Tying reinforcement for a strip foundation: making a strong frame. How to tie reinforcement for a foundation: the best methods. Is it necessary to tie a new foundation to the old one?

Experienced builders know that the strength of the foundation under the walls of the house directly depends on the correctly chosen design of the reinforcing frame to create a strip foundation, and the correct installation. In this design, all the, so to speak, “responsibilities” of its constituent elements are clearly distributed. Thus, the reinforcement takes on deforming linear stresses that arise not only from the weight of the walls, but also from temperature changes, and the concrete part of the structure prevents its compression. Thus, together these materials create reliable support for the walls.

Tying reinforcement under a strip foundation is the best option for fastening the metal “backbone” of a reinforced concrete structure. Such a connection, while maintaining the given linear and spatial forms of the frame, nevertheless leaves the opportunity to somewhat “balance” when the concrete hardens and gains its grade strength, taking the optimal position when exposed to emerging loads. If you make the skeleton of the foundation rigid, that is, fasten the reinforcement by welding, then even with slight shrinkage of the soil or under pressure from the walls of the house, the concrete part of the structure may begin to collapse, since when the solution hardened, the optimal shift of the frame parts did not occur and in a seemingly strong monolithic the slab retains significant internal stresses.

Any building cannot do without a reliable and strong foundation. Construction of the foundation is the most important and time-consuming stage. But in this case, all rules and requirements for strengthening the foundation must be observed. For this purpose, a strip foundation is erected, which can make the foundation of the structure strong and reliable. It is worth considering in more detail the features of the strip foundation, as well as the technology for reinforcing the structure.

Peculiarities

The strip foundation is a monolithic concrete strip without breaks at doorways, which becomes the basis for the construction of all walls and partitions of the structure. The basis of the strip structure is a concrete mortar, which is made from M250 cement, water, and sand mixture. To strengthen it, a reinforcement frame is used, made of metal rods of different diameters. The tape goes deep into the soil a certain distance, while at the same time protruding above the surface. But the strip foundation is subject to serious loads (groundwater movement, massive structure).

In any situation, you need to be prepared for the fact that various negative influences on structures can affect the condition of the foundation. Therefore, if the reinforcement is not done correctly, at the first slightest threat the foundation may collapse, which will lead to the destruction of the entire building.

Reinforcement has the following advantages:

• prevents soil subsidence under the building;
• has a positive effect on the soundproofing qualities of the foundation;
• increases the stability of the foundation to sudden changes in temperature conditions.

Requirements

Calculations of reinforcing materials and reinforcement schemes are carried out in accordance with the rules of the functioning SNiPA 52-01-2003. The certificate has specific rules and requirements that must be met when reinforcing strip foundations. The most important indicators of the strength of concrete structures are the coefficients of resistance to compression, tension and transverse fracture. Depending on the established standardized indicators of concrete, a specific brand and group is selected. When reinforcing a strip foundation, the type and controlled quality indicators of the reinforcing material are determined. According to GOST, the use of hot-rolled construction reinforcement of a repeating profile is allowed. The reinforcement group is selected depending on the yield strength at extreme loads; it must have ductility, resistance to rust and low temperature indicators.

Kinds

To reinforce the strip foundation, two types of rods are used. For axial ones that carry a key load, class AII or III is required. In this case, the profile should be ribbed, because it has better adhesion to the concrete solution, and also transfers the load in accordance with the norm. For superstructural lintels, cheaper reinforcement is used: smooth class AI, the thickness of which can be 6–8 millimeters. Lately, fiberglass reinforcement has become in great demand, because it has better strength properties and long service life.

Most designers do not recommend using it for residential foundations. According to the rules, these must be reinforced concrete structures. The features of such building materials have long been known. Specialized reinforcing profiles have been developed that help ensure that concrete and metal are combined into an integral structure. How concrete will behave with fiberglass, how reliably this reinforcement will be connected to the concrete mixture, and whether this pair will successfully cope with various loads - all this is little known and practically untested. If you want to experiment, you can use fiberglass or reinforced concrete reinforcement.

Calculation

The consumption of reinforcement must be carried out at the stage of planning the foundation drawings, in order to know with accuracy in the future how much building material will be required. It is worth familiarizing yourself with how to calculate the amount of reinforcement for a shallow foundation 70 cm high and 40 cm wide. First, you need to establish the appearance of the metal frame. It will be made of upper and lower reinforced belts, each with 3 reinforcing rods. The gap between the rods will be 10 cm, and you also need to add another 10 cm for a protective concrete layer. The connection will be made by welding sections of reinforcement of identical parameters in increments of 30 cm. The diameter of the reinforcement product is 12 mm, group A3.

Calculation of the required amount of reinforcement is carried out as follows:

• to determine the consumption of rods on the axial belt, you need to calculate the perimeter of the foundation. You should take a symbolic room with a perimeter of 50 m. Since there are 3 rods in two armored belts (6 pieces in total), the consumption will be: 50x6 = 300 meters;
• Now you need to calculate how many connections are required to join the belts. To do this, it is necessary to divide the total perimeter by the step between the jumpers: 50: 0.3 = 167 pieces;
• observing a certain thickness of the enclosing concrete layer (about 5 cm), the size of the perpendicular lintel will be 60 cm, and the axial lintel - 30 cm. The number of separate types of lintels per connection is 2 pieces;
• you need to calculate the consumption of rods for axial jumpers: 167x0.6x2=200.4 m;
• consumption of products for perpendicular jumpers: 167x0.3x2=100.2 m.

As a result, the calculation of reinforcing materials showed that the total amount to be consumed would be 600.6 m. But this number is not final; it is necessary to purchase products with a reserve (10–15%), since it will be necessary to strengthen the foundation in corner areas.

Scheme

The constant movement of soil puts serious pressure on the strip foundation. In order for it to firmly withstand such loads, and also eliminate the sources of crack formation at the planning stage, experts recommend taking care of the correctly chosen reinforcement scheme. The foundation reinforcement scheme is a specific arrangement of axial and perpendicular rods, which are assembled into a single structure.

SNiP No. 52-01-2003 clearly discusses how reinforcing materials are laid in the foundation, with what steps in different directions.

It is worth considering the following rules from this document:

• the step of laying the rods depends on the diameter of the reinforcement product, the dimensions of the crushed stone granules, the method of laying the concrete solution and its compaction;
• working hardening step is a distance that is equal to two cross-sectional heights of the reinforcing tape, but not more than 40 cm;
• transverse strengthening - this distance between the rods is half the width of the section itself (no more than 30 cm).

When deciding on the reinforcement scheme, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the frame assembled into one piece is mounted into the formwork, and only the corner sections will be tied inside. The number of axial reinforced layers must be at least 3 along the entire contour of the foundation, because it is impossible to determine in advance the areas with the heaviest loads. The most popular are schemes in which the reinforcement is connected in such a way that cells of geometric shapes are formed. In this case, a strong and reliable fundamental foundation is guaranteed.

Work technology

Reinforcement of strip foundations is carried out taking into account the following rules:

• for functioning fittings, rods of group A400 are used, but not lower;
• experts do not recommend using welding as a connection, since it blunts the cross-section;
• at the corners, the reinforcement is necessarily tied, but not welded;

• It is not allowed to use threadless fittings for clamps;
• it is necessary to strictly implement a protective concrete layer (4–5 cm), because it protects metal products from corrosion;
• when making frames, the rods in the axial direction are connected with an overlap, which should be at least 20 rod diameters and at least 25 cm;
• when placing metal products frequently, it is necessary to maintain the size of the aggregate in the concrete solution; it should not get stuck between the rods.

Preparatory work

Before starting work, it is necessary to clear the work area of ​​various debris and interfering objects. Using pre-prepared markings, a trench is dug, which can be done manually or using specialized equipment. To ensure that the walls are perfectly level, it is recommended to install formwork. Basically, the frame is placed in a trench along with the formwork. After this, concrete is poured, and the structure must be waterproofed using roofing felt sheets.

Methods of knitting reinforcement

The scheme for strengthening a strip foundation allows the rods to be connected using the bonding method. The bonded metal frame has increased strength compared to the welded version. This is explained by the fact that the risk of burning through metal products increases. But this does not apply to factory products. To speed up the work, it is allowed to perform reinforcement in straight sections by welding. But reinforcement of corners is carried out only with the use of binding wire.

Before knitting the reinforcement, you need to prepare the necessary tools and building materials.

There are two ways to bind metal products:

• specialized hook;
• knitting machine.

The first method is suitable for small volumes. Laying reinforcement in this case will take too much time and effort. Annealed wire with a diameter of 0.8–1.4 mm is used as a connecting material. The use of other building materials is prohibited. The reinforcement can be tied separately and then lowered into the trench. Or tie the reinforcement inside the pit. Both methods are rational, but there are some differences. If you make it on the surface of the earth, you can do it yourself, but in a trench you will need an assistant.

How to properly tie reinforcement in the corners of a strip foundation?

For corner walls, several bonding methods are used.

• With a paw. To carry out the work, a foot is made at the end of each rod at an angle of 90 degrees. In this case, the rod resembles a poker. The size of the foot must be at least 35 diameters. The bent section of the rod is connected to the corresponding vertical section. As a result, it turns out that the outer rods of the frame of one wall are connected to the outer ones of the other wall, and the inner ones are connected to the outer ones.

• Using L-shaped clamps. The principle of execution is similar to the previous variation. But here you don’t need to make a foot, but take a special L-shaped element, the size of which is at least 50 diameters. One part is tied to the metal frame of one wall surface, and the second to the vertical metal frame. In this case, the internal and external clamps are connected. The spacing of the clamps should be ¾ of the height of the basement wall.

• Using U-shaped clamps. For the corner you will need 2 clamps, the size of which is 50 diameters. Each of the clamps is welded to 2 parallel rods and 1 perpendicular rod.

How to properly reinforce the corners of a strip foundation, see the following video.

How to perform reinforcement at obtuse angles?

To do this, the outer rod is bent to a certain degree value and an additional rod is attached to it to qualitatively enhance the strength. Internal special elements are connected to the external one.

How to knit a reinforcing structure with your own hands?

It is worth taking a closer look at how reinforcement is knitted on the surface of the earth. First, only straight sections of the mesh are made, after which the structure is installed in the trench, where the corners are reinforced. Reinforcement sections are being prepared. The standardized size of the rods is 6 meters; if possible, it is better not to touch them. If you don’t have confidence in your own abilities that you can cope with such rods, they can be cut in half.

Experts recommend starting to knit reinforcing bars for the shortest section of the strip foundation, which makes it possible to acquire certain experience and skill, and in the future it will be easier to cope with long structures. It is undesirable to cut them, because this will lead to an increase in metal consumption and reduce the strength of the foundation. The parameters of the workpieces should be considered using the example of a foundation, the height of which is 120 cm and the width is 40 cm. The reinforcement products must be filled on all sides with concrete mixture (thickness about 5 cm), which is the initial condition. Taking these data into account, the net parameters of the reinforcing metal frame should be no more than 110 cm in height and 30 cm in width. For knitting, you need to add 2 centimeters from each side, this is necessary for the overlap. Therefore, blanks for horizontal jumpers should have a size of 34 centimeters, blanks for axial jumpers - 144 centimeters.

After calculations, the knitting of the reinforcing structure occurs as follows:

• you should choose a flat piece of land, put two long rods, the ends of which need to be trimmed;
• At a distance of 20 cm from the ends, horizontal struts are tied along the outer edges. For tying, you will need a 20 cm wire. It is folded in half, pulled under the tying area and tightened with a crochet hook. But it is necessary to tighten it with care so that the wire does not break off;
• at a distance of about 50 cm, the remaining horizontal struts are tied alternately. When everything is ready, the structure is removed to a free place and another frame is tied in an identical way. As a result, you will get the upper and lower parts, which need to be connected to each other;
• Next, you need to install stops for the two parts of the mesh; you can rest them against various objects. The main thing is to ensure that the associated structures have a reliable profile arrangement; the distance between them should be equal to the height of the associated reinforcement;

• At each end two axial struts are tied, the parameters of which are already known. When the frame product resembles a finished fixture, you can begin tying the remaining pieces of reinforcement. All procedures are carried out with checking the dimensions of the structure, although the workpieces are made of the same dimensions, an extra check will not hurt;
• Using a similar method, all other straight sections of the frame are connected;
• A gasket is placed at the bottom of the trench, the height of which is at least 5 cm; the lower part of the mesh will be laid on it. Side supports are installed, the mesh is mounted in the correct position;
• The parameters of unconnected joints and corners are taken, and sections of reinforcement products are prepared for connecting the metal frame to the overall system. It is worth noting that the overlap of the ends of the reinforcement should be at least 50 bar diameters;
• the bottom turn is attached, then the perpendicular posts and the top turn is tied to them. The distance of reinforcement to all sides of the formwork is checked. The strengthening of the structure ends here; now you can proceed to pouring the foundation with concrete mixture.

Knitting reinforcement using a specialized device

To make such a mechanism, you will need several boards 20 millimeters thick.

The process itself looks like this:

• 4 boards are cut according to the size of the reinforcement product, they are connected in 2 pieces at a distance equal to the pitch of the vertical posts. The result should be two boards of an identical pattern. It is necessary to ensure that the marking of the distance between the slats is the same, otherwise the axial arrangement of the connecting special elements will not work;
• 2 vertical supports are made, the height of which should be equal to the height of the reinforcing mesh. The collections must have profile corner supports that will prevent them from tipping over. The finished structure is checked for strength;
• The legs of the support are installed on 2 nailed together boards, and the two outer boards are placed on the top shelf of the supports. Fixation is performed using any convenient method.

As a result, a model of the reinforcing mesh should be formed; now the work can be carried out without outside help. Vertical braces of the reinforcement product are installed in the planned areas, and their position is fixed in advance using ordinary nails for a certain time. A reinforcement rod is installed on each horizontal metal lintel. This procedure is performed on all sides of the frame. If everything is done correctly, you can start knitting with wire and hook. The design must be made if there are identical sections of mesh made of reinforcement products.

Knitting reinforced mesh in trenches

Carrying out work in a trench is quite difficult due to the tightness.

It is necessary to carefully consider the knitting pattern for each special element.

• Stones or bricks no more than 5 cm high are placed at the bottom of the trench; they will lift the metal products from the surface of the earth and allow the concrete to cover the reinforcement products on all sides. The distance between the bricks should be equal to the width of the mesh.
• Longitudinal rods are placed on top of the stones. Horizontal and vertical rods must be cut to the required parameters.

• They begin to form the base of the frame on one side of the foundation. The work will be easier if you tie horizontal struts to the lying rods in advance. An assistant must support the ends of the rods until they are mounted in the desired position.
• The reinforcement is knitted alternately, the distance between the spacer elements must be at least 50 cm. The reinforcement is tied in a similar way on all straight sections of the foundation tape.
• The parameters and spatial location of the frame are checked, if necessary, it is necessary to correct the position, and also to prevent metal products from touching the formwork.

You should familiarize yourself with the repeated mistakes that inexperienced craftsmen make when performing reinforcement without following certain rules.

• Initially, it is necessary to develop a plan according to which further calculations will be performed to determine the load on the foundation.
• During the manufacture of the formwork, no gaps should be formed, otherwise the concrete mixture will flow out through these holes and the strength of the structure will decrease.
• The soil must be waterproofed; in its absence, the quality of the slab will decrease.
• It is prohibited for the reinforcing bars to come into contact with the soil; such contact will lead to rust.

• If you decide to reinforce the frame by welding, then it is better to use rods with index C. These are specialized materials that are intended for welding, so they do not lose their technical characteristics under the influence of temperature conditions.
• It is not recommended to use smooth rods for reinforcement. The concrete solution will have nothing to fasten to, and the rods themselves will slide in it. When the soil moves, such a structure will crack.
• It is not recommended to arrange corners by direct intersection; reinforcement products bend very hard. Sometimes, when reinforcing corners, they come up with tricks: they heat the metal product to a pliable state, or use a grinder to saw down the structure. Both options are prohibited, because with these procedures the material loses its strength, which will lead to negative consequences in the future.

The strength, reliability and durability of the foundation support structure largely depend on the quality and correct arrangement of the reinforcing frame. The reinforcing belt can be considered as a kind of skeleton, contributing to a significant increase in the resistance of the base to incoming loads.

Reinforcing belt
Construction of a reinforcing frame

In preparation for the upcoming pouring of the foundation, you need, firstly, to figure out what kind of reinforcement is appropriate and optimal to include in such a structure, and secondly, in what ways can the connection of individual elements into a single frame be ensured.

You are invited to familiarize yourself with information regarding the listed points and important accompanying nuances below.

Fiberglass frame

Diameter

When choosing reinforcement for the foundation, first of all, pay attention to the diameter of the rods. The dependence is simple: the thicker the reinforcement, the more severe loads it can withstand. When determining the optimal diameter, first of all, the characteristics of the soil are taken into account (the main point is heaving) and the expected weight of the finished building, taking into account the weight of its internal arrangement and residents/visitors.

Reinforcement diameter, weight, total cross-sectional area

This is how it should be ideally and according to the rules. Along with this, many private developers refuse to draw up design documentation and perform related extensive calculations, adhering to average and generally accepted values. In the case of the construction of relatively small buildings, for example, such as a bathhouse, such an approach is acceptable.

Class

The second important indicator is the class of the reinforcement. For a private foundation, class A-3 material is suitable.

Corrugated fittings A3, steel grade A500S, GOST 5781-82

The fittings of this group are very easy to use (easily bends without the use of special tools), durable and reliable. Less commonly used are rods of class A-2 (they can be bent 180 degrees, A-3 – 90 degrees).

Material

An equally important indicator is the material used to make the reinforcement. Previously, no questions arose regarding this point - the rods were made of durable steel, there were no alternatives.

However, the construction market is constantly developing and expanding. One confirmation of this was the appearance on sale of fiberglass reinforcement.

The rods of this group are characterized by improved operational and practical characteristics. Among the main advantages of fiberglass reinforcement, the following points should be noted:

• high levels of reliability, strength and durability;
• relatively low cost;
• light weight.

The use of fiberglass reinforcement allows you to save on average up to 30-40% on the purchase and transportation of material for arranging a reinforcing frame compared to more traditional steel elements.

The low weight of fiberglass reinforcement makes it possible to transport it in a simple passenger car. The reinforcement has no length restrictions. An ordinary grinder is used for cutting rods.

Important! Before cutting fiberglass reinforcement, be sure to wear protective overalls, gloves, goggles and a respirator.

Fiberglass reinforcement is available for sale in various diameters, suggesting the use of different knitting options. Mainly 8 mm rods are used for longitudinal reinforcement, and 6 mm rods for transverse reinforcement.

Fastening fiberglass reinforcement is most often performed in 2 ways:

• using knitting wire;
• using plastic clamps.

The procedure for implementing both methods remains identical for steel and fiberglass reinforcement and will be discussed in the relevant sections.

Prices for fiberglass reinforcement

fiberglass reinforcement

Wire, clamp, clamp: features of existing fasteners

Fastening reinforcing bars into a single frame can be done using wire, clamps and special clamps. About them in the table.

Table. Materials for fastening reinforcement

Bonding material	Description
	The most traditional, budget-friendly and familiar (especially for “old school” builders) material for tying reinforcement. Made from annealed steel. Sold mainly “in bulk”, i.e. in packages (more convenient, since the material is already cut into pieces of suitable length) or in special spools. Package weight and wire length may vary depending on the manufacturer. The most convenient are 5-kilogram packs filled with 40-centimeter pieces of wire. One such package usually contains from 1000 to 1500 pieces of wire.
	The principle of use is not much different from knitting wire - the same methods, similar tools. Characterized by greater ease of use (easier to bend and twist). Costs a little more than wire. It has an increased diameter (on average 4 mm versus 1.2 mm for the wire). To ensure a reliable connection of reinforcing bars, it is enough to use a 20-centimeter clamp at one intersection point.
	The most modern option for connecting reinforcing bars. The clamps are made of plastic. They perform best in combination with fiberglass reinforcement. The advantages over steel reinforcement and tying wire are obvious. To fully understand them, you need to pay attention to just one drawback of steel reinforcement - it is susceptible to corrosion. Rust can increase the diameter of a metal rod by an order of magnitude. Its strength, however, does not change for the better. Corrosion causes pores to appear in concrete. Water penetrates into the pores. In winter, water expands and increases the size of cracks. The clamps do not rust, and using them to connect fittings is much easier, more convenient, and faster than using wire. There are several types of fasteners available for sale that allow you to connect reinforcing bars in various spatial directions, set up “stands” (as in the image) and solve other problems related to reinforcement.

Due to the fact that the manual in question is dedicated specifically to tying reinforcement, the procedure for connecting rods with special clamps will not be considered - this process is not tying in the traditional sense and is generally intuitive.

More attention should be paid to the wire and clamps.

First, the wire.

For its manufacture, as noted, low-carbon steel grades are used. The annealed material bends relatively easily and copes well with the tasks assigned to it. Non-galvanized binding wire (black) and its galvanized counterpart (white) are available for sale.

Many craftsmen consider the purchase of galvanized binding wire for arranging a foundation to be an excess and an inappropriate waste of money, arguing that the reinforcing frame after pouring the concrete becomes inaccessible to air, therefore, nothing will rust. At the same time, the occurrence of corrosion, as noted earlier, cannot be ruled out.

• if you decide to use steel reinforcement, you can knit with both galvanized and non-galvanized wire - if corrosion reaches the reinforcing frame, it will not care what “is”, be it reinforcement or wire, and it will not be possible to avoid deterioration in the quality characteristics of the foundation under such circumstances ;
• if you decide to use fiberglass reinforcement, it is better to tie it with galvanized wire - this will minimize the risk of corrosion and ensure a longer service life of the supporting structure.

As for the diameter, the most optimal in terms of ease of use and reliability is the 1.2-1.4 mm option. “One” is weak for the foundation; working with “two” will require extra effort.

Secondly, clamps.

This, as noted, is a modernized and improved version of the knitting wire. They are made of plastic, not steel, so when using such fasteners, the likelihood of corrosion inside the supporting structure is eliminated. Along with this, it is precisely because of the material used to make plastic clamps that many developers have a number of well-founded questions regarding the fasteners of this group.

1. Will the clamps be able to withstand the loads created inside the foundation? They can.
2. Will the fasteners break over time, disrupting the uniform distribution of loads and generally deteriorating the quality of the foundation? It won't break.
3. Is a plastic clamp really reliable? Indeed, but you need to approach the issue of choosing it correctly.

Helpful advice! For tying reinforcement, plastic clamps using steel wire as a core are best. Such clamps are more expensive than steel wire, but they are easy to use.

Important note! Plastic clamps cannot be used for tying reinforcement when carrying out foundation work in the winter - in the cold, the material used to make the clamps almost instantly becomes brittle. The exception is special polyamide fasteners.

Prices for knitting wire

knitting wire

First, remember the main rule: the reinforcement is not connected by welding, but rather tied.

Tying reinforcement - diagram

The bottom line is this: contact of the metal with the electrode helps to reduce the strength of the first so much that even loads occurring with the minimum possible shrinkage of the foundation can lead to catastrophic consequences, the sequence of which is usually as follows:

• reinforcement connection points are destroyed;
• the reinforcing frame disintegrates;
• The concrete structure begins to crack.

How this threatens the structure built on the foundation requires no comment. As an exception, we can only consider special reinforcing bars, the manufacturing technology of which, according to GOST, initially assumes the possibility of subsequent welding.

Secondly, vertical support rods installed as supports for horizontally oriented rods cannot simply be driven into the ground. The correct thing to do is this: the lower reinforcing row is placed on special plastic clamps (the so-called “cup holders”, demonstrated earlier), and the upper part of the vertical rods is connected to the upper row of the frame. Such placement will prevent contact of the rods with the external environment.

Thirdly, the upper horizontal row of the frame must be tied from the inside - this is more difficult, but more correct. Often, uninformed developers make the mistake of leaving the top row of the frame unfixed. If concrete is poured manually, nothing bad will happen in such conditions. When pouring with a special concrete pump, the mixture is supplied under pressure. The pressure created will lead to the reinforcement moving apart, as a result of which the wire may burst.

Fourthly, when performing reinforcement, you need to pay special attention to the corners of the structure, because They are the weakest point of the foundation. In such areas, the rods are not laid at right angles, but are bent. The overlaps are hidden in the wall. It is important that adjacent reinforcing bars do not overlap at one point. The principle is demonstrated in the image.

Reinforcement is considered correct if the result is a rigid spatial frame that can support the weight of a person without visible changes in the structure.

Prices for plastic fasteners for fittings

plastic fixture for fittings

For tying reinforcement, you can use a wide variety of devices - from pliers to special automatic pistols.

The use of pliers and wire cutters with pre-blunted teeth is the most primitive option. Its only advantage is that there is no need to purchase additional devices, however, twisting the wire with such improvised means is time-consuming, inconvenient and tedious. Therefore, we will refrain from considering them.

If you're on a budget, make at least a basic homemade crochet hook. To do this, you will not need anything other than a nail with a diameter of 4-5 mm, a blank for a handle or an old unnecessary screwdriver/awl and a hammer.

To make a hook, do the following:

• prepare your pen. You can use any suitable wooden blank (it is more convenient and easier to drive a nail into wood), for example, from a used household tool. The handle can be made of other materials, the main thing is that it is convenient for you to use;
• drive a nail into the handle, leaving 3-4 cm free;
• cut off the nail head, for example, using wire cutters or another suitable device;
• bend the nail into the hook. This is done as follows: you place the nail on a suitable support, for example, a brick, and gradually use a hammer to give the workpiece the shape of a crochet hook.

The procedure for making a hook from a screwdriver/awl comes down to following the last step of the above tutorial. At the end you should get a device that looks something like this.

Knitting with regular crochet

Having prepared a homemade hook or purchased a ready-made tool at a hardware store, start doing the work. To begin, carefully practice on third-party pieces of reinforcement until you thoroughly understand the principle of operation. It consists of the following:

• a piece of knitting wire at least 200 mm long is folded in half;
• the resulting workpiece is wrapped diagonally at the connection point;
• the hook is threaded into the created loop;
• The free ends of the knitting wire are carefully pulled through the loop. A hook also helps at this stage;
• Without taking out the working tool, turn it clockwise until a reliable connection is obtained. Usually several (up to 3-4) turns are enough. Do not twist the wire too much - it will break. Bend the excess parts of the ends of the wire. If the ends are too long, you can cut them off with wire cutters or other suitable tools.

The process is shown schematically in the following image.

For a better understanding of the technology, check out the step-by-step illustrations.

There are several other options for crocheting reinforcement, but the above method is the most reliable, and it is recommended to stick to it.

The method according to which the performer must sequentially perform the following manipulations also works well:

• fold the piece of wire in half, as in the previous case;
• place the folded wire under the reinforcement at the junction;
• grab the loop with a crochet hook;
• bend the remaining free “tail” over the hook;
• twist the resulting loop.

The procedure for performing work in accordance with this method is demonstrated in the following illustrations.

Video – Crochet reinforcement

Knitting with semi-automatic crochet

The semi-automatic, also reversible and screw hook is an improved and more convenient to use version of the above-mentioned device.

The length (as a rule, it is 32 cm) and, in general, the design features of the reversible hook allow for high-quality twisting of the wire with one tightening. The soft rubber handle makes working with the tool even more comfortable and safe, eliminating the likelihood of calluses on your hands.

The procedure for using such a hook is as follows:

• the performer circles the reinforcing bars with wire at the junction (the procedure is the same as in the case of using an ordinary hook, all the necessary information was given above);
• the hook is inserted into the loop;
• the performer pulls the handle of the instrument towards himself.

That's all. As a result of such simple actions, the device, which works like a “spinning top,” quickly tightens the wire, ensuring a tight, reliable and neat knot. The labor intensity and time required to complete the work are reduced significantly.

The tool is suitable for both professional and private use. The reversible hook does not require any special maintenance - you just need to periodically lubricate the working elements with oil.

The operating principle of a screw crochet hook is demonstrated in detail in the following video.

Video – Knitting with semi-automatic crochet

Hand crocheting is a rather lengthy and labor-intensive undertaking. And although the semi-automatic hook, discussed in the previous section, can significantly facilitate and speed up the implementation of reinforcing work, there is an excellent opportunity to do everything much faster and with even less effort. A drill/driver will help with this.

All you need to do is make a hook (an ordinary nail with a diameter of 0.5 cm is suitable as a blank; you have already become familiar with the principle of making a hook in one of the previous sections) and fix it in the screwdriver chuck in the same way as ordinary drills are installed ( The detailed sequence of replacing the working tool should be clarified in the instructions specifically for your screwdriver, since for different models of tools these points may vary slightly).

This design will look like this:

The further procedure is no different from the technology of crocheting reinforcement: you still fold the wire in half, put it under the reinforcement, grab the loop with a hook, but twist it not by hand, but with a screwdriver, using minimal effort.

When twisting the wire, the tool experiences virtually no load, so even the most budget drill-driver with minimal power can be used for tying. It is better that the model is equipped with a rotation speed controller. Before work, set it to minimum.

Video - Tying reinforcement with a screwdriver

The gun makes tying reinforcement as fast, simple and convenient as possible - the most advanced models of such guns are capable of creating a connection in less than a second. No preparatory measures are required: the wire is wound on the spool of the gun, the user simply brings the tool to the connection point and presses the corresponding button. Please refer to your specific tool's manual for information on special options and functions.

It looks like this.

There is no need to cut the wire before work: the tool will do everything on its own. This is a big advantage – there is no waste in the form of tying wire scraps, which means that unnecessary costs and operating costs are significantly reduced.

The gun is easy to use - it can be held with one hand and the other, while holding the reinforcement frame, which eliminates the need to attract additional labor in the form of assistants.

An automatic gun, unlike hand tools, allows you to count on constant high quality knitting. By default, all models have functions for adjusting the length of sections and tightening force.

Gun brand	Weight	Reinforcement size	Price
	1.4 kg	D19xD18	RUB 48,780
	1.5 kg	D20xD22	60,920 rub.
	2.25 kg	-	52,000 rub.
	2.4kg	from 20 to 35 mm	165,000 rub.

Among the disadvantages of an automatic gun for tying reinforcement, the following points can be highlighted:

• high cost of tools and components (spools of wire);
• the need for preliminary training in working with a gun (in general, nothing complicated, but additional time is still spent. In practice, it is more than compensated by the savings in time spent on twisting the wire);
• inability to use the gun in hard-to-reach places. Even with such a serious assistant, you still cannot completely abandon the use of hand tools for knitting. For example, you won’t be able to tie the rods in the corners of the reinforcing frame with a gun. In addition, you can only insert a hook between the whips to tie the 2nd layer of the reinforcing frame.

Video - Knitting reinforcement with a gun

A few words about clamps

To knit reinforcing bars, as noted, you can use special clamps. They look like this.

Thus, one end of the clamp is free, and the clamp is located on the other.

The procedure for using the clamp is as follows:

• the product is inserted under the reinforcing bars at the intersection;
• the free end is pulled into the hole in the latch until it stops;
• the position of the fastener is fixed, thereby ensuring the connection of the reinforcement.

There are many types of clamps available on the market. In combination with reinforcement, products made from polyamide 6.6 perform best. Such clamps “feel” normally in the temperature range of -40-+85 degrees, without bursting, cracking or spreading. A good clamp should be elastic. You can check this parameter as follows: take the product and bend it in half. If a crack appears at the bend, stop using such a clamp.

Special guns are available for sale to make the process of arranging clamps simpler and faster.

Prices for cable ties (clamps)

cable ties

Video - Tying reinforcement with clamps

Similar fasteners include metal clips (connectors) for connecting reinforcing bars into a single frame. One end of such a mesh is equipped with a hook, the other with a loop. The diameter of a steel clip is on average 2-4 mm. At the point where the reinforcement is tied, the hook and loop engages the lower steel bar. The middle part of the clamp presses the upper rod to the underlying one.

Tying reinforcement with a paper clip
Clips for tying reinforcement

Good luck!

Video - Knitting reinforcement for the foundation with your own hands

Strip foundations are the most popular in private construction. It is ideal for the construction of small houses, garages, bathhouses and other outbuildings. All construction work can be done with your own hands, and the relatively low consumption of materials and the minimum amount of excavation work can reduce the price and production time. Of course, for everything to go as expected, you need to know how to properly reinforce the foundation.

Before telling you how to properly reinforce a strip foundation, it’s worth saying a few words about the choice of reinforcement.

1. If you need to reinforce the foundation for a one-story or two-story house, as well as lighter buildings, you should take reinforcement with a diameter of 10-24 millimeters. Thicker material will cost too much and its high strength will not be used. Less thick reinforcement may not withstand the load.
2. It is advisable to use special corrugated fittings. It provides a better connection to concrete, guaranteeing its high strength and reliability. The smooth analogue costs a little less, but is not suitable for use due to low adhesion. The only exception is cross connections. The load on them is significantly less.
3. If the soil is homogeneous over the entire area of ​​the foundation, then you can use material with a cross-section of 10-14 millimeters. With heterogeneous soil, the load on the base increases, so it is advisable to invest in rods with a diameter of 16-24 millimeters.

Of course, buying thick corrugated fittings is quite expensive. But if you decide to reinforce the strip foundation with your own hands, then the amount of work is not too large. So, you will have to overpay a maximum of a few hundred rubles - this is fully compensated by the high durability and reliability of the finished structure.

When independently calculating and selecting reinforcement for the reinforcement frame of a strip foundation, there is a high probability of error. In the future, it may cause the destruction of the house, so the best solution would be to order a foundation reinforcement project from a designer, and carry out the binding of the frame yourself according to the drawing.

How much reinforcement is needed?

Before you go to the store to buy material, you need to find out how much it will be needed to reinforce the strip foundation. To do this, you should think in advance which reinforcement scheme for a strip foundation will be the best choice and carry out calculations for a specific object.

An example of frame reinforcement for a foundation

When building small houses, garages and bathhouses, the following frame configuration is usually used:

• 2 belts: upper and lower;
• each belt consists of 3-4 reinforcement rods;
• the optimal distance between the rods is 10 centimeters. Please note that the distance from the reinforcement to the edges of the future foundation should be at least 5 centimeters;
• The connection of the belts is carried out using clamps or pieces of reinforcement at a pitch of 5-30 centimeters, depending on the area of ​​reinforcement.

This scheme is optimal. Now, knowing the dimensions of the future building, it is not at all difficult to carry out the appropriate calculations.

Let's say you want to build a spacious frame or wooden cottage with an area of ​​150 square meters with external walls with a perimeter of 50 meters. Let's carry out calculations based on this. When reinforcing the strip foundation, we use SNiP and the characteristics described above.

We have two belts with three rods in each. Total - 6 multiplied by 50 = 300 meters of main reinforcement. We take into account the number of jumpers, which are laid in increments of 30 centimeters. To do this, divide 50 meters by 0.3. We get 167 pieces. The transverse jumpers in this base will have a length of 30 centimeters, and the vertical ones - 60 centimeters. For vertical jumpers you will need 167x0.6x2=200.4 meters. On horizontal ones - 167x0.3x2=100.2 meters. In total, 300 meters of thick corrugated reinforcement and 300.6 meters of thinner, smooth reinforcement will be required. Having received these numbers, you can safely go to the store for material - a strip foundation without reinforcement will not last long. Some experts recommend taking reinforcement with a margin of 10-15%. After all, a certain amount of material will be needed to strengthen the corner parts of the strip foundation and will be used for joining.

How to knit the frame?

The rules for reinforcing strip foundations force one to abandon the use of welding in favor of knitting, since when welding is used, in the places of welded joints, metal rods lose strength up to 2-2.5 times. In addition, this is where corrosion most often appears, which can damage the reinforcement within a few years, significantly reducing the reliability and durability of the foundation. Only connection by knitting is permissible. This is a rather complicated stage, which will take a lot of time for an inexperienced user. However, a lot here depends on what tool you use.

Reliable knot for tying reinforcement with wire

The classic tool for tying reinforcement in strip foundations is a special crochet hook. Using it, experienced craftsmen can produce up to 12-15 knots per minute (of course, if the knitting wire is prepared and cut in advance). The main advantage of this option is its affordability - a hook can be bought in many stores for a hundred rubles or even cheaper. The downside is that the speed of working with it is not great even for experts. Please note that you will have to make many hundreds of ties even if you have to reinforce small foundations.

Wire and hook for knitting the frame

If you want to finish the job quickly, you can use a special knitting gun. Working with it, even an inexperienced user can easily produce 25-30 knots per minute. That is, productivity will increase at least 2 times. Alas, the cost of such equipment is not low - from 50 thousand and above. In addition, to work with it you need a special wire - a regular one may not be suitable. This further increases the cost. But if you have the opportunity to rent a knitting gun for a few hours or a day, feel free to agree to such an offer, just don’t forget to find out the maximum diameter of the reinforcement that it can tie. Working with high-quality tools, you will spend a maximum of a day assembling the frame - correct reinforcement of the strip foundation becomes much easier and faster. When working manually, this process can take a week or more.

How to make a frame correctly?

Before proceeding with the reinforcement of the strip foundation, drawings of suitable frames should be studied. After all, the strength of the frame determines whether the foundation will serve for many decades or will become covered with cracks in the first spring due to seasonal fluctuations in soil level.

In order not to make mistakes during manufacturing, you need to remember a few rules:

1. The overlap (the distance from the place of knitting to the edge of the rod) should be at least 5 centimeters.
2. At corner joints, perpendicularly running rods must be connected to each other - in no case should you use two separate blocks that are not connected to each other. The ideal solution would be corners made from bent reinforcement - this type of foundation reinforcement scheme is the most reliable. But for this you need to have special equipment; if the reinforcement has a diameter of 14 millimeters or more, smaller diameters can be bent at home.
3. Connections using wire must be tight - if you use a crochet hook, then tighten the wire until it stops so that there is no free space between the clamp and the main reinforcement. Also check with your hand; if the clamp moves when touched, you should make an additional tie with wire.
4. The overlap during reinforcement should be equal to 40-50 diameters of the reinforcement. There must be a separation between adjacent connecting rods and the top and bottom layers, according to the design.
5. The reinforcing frame must stand level in the formwork. It is also necessary to take care of a protective layer of concrete for the reinforcement, done according to the requirements of the drawing. It should be remembered that the minimum protective layer is equal to the diameter of the reinforcement.

Bending of all elements for foundation reinforcement is performed cold. Do not heat the reinforcement under any circumstances, as this will lead to a loss of its strength.

As you can see, the rules are as simple as possible. But some inexperienced builders are unaware or forget about their existence. This leads to the fact that the reinforcement technology of the strip foundation is disrupted and its service life is significantly reduced.

Excavation and preparatory work

One of the advantages of a strip foundation is the relatively small amount of excavation work. A couple of people, working every day with short breaks, can easily dig a pit of a suitable size on normal soil. When the foundation pit is ready, you can begin to arrange it.

The first step is making the foundation cushion. Thanks to it, the negative impact of groundwater on the foundation is reduced, and the load from the foundation itself and the entire building is distributed as evenly as possible over the ground. Here you can use different materials. Most often sand or crushed stone is used. They do their job well - the main thing is that the thickness of the pillow is at least 15-20 centimeters.

But some experts recommend a concrete pad. Yes, it costs the most. Expensive cement and the need to reinforce the cushion greatly increase the cost and time of construction. But as a result, you get the most reliable foundation for the foundation, guaranteeing that it will last for many years. Therefore, we can say with confidence that this money will not be thrown away.

An example of a reinforced strip foundation

If work is carried out on weak, heaving soil, or if you plan to build a heavy brick house, but the use of a monolithic foundation is undesirable for some reason, then you can use a strip foundation with a sole. The widening (glass) can significantly reduce the load on the ground. Of course, do not forget about the reinforcement of the foundation shell - on heaving soils it will regularly withstand significant tensile and bending loads. It is very important to provide it with sufficient strength.

When using a foundation with a sole, the volume of excavation work increases. In addition, you will have to spend additional money on reinforcing the base of the strip foundation - if it fails, this will lead to the rapid destruction of the entire structure.

Formwork is installed on top of the finished cushion. When choosing the width, keep in mind that the finished foundation should be 10-15 centimeters thicker than the external load-bearing walls.

The next step is to install waterproofing. Some builders use roofing felt, but this is a rather expensive material. And the heavy weight makes the installation process difficult. Therefore, it is quite possible to use construction polyethylene. Yes, it is less durable. But it is only needed for a few days - so that the cement laitance does not go into the sand. Therefore, cheap and lightweight polyethylene is quite suitable. It is laid on top of the formwork. At the joints, make a larger overlap - at least 10-15 centimeters - and glue with wide tape.

This concludes the preparatory work. Now we’ll tell you about pouring and reinforcing the foundation with your own hands.

We install the frame, pour concrete

It is best to assemble a frame from reinforcement directly in a prepared pit - this allows the elements to be most firmly fixed. But if we are talking about reinforcing a buried strip foundation or if the pit is too narrow for work to be carried out directly in it, then you can assemble the frame from the outside above the trench, and then carefully lower it into place. Problems usually do not arise here and step-by-step instructions are not needed.

The last and one of the most critical stages is pouring the foundation.

Pouring a strip foundation with a concrete pump

It is advisable to use concrete grade M200 or higher for this. It has high strength to withstand significant loads, and also has sufficient frost resistance.

It should be said right away that the work will require a large amount of material. Carry out all the necessary calculations in advance - you need to pour concrete in one go, avoiding delamination and other separations. Otherwise, the strength of the foundation will significantly decrease, and this will affect the safety of the house. For the same reason, it is advisable to rent a concrete mixer. Today many companies offer such a service. In addition, renting cheap models is relatively inexpensive - less than a thousand rubles per day. If you work intensively during this time, it is quite possible to cope with the work. In addition, the presence of a concrete mixer allows you to increase productivity - you just need to throw in sand, cement and pour in water, soon getting a finished product that just needs to be poured onto the frame installed in the formwork. Working with shovels, such productivity cannot be achieved.

After pouring concrete, you must wait 28 days. During this time, the concrete will gain sufficient strength and it will be possible to begin building a house, garage or bathhouse.

We recommend watching a video where an experienced civil engineer will talk about the important nuances of foundation reinforcement. What should you pay attention to when performing work first, so that the foundation of the house is reliable.

Now you know how to reinforce a strip foundation with your own hands. To do this, it is not at all necessary to have highly specialized skills or buy expensive equipment. It is enough to know, at least in theory, how to reinforce a foundation. Experience will come with the process, and all tools can be replaced with cheap analogues or rented, saving money and time.

The use of reinforcement in the process of tying the foundation can significantly improve its power and strength characteristics. There are several ways to knit reinforcement; we will discuss their features and how to correctly knit reinforcement for a foundation below.

Reinforcement for the foundation of a house: features of selection and calculation

Before you begin directly knitting reinforcement for the foundation, you should first select the materials to perform this process. It is the diameter of the reinforcement for the foundation that directly determines its strength and the rigidity of the frame.

Before purchasing reinforcement, you should determine its relative strength. The ratio between the area of ​​the frame and the foundation is 100% to 0.1%, that is, the reinforcement is 0.001 part of the foundation.

Reinforcement for foundation calculation:

1. For example, it is planned to reinforce a foundation whose width is 25 cm and height 80 cm. In order to calculate the area of ​​the reinforced area, 25 cm x 80 cm = 2000 square centimeters is enough.

2. The resulting number should be multiplied by 0.001 and the minimum cross-sectional diameter of the reinforcement in the foundation will be 2000 x 0.001 = 2 cm.

3. 30 cm of reinforcement must be used per bundle. Each connection consists of four ligaments. Therefore, to determine the amount of reinforcement, you should calculate the number of ligaments and multiply this value by 30 cm.

The use of knitting in the process of manufacturing a reinforced frame for a foundation is explained primarily by the fact that such a connection is more reliable than welding. The seams that are formed during the welding of reinforcement tend to gradually collapse, which means that such a foundation is unreliable and will become unusable after several decades.

The technological process of tying reinforcement is based on connecting reinforcement rods in such a way that they cross each other, are tightened and twisted using pliers.

It is possible to use a special gun, which greatly simplifies the knitting process. When choosing the diameter of reinforcing bars, you should proceed from the following parameters:

• number of floors in the building;
• massiveness of the structure;
• foundation type: shallow or deep;
• quality of concrete, etc.

For the manufacture of fittings, the plant uses special equipment, thanks to which the final product is of high quality and has a long service life.

In relation to the design features, the surface of the reinforcement is of two types:

• corrugated;
• smooth.

For the manufacture of perforated reinforcing bars, a special form is used, due to which a corrugated cross-section in the form of two ribs is formed on their surface; these bars are distinguished by the presence of a round cross-section. Such reinforcement is more durable and resistant to mechanical damage. In addition, reinforcement with a corrugated surface has higher adhesion to concrete during the process of reinforcing the foundation. For the manufacture of such rods, various types of steel are used, the most popular options of which are 35 GS and 25 GS. The strength characteristics of the material change in relation to the class of reinforcement.

In relation to the thickness of the reinforcement, it is also divided into classes, but the diameter of this material averages from 8-25 mm. The maximum length of one rod is 120 cm.

When choosing reinforcement for foundation construction, preference should be given to materials that differ:

• presence of resistance to corrosion;
• excellent adhesion characteristics;
• presence of plasticity;
• high level of strength fatigue.

The reinforcement for strip foundations is selected from class A 2. There are several options for marking this reinforcement:

• A 300;
• A 400;
• A 800;
• A 1000.

The surface of these rods has the appearance of a pigtail, corrugated. These features make it possible to improve its adhesion to concrete. In order to ensure vertical retention of the reinforcement, it is recommended to use hot-rolled type reinforcement. It is distinguished by the presence of a smooth surface.

The optimal diameter of reinforcing bars for standard one- and two-story buildings is about 1-1.5 cm. Auxiliary reinforcement should be at least 0.5-1 cm in diameter.

Please note that only corrugated reinforcement is used as the main part of the frame, and the auxiliary part must be made of smooth reinforcement.

Foundation reinforcement: main types and their features

Composite foundation reinforcement is a non-metallic material used in the process of foundation reinforcement. Among the disadvantages of this material are:

• reduced elasticity qualities, compared to steel, by four times, so this reinforcement is more resistant to bending, and therefore has less possibility of rupture;
• the temperature range of use is no more than 500 degrees; if the heating temperature is higher, the fittings lose their technical characteristics;
• cannot be welded, although some manufacturers install steel tips at the ends of the reinforcement, allowing it to be welded together.

Despite this, composite reinforcement has a large number of advantages, among which the following should be highlighted:

• high tensile strength;
• 8 times lighter than steel;
• the low cost of the material is another advantage, since the cost of composite reinforcement is much lower than metal reinforcement;
• convenience and ease of transportation, this fittings are quite light, so there are no problems with its delivery to the construction site;
• since no metal is used in the manufacturing process of composite reinforcement, it is resistant to corrosion;
• in addition, reinforcement based on composites is not capable of conducting electricity and has low thermal conductivity;
• has a long service life;
• easy to install.

Plastic reinforcement for the foundation is a fairly good option for arranging the foundation for a small building. In addition, the use of this type of fittings will significantly save both money and time resources.

Composite reinforcement, in turn, is divided into two categories:

• fiberglass reinforcement for the foundation;
• reinforcement based on basalt plastic.

Foundation reinforcement diagram: reinforcement of strip foundation

Before starting work, you should decide on the type of reinforcement used to tie the frame. In addition, a foundation pit must already be dug and prepared for the strip foundation. The formwork is also installed before knitting begins.

After the preparatory work, the process of installing vertical rods, which have a smooth surface, follows. The diameter of such rods is about one centimeter. The interval between them is 50-80 cm. Two belts located horizontally are knitted onto these rods. They create the main part of the frame and are the main reinforcing element.

The main purpose of this structure is to retain the overall load from the building, preventing cracking or deformation of concrete. In the process of installing a strip foundation, it is necessary to equip exactly two horizontal belts, however, depending on the load from the building, their size and thickness of each are individually selected. If the maximum width of the foundation is 40 cm, then it is better to perform double reinforcement, that is, use two rods in the lower part and two in the upper to form the belt.

With a larger foundation width, it is necessary to use three rods, one of which is located between the other two. The use of four rods is a rather uncommon option, since to form a more rigid and durable frame, it is enough to choose reinforcement with a larger diameter rather than increase the number of rods.

The height of the vertical rods should be determined based on the immediate height of the foundation itself. The connection of vertical rods with horizontal ones is made in such a way that the vertical rods do not protrude more than 10 cm. Pay special attention to the corner areas. Since they are most susceptible to stress and compression. If corner areas are incorrectly reinforced, the system will lose strength.

Therefore, the rods are never laid to each other at an angle of 90 degrees. They bend and combine into cross ribbons. Each of the rods is overlapped by 25 cm. Thus, the frame will have high strength and will not bend under the weight of concrete.

To further strengthen the corners, reinforcing mesh is used, the cross-section of the cells is 200x200 mm. They are installed at the top and bottom of the foundation, and connections to vertical sections are made every 50 cm.

Installation of the reinforcement cage should be carried out on a previously prepared concrete pad, that is, the bottom of the pit is filled with 6-8 cm of concrete. The cushion helps prevent contact of the reinforcement with the ground, which means the metal will not corrode.

How to knit reinforcement for a foundation manually

In the process of tying reinforcement, a special tool is often used, however, if it is not available, this process can be carried out manually. To knit reinforcement yourself, you will need wire about one millimeter in diameter, pliers or a special hook. It is the last device that will help twist the wire around the reinforcement itself.

It is possible to replace the wire with plastic clamps, however, in this case, it is forbidden to walk on the surface of the reinforced frame while pouring it.

Instructions for tying reinforcement using metal wire:

1. Cut a wire measuring 30 cm. Fold it in half.

2. Wrap the wire around the rods first diagonally and place it on the hook.

3. Install the free end of the wire into the hook.

4. First turn it clockwise until the connection is securely locked. There is no need to pinch the wire so that it does not accidentally break.

If you plan to assemble a frame from reinforcement for a columnar type of foundation, then it is possible to use an exclusively smooth type of reinforcement. Please note that knitting such reinforcement is much more difficult, since the wire constantly slips off. For these purposes, special equipment is used - a knitting gun.

To carry out the tying of reinforcement in a slab foundation, a strength frame is required. For these purposes, it is necessary to use steel reinforcement, the diameter of which is 1.6 cm. It is this that will allow reinforcing the tiles in both the upper and lower parts.

On the lower part of the slab, it is also recommended to use plastic compensators; they will help to evenly distribute the entire load. Please note that the rods should protrude from the frame in the form of allowances that connect the wall and the slab.

How to knit reinforcement to the foundation: methods and technology

To make a hook with which to knit the reinforcement, it is enough to use a regular unnecessary welding electrode or a nail. Any of these materials must be bent into a hook-shaped shape. A nail is more reliable; to bend it you will need to use a screwdriver.

To knit reinforcement, you will need to place the wire in a perpendicular position in two rows. Clamp it with a special device and start crocheting or using a gun-shaped knitting mechanism.

There are two options for knitting guns:

• electric;
• rechargeable.

The principle of their operation is to uniformly wind the wire around the reinforcement. However, the cost of this pistol is too high, so they are not used for one-time use.

The use of knitting rather than welding of reinforcement is primarily due to the fact that during welding the quality of the steel changes and it becomes more brittle. The strength characteristics of the structure deteriorate. To perform reinforcement tying, you must have:

• wire - this element is the most important in this process, since the strength of the connection directly depends on the quality of the wire; for knitting it is recommended to use baked wire with a round cross-section and a diameter of about 1 mm;
• in addition, you will need a hook and plastic clamps; please note that if plastic clamps are used, then such a foundation is not allowed to be left for the winter, since the plastic cracks when exposed to frost;
• plastic bosses must be placed between the surface of the formwork and the reinforcement; the main function of this element is to create a protective layer that will not allow the metal to contact the soil.

If you plan to knit reinforcement on a horizontal surface with virtually no hard-to-reach places, then it is best to use a gun. Its main advantage is the speed of work. In addition, it is possible to use a store-bought crochet hook, however, it tends to rust or break over time.

A very important factor determining the quality of reinforcement tying is the same screed on each section of the frame. Thus, the structure will be more stable and will not deform under the influence of concrete and then the load from the building.

Foundation reinforcement video: