Soft blind area around the house: how to inexpensively make a path with your own hands

A soft blind area is a path around a building that protects the foundation from stagnant water and extends its life. The flexible structure looks like a covering of decorative stone, paving slabs or soil with lawn grass, located around the perimeter of the house. Unlike concrete paths, the product is not prone to cracking or splitting. Novate.ru will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of the blind area, as well as how to build them correctly with your own hands.

Advantages and disadvantages of the blind area

The soft blind area does not need to be poured with concrete, use tiles or a reinforced belt / Photo: arhzavod.ru

The flexible structure consists of several layers and performs the following functions: drainage of water from the building, insulation of the foundation, strengthening of the base and aesthetic decoration of the facade. The soft blind area does not need to be poured with concrete, use tiles or a reinforced belt.

Advantages:

1. The design tolerates temperature changes well.

2. The material does not "shrink" and does not spoil the base of the building.

3. The soft track does not need to be constantly repaired.

4. During installation, the structure can be supplemented with a special membrane in order to improve the hydro and thermal insulation of the blind area, and to increase frost resistance.

5. The structure can only be used for decorative purposes, scattering colored stones on the surface, organizing a flower bed or planting grass.

6. It is easy to make a soft blind area with your own hands.

Disadvantages:

1. Weed grass constantly breaks through the pebbles, so the structure needs regular maintenance.

2. Pebbles quickly get dirty from dust and rain, so periodically the path should be washed, for example, with a hose.

3. Choose only high-quality materials without impurities, otherwise the blind area will last much less and will not be able to fulfill its main functions.

What the soft blind area consists of

First of all, make the markings and prepare the area. The blind area should protrude 15-30 cm beyond the cornice and be at least 60 cm wide. If the soil is unstable, then a whole meter. The average depth is 10-30 cm.

The design diagram resembles a pie:

1. The first layer is oily clay, 15-20 cm thick. Be sure to level it after installation, making a slope of 30-50 mm / m, and tamp it well.

2. The second layer is waterproofing made of PVC film, roofing material or polyethylene membrane. The material should be 15-20 cm wider than the first layer. Waterproofing sheets are overlapped to the wall using glue or battens. So when freezing, the material will not deform. If you live in a cold region, add a layer of expanded polystyrene sheet insulation.

3. The third layer is sand, 5-10 cm thick, covered with geotextiles. This will help protect the structure from chemicals and plant roots. Geotextiles are also attached to the wall along with waterproofing.

4. The fourth layer is crushed stone, 10-15 cm thick. The outer layer is also grooved for drainage and drainage. Crushed stone can be covered with pebbles, gravel, decorative cobblestones, and decorated with paving slabs. In this case, the bulk material must be covered with a geotextile layer and covered with sand. If the rubble is above the ground, install curb tiles.

Installation of flexible structure

1. Remove the topsoil about 20-30 cm deep and 60-100 cm wide.

2. Fill in and tamp down a layer of clay.

3. Cover the area with waterproofing material, attaching one edge to the wall and the other to the ground.

4. Add a layer of sand.

5. Cover the loose material with geotextile so that it does not mix with the gravel.

6. Fill in a layer of rubble.

7. Lay another geotextile layer and sprinkle with sand on top.

8. Decorate the blind area.

How to avoid mistakes during installation

1. Do not make the blind area too narrow, otherwise moisture will accumulate under the foundation. If there is a roof overhang, the structure should be wider in this area.

2. Due to a violation of technology, puddles may form on the blind area. Be sure to slope and do not forget about drainage trays to remove water from the structure.

3. Do not neglect insulation, in particular on heaving soil. Prolonged frosts, and then a thaw, negatively affect the blind area, making it uneven. As a result, the foundation can crack and begin to collapse.

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4. Be sure to waterproof a flexible structure. Gravel the top layer, plant a lawn, make a flower bed, or lay out tiles. Materials pass water well and does not allow it to linger under the foundation.

A soft blind area is a simple and budgetary way to protect the foundation from moisture. It is easy to do it yourself, and over time you can dismantle and install a concrete curb instead. The main thing is to follow the technology and buy quality materials. We also recommend reading about 5 options for how to equip a home smokehouse in the country.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/220321/58279/

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