October 06, 2024
There are several ways to build a house without a foundation. The construction of such a foundation will not require large material costs, but, judging by the experience of our ancestors, it will last for decades.
Modern concrete foundations are expensive but reliable structures. However, in the not so distant past, when cement had not yet been invented, people erected buildings in a different way: without a foundation. Or rather, it was, but not the one that is familiar to modern man.
One of the most prefabricated foundations is made of boulders. In terms of reliability and strength, it is not inferior to concrete. But it is economically feasible to build it in those regions where there is no shortage of large boulders. This building material is free, so costs will only be required for its transportation and installation.
It is not difficult to build such a foundation: first, markings are made and the contours of the future foundation are determined. Then they start digging a trench 30-40 cm deep. The largest boulders should be installed at the corner points so that their tops form a horizontal plane. The bottom of the trench is leveled and larger stones are placed on it.
Next, you need to prepare a sand-clay blockage, which is used to seal the cracks between the boulders. The second row is laid out of smaller stones, trying to arrange them so that they form a flat plane. The lower trim is laid with support on the corner boulders. After the house was built, a mound was built, insulated with ash, straw and moss.
A house without a foundation can be built on a waterproofing base made of car tires. They will simultaneously perform two roles: formwork and shock absorbers. These products of the automotive industry must be placed on horizontally leveled soil so that they form a platform corresponding to the size of the foundation.
Next, the top layer of rubber can be cut off from each tire to create a kind of container. But more often, developers prefer to leave the tire as is. Then it is filled with sand, sandstone, and stones. A second layer is placed on top of the first layer of tires. After a few months, under the weight of the building, their contents will be so compacted that they will be as strong as concrete.
As strange as it may sound, it is quite possible even in modern conditions: a building without a foundation, or rather, with an alternative foundation, can last a long time if simple requirements are met during construction.