Optimum height of the base above the ground can be evaluated, having added 10 cm to the average level of snow cover which was observed in this area the last several years. The base towering above the ground interferes with soaking of walls during thaw or rain and also compensates shrinkage of soil under the weight of walls.
What does base height influence?
Height of the base is especially important for wooden house, rotting of the lower wreath is eternal problem of constructions from log or bar. The distance between soil and floor affects heat-insulating characteristics of subfloor and durability of overlapping that is fair for the column, continuous and pile footing.
The high socle or the base towering above the ground and performing its functions protects fine finish of the house from mechanical damages when cleaning snow and other domestic works. The above the concrete bed of floor is over ground level, the less there will be heat leakages in the lower part of the house. However it is necessary to remember that elevated part should not be higher underground, otherwise the design will not be steady. If you have decided to build separate socle, then in terms of durability the integral tape of the base wins in comparison with design "base-socle-wall".
Minimum height of the base
According to the requirement Construction Norms and Regulations the minimum height of the base above the ground has to be not less than 20 cm, however in practice this rule is used only in case of the monolithic plate lying in the basis at home. The minimum in 35-40 cm is considered reasonable, in most cases continuous footings rise by such height. The plate base is constructed most often on weak or puchinisty soil, its height for the two-storeyed house from bar, gas concrete or vulture panels can be about 20 cm. For easy single-storey building there will be enough durability of the reinforced plate 10 cm high. If the three-storyed mansion is under construction of corpulent brick, height of the base has to be not less than 35-40 cm. At construction of the pile base of pile have lower than frost depth, at the same time they lean on rigid base. Level at which there is this basis, is defined by means of geological researches. If continuous footing is built, then recommend to choose depth of underlay of 0.5 m at the level of freezing of nepuchinisty soil less than 2 m or slabopuchinisty — less than 1 m. When frost depth of nepuchinisty soil is 2-3 m, and slabopuchinisty — less than 1.5 m, continuous footing is laid on depth of 0.75 m. If slabopuchinisty soil freezes through on 1.5-2.5 m, and puchinisty - more than on 3 m, house footing is constructed at depth of 100 cm.