The quality of the foundation of buildings and structures is primarily determined by the correctness of the manufacture of formwork and pouring concrete into it. First of all, it is necessary to accurately install and carefully strengthen the formwork. Recall that the formwork can be removable (wooden or metal collective structures) or non-removable (metal frames, reinforced concrete, OSB, chipboard or polystyrene foam). In properly prepared formwork, metal structures are often placed (usually a reinforcing cage), which ensure the strength of the future structure.
Pour concrete pour into the formwork immediately after preparing a concrete mixture-it should be heavy concrete of brands 200, 250 or 300, containing crushed stone fractions up to 2 centimeters. Less often as a concrete mixture, a cement-sand solution is used in the ratio: one part of the cement and three parts of the sand.
There are several ways to pour concrete into the formwork. One of the simplest is the direct supply of a mortar mixture from the mixer tray. In this case, the possibility of its entrance to the formwork at the length of the tray length should be ensured. If this is not possible, then the inclined wooden groove is built on which concrete enters the destination. The disadvantage of this method – we need workers with shovels for pushing concrete on the gutter. The cheapest, but also in the most laborious way is the manufacture of a mortar mixture and its pouring into the formwork manually. The prepared concrete solution is scattered with shovels around the entire perimeter until the necessary level is reached
As soon as the concrete is unloaded into the formwork, it is necessary to compact it. This procedure mandatory for concreting the foundation is performed using a deep vibrator. If it is not, then use scrap or segment of reinforcement, immersing them in concrete to the full depth.
An important element of pouring concrete into formwork is to align the concrete massif. This process should begin at the stage of manufacturing formwork and installation of a reinforcing frame. To do this, you need to make the formwork, leveing its top at the desired level, or draw a level of level inside the formwork. Where high accuracy is required concrete aligned by lighthouses. Lighthouses are installed in advance (a day before filling) and fixed on the walls with cement.
After pouring, compaction and alignment of concrete, it is necessary to ensure its “ripening”. To do this, it is necessary (especially in the first days) to protect concrete from atmospheric precipitation, water water on hot days, and in winter to heat it, for example, using a heat gun.