I decided not to insulate the foundation! My arguments why you shouldn't do this this year.

Three rules for a shallow foundation: pillow, drainage, and insulated blind area. What if the last criterion didn't work?

When, in late autumn, I finished the work on the roof, the next task was to insulate the foundation and make a blind area.

But in the case of a self-builder, it so happens that other, life concerns arise, and somehow everything is postponed ...

It is already the beginning of February, and only the filling of the blind area with sand has been made.

In my region, this year, throughout the so-called winter, the temperature dropped to at least "-7" degrees, and this is at night. And then, these days can be counted on one hand... The rest of the time was above zero.

And it seems that spring is coming soon, and they don't promise severe frosts. So you start to wonder, is it worth rushing with the insulated blind area, or while focusing on something else?

There is drainage and sand cushion.

In my opinion, this is already a great advantage.

• Looking into the inspection wells of the drainage system, it is clear that the groundwater level is somewhere at a meter depth.

• The height of the sand cushion is about 400 mm.

Together - this should no longer allow the base under the house to swell from frost.

Loaded foundation.

Weight also matters.

If there was only one foundation, then the probability of its movement from frost would be much higher. And so under the mass of the house, the frost still needs to "try".

Temperature!

It is clear that there is a difference between the temperature "-5" and "-30". The speed and time of freezing depends on this.

To find out everything exactly, calculations are needed. Sample tables can be found on the Internet.

Of course, it still depends on the type of soil, the region, the presence of snow and, probably, something else ...

But even approximately, it can be seen, that for freezing at least 20 cm, at -10 it takes about a week in a row. And this, I have not seen yet, this year. 😁

Snow cover.

This plays a big role. I wrote an article about how our city was covered with snow overnight. And everything around was covered with snow, "natural insulation" about 300 mm thick.

Of course, it is not known how long it will last, but as long as there are frosts, snow protects my house.

In the end, while everyone is on my side.

Warming can be postponed until a convenient moment

And I hope that the end of winter will not bring any special surprises, so that we do not have to urgently insulate everything.

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