ignore the heat transfer characteristics of the structure, which is why the thermal insulation function suffers during the operation of the house. You can correct the error by warming the outside of the wall with mineral wool or styrofoam. The optimal thickness of the layer is 10 cm. It is also necessary to correctly approach the calculation of the position, which the monolithic belt will occupy with respect to the ceilings and walls. Usually the beam is lowered below the level of overlap by 4 cm. In this configuration, the elements of the supporting structure will not rest on the walls, but just on the intermediate concrete belt. Due to its base and the reinforcing elements placed in it, the distribution of loads from the overlap will be more uniform and reliable.

Alternative in the form of prefabricated-monolithic plate

Despite the function of unloading the gravity transmitted from the ceiling to the walls, the monolithic beam itself is a rather serious loading element due to its mass. And if for walls this part acts as a factor of easing loads, then for the foundation in any case the pressure rises. Therefore, sometimes on the weak foundation bases use prefabricated-monolithic belts. The presence of cavities in them relieves excess weight, and in terms of heat conductivity, experts note more advantageous from the point of view of operation characteristics. On the other hand, a monolith reinforced concrete belt has an undoubted advantage in terms of strength. All the same, massiveness and great weight endow the overall frame with reliability and durability before the ground slips and external influences.

Conclusion

The function of the reinforcing belt is still perceived ambiguously among professional builders. The need for this construction is obvious, if it is a question of thin walls and in general about a weak bearing part. On the other hand, the monolithic belt of the house does not relieve the supporting elements of the loads, but only redistributes the mass of the upper part of the building with the ceilings. Practice shows that the introduction of this beam also does not cause serious negative consequences. And even if you exclude the function of the belt as an optimizer of loads on the walls and foundation, it acts as a useful intermediate link in the house in terms of laying utilities.