I have a simple question for an expert!
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After working hard for a few years, I’ve saved a little money and want to build a two-story building. The surface area of the foundation is approximately 180 square meters. But I am in an ancient riverbed stratum, with a thick layer of soft sand in the foundation. How deep should I dig the foundation? What structure to use? How much will it cost approximately? How long is the construction period? How high is a good height? Thank you! ! !
I think this is because the site where the house is to be built lies on ancient riverbed strata, with thick layers of soft sand in the foundation area; it’s not possible to determine exactly how deep these soft sand layers extend. According to the requirements, it is necessary to dig down to the harder soil layers that provide better support, so I recommend using pile foundations. Alternatively, the loose sand foundation can be strengthened using explosive compaction methods if needed. Since it is a two-story building, using a frame structure results in relatively high costs; therefore, a brick-concrete structure is more appropriate, with costs around 200,000 yuan. The construction period is approximately 2 to 3 months, with a recommended ceiling height of 3 to 3.5 meters. It’s just my personal opinion; I hope everyone can offer their feedback.
I remember there was a tower that was an ancient structure; its foundation was dug out into the shape of a large pot, which was then filled with rammed earth made from clay and ash, upon which the tower was built. It’s as if it were built on a ship; over the years, there have been no problems with the foundation, and as time passed, people forgot about them. The methods used by our ancestors can serve as a reference. (For reference)
What I would like to ask is about the current condition of the groundwater in this area. The level of the groundwater table affects the design of the foundation. If, as you said, the ground consists of sand at present, that’s fine; but if it’s silt, things get more complicated. Since it’s only a two-story building, it’s sufficient to design it in accordance with seismic requirements. From an economic perspective, a mixed structure would be a good option. It’s essential to include structural columns and ring beams as required. If budget permits and considering the possibility of adding more floors in the future, it’s better to design it as a frame structure using a raft foundation.
It would be better to have experts go and conduct an on-site inspection before formulating a plan. When it comes to building houses, things vary from one region to another; everything is different, and even the estimates can differ significantly.
It’s an ancient riverbed; it’s very dry now, with no silt at the bottom~~ Even two-story buildings need to be designed to withstand earthquakes~~? The situation in Hebei is quite stable, so generally no one thinks about this aspect~ Hiring someone also costs money~~ Thank you to everyone who commented above!
Go back upstairs – installing ring beams and structural columns will only bring benefits to you. Some people in the rural areas here build their houses in this way without thinking carefully about it, and problems arise even before reaching the second floor; cracks of varying degrees appear at the four corners. This is largely due to the construction party’s negligence, as the cracks are quite severe. Additionally, the materials used are of poor quality and do not meet the minimum standards. I was asked to help find a solution, but that ended up costing more money.
Inspired by the Wenchuan earthquake, I suggest that the original poster build a small 2-story building with a steel structure. In addition to the base fee, money is required to drive piles down. Walls can save a lot of money. I did the calculations when I had time: when building a house with a steel structure and using hollow bricks for the walls, it’s possible to save around 20% on costs, and the construction period is also shorter. The columns are made of 250 H-beams, the main beams are also H-beams, along with diagonal bracing. Channel steel No. 14 is used as a secondary beam. The original poster can calculate it by themselves.
H-beams are 6 meters long each, which is exactly the height of 2 floors. It’s possible to achieve a span of 6 meters, which is exactly the width of two rooms; of course, you can also create a living room with dimensions of 6*6 meters – that would be quite impressive. In the Wenchuan earthquake, even if it shook twice, your house wouldn’t collapse.
If I had money and land, I would build my own small two-story building with a steel structure; haha, the problem is that I don’t have any land.
I think the foundation is still very important; those who have conducted surveys for building construction in the area can use that as a reference, otherwise it’s hard to determine just how deep to dig. For two-story buildings, people usually build them on their own and rarely consider seismic resistance. In rural areas, the structural approach is likely to be a masonry structure; after all, it’s only two stories, and cost considerations come into play, plus the materials are probably more readily available
The two most important things are safety and comfort. When building a house by oneself, it is even more important to pay attention to this. It is best to avoid using steel structures in residential construction. Can the quality of welding be ensured, and how can the quality of the steel be guaranteed? Corrosion prevention of steel materials~~~~~
Simply put, do it yourself – there’s no need to hire a geological exploration and design firm. Drive pile piles at intervals of 3 meters apart (piles with a diameter of 250 mm or 300 mm, similar to utility poles); use a 1-ton ram commonly used in rural areas, and keep ramming until it can no longer move the piles. The ground floor is of brick-concrete structure, with insulation boards 60–80 mm thick covering the walls; the roof has insulation boards 100 mm thick, resulting in good energy-saving effects. Seismic resistance. Just for sharing.
I’m confused just by reading your question. Does the person who builds the device still face these problems when creating a little nest for themselves? No matter which construction company you hire to build you a steel structure building, the quality will be guaranteed; all aspects such as corrosion resistance, welding, and the quality of materials are taken into account. If they can’t even build the building properly, what else can they do? Unless you don’t look for legitimate companies and instead seek unregulated ones. Hehe, isn’t that big pair of shorts from CCTV made of steel structure?
The soft sand layers in the ancient riverbeds are quite thick, and the underlying bedrock cannot be found; therefore, sand cushions and concrete pumps are used for compaction to create ring beams, and problems arise in both 10-story and 8-story buildings.