How many years does a brick house shrink. Shrinkage and other features of new homes

House shrinkage is an inevitable process that begins after the completion of construction.

It happens because the foundations and piles need a certain period to adapt to the huge load of walls, roofs, furniture and people.

The shrinkage of a brick house can last from one to 5 years. This process is influenced by many factors, the main of which are:

  • how long it took to build the house;
  • number of floors;
  • on what soil is the new building;
  • what type of foundation was used to build the house.

On average, most brick houses, shrinkage ends within a year.

House sludge lasts from three to eight years. If there is reliable, dense and dry soil under the house, then in a couple of years you can already trim the walls with expensive tiles, without worrying that it will fall off. But if the soil is soft and filled with groundwater, then you should wait a little longer, at least five years, and first make an internal repair using inexpensive materials.

As for the shrinkage of the house, since the house is built of factory bricks, this structure also gives little shrinkage, because concrete is most susceptible to this problem during the drying process. In general, as far as a brick house is concerned, the main thing here is to pay special attention to the care of the foundation in the process of concreting and drying, as well as the construction of an operating drainage system around the house, which will reduce the impact on the foundation. It also helps to reduce sedimentary phenomena and the construction of a sand cushion under the foundation.

It is more correct to call this process not shrinkage, but settlement - soil compaction under load. Typically, the precipitation process lasts 2-3 years, but this is a very average figure, which strongly depends on the soil and the load from the house. If the sands, then several months. If the soil is rocky or coarse, then there will be no precipitation at all. Clay soils are compacted for a long time, sometimes even more than 10 years, but this is rare. The precipitation is considered complete when its value becomes less than 1 mm per year.

More questions on your topic:

  • Is it possible to install a plastic window if the foundation has sat down and cracks appear on the walls?
  • Reasons for the appearance of sediment at the base of the house
  • Methods for diagnosing sediment
    • Houses made of aerated concrete, expanded clay concrete blocks and bricks
    • Frame houses, timber and timber buildings
  • The reasons for the appearance of uneven settlement, depending on the type of foundations
    • Tape shallow foundations
    • Pile and pile foundations
    • Strip foundations laid below the level of soil freezing
    • Wetland foundations
  • Basic recommendations to avoid uneven settlement of the base of the house

Owners country houses often face cracks and distortions at the base of buildings. They are caused by a process of displacement, called foundation settlement. This is a common phenomenon caused by soil compression.

Settlement of the foundation can lead to cracks or distortion of the entire building structure. To avoid such consequences, you need to calculate the draft.

If you find cracks in your house, you should not panic. The main thing here is to correctly control what is happening and catch the moment when the draft exceeds all permissible norms in time.

Reasons for the appearance of sediment at the base of the house

An important factor on which the degree of foundation settlement directly depends is the composition of the soil. All soils are divided into types, each of which is distinguished by high or low strength. The most durable are rocky soils, mainly consisting of monoliths. The second place is occupied by dispersed soils, which are based on mineral grains of various diameters. These soils are also called incoherent soils because they are unable to retain moisture.

Connected experts call soils that have the ability to absorb and retain liquid. An important component in such soils is clay, which makes them plastic and mobile. Soils of this type have a high swelling rate, which is explained by the freezing of liquid between their particles in the cold season.

The first reason for the occurrence of foundation settlement is the type of soil. Homes built on cohesive soils can be subject to increased and uneven settlement. The second factor that has a great influence on the appearance of cracks and distortions should be considered the structural features of the structure. Additional settlement can occur when there is an uneven load of the walls of the building on the base, due to their different weight: for example, in one half of the house there are many arched openings, in the other, only blank walls are built.

It can affect the degree of precipitation and the process of building the house itself. So, the part of the building, built in summer, will give a draft that is different from that which will be observed during winter construction. If for some reason it is not possible to completely rebuild the building in the summer, and you plan to continue work at other times of the year, experts recommend using lightweight materials for later construction.

Back to the table of contents

Methods for diagnosing sediment

What to do if cracks appear in the walls of the foundation? First of all, it is necessary to determine the process of settlement and monitor them, excluding or revealing expansion. Diagnostic methods can be different and depend on the type of structure and the materials from which it is made.

Back to the table of contents

Houses made of aerated concrete, expanded clay concrete blocks and bricks

To determine the degree of settlement in the walls of the foundation of houses from the above materials, a simple but very effective method is used:

  1. In the place where the crack appears, a layer of plaster is beaten off, and a beacon is placed on the masonry, which is made of cement mortar or tile glue. Usually the lighthouse has the shape hourglass, the bottom and top of which abut the edges of the crack, and the middle runs along its center. It used to be customary to make cement cakes that were simply superimposed on cracks. But this technology did not justify itself: over time, the cakes simply fall off, making it impossible to determine the expansion process.
  2. A special journal should be kept in which observation data should be recorded every 2 months. It is noted whether the lighthouse is cracked or not, the width of the crack is recorded. Even if the size of the crack in the foundation wall has increased to 1.5 or 2 cm, this does not threaten the house collapse.

Based on the observation results, the following actions are carried out:

  1. In 2 months, the width of the cracks in the walls of the foundation increased by 6-10 mm, while the process continues to grow for several months - urgent measures are required to strengthen the base and ground structures of the building.
  2. In 1 year, the cracks reached 1.5-2 cm, while no attenuation of the process is observed - it is necessary to strengthen the walls and foundation.
  3. For 1 year, the crack size increased slightly (from 1 to 5 mm). If then stabilization of the process is observed, no additional action is required. In the case of an increase in the size of damage within 3-5 years from the beginning of observations, reinforcement of structures will be required.
  4. The lighthouse is slightly cracked (no more than 0.5 mm), while the size of the crack has not changed - this is a common phenomenon due to temperature changes.

Back to the table of contents

Frame houses, timber and timber buildings

Typically, timber buildings are considered the least sensitive to a process such as foundation settlement. But, despite this, it can also appear here with skewed windows, floors or doors. At the same time, the process does not lead to the collapse of the house, if during the construction the beams were securely fastened with nails.

Cracks appearing in the walls of the foundation wooden house, can be controlled in the same way as in brick houses, that is, by installing a beacon. But you can do without it. So, it is enough just to regularly measure the size of the damage. For example, if the dimensions of the crack do not exceed 30-40 mm per 10 m of the length of the foundation and there is no visual distortion of the building, there is nothing to worry about.

The appearance of a columnar base sediment requires more careful attention. The slope of each pillar must be measured. The pillars can gradually collapse, which over time will lead to the destruction of the house. If a defect is identified, you will need to change the foundation. A good option in this case is a steel pile base.

Back to the table of contents

Reasons for the appearance of uneven settlement, depending on the type of foundations

Often upsetting the walls of the base country house, leading to the appearance of deformations and cracks, arises from errors during construction work. Wherein great importance have. It is required to eliminate the results of errors, taking into account the possibilities and rules of operation of this or that type of foundation.

Back to the table of contents

Tape shallow foundations

The following factors can affect the integrity:

  • small thickness of the sand cushion (when frost swelling occurs, the forces act not on the sand, but directly on the foundation);
  • the drainage of the sand cushion is not equipped (accumulating moisture leads to the subsidence of the base);
  • poor-quality reinforcement of the foundation;
  • inhomogeneity of the density of the pillow under the base;
  • silting up of a sand cushion, leading to strong swelling.

If deformation of the walls of the shallow strip base is observed, the following measures must be taken:

  • if a high level of soil water is detected, a high-quality drainage system and a blind area with insulation should be arranged;
  • reinforce the beams of a wooden house with nails, and the base and walls of a brick house with steel ties;
  • with a high degree of deformation of the foundation, rearrange the building on the pile foundation. In the case of a slight deformation, you can limit yourself to observations. Typically, the settlement of these foundations quickly stabilizes.

Back to the table of contents

Pile and pile foundations

The causes of damage to steel and reinforced concrete pile foundations are as follows:

  • the lateral surface of the piles is tangentially affected by frost swelling forces;
  • the sole under the base of the piles has a non-uniform structure;
  • low or poor quality reinforcement;
  • the base of the piles is installed above the level of soil freezing;
  • the foundation of the grillage is soil with a high swelling index.

To fix problems, you need to take the following measures:

  • to carry out insulation of the foundation and arrangement of the insulated blind area;
  • dig up the soil around the piles and replace it with a mixture of coarse sand and gravel or crushed stone, then coat the piles with grease, wrap it with a layer of dense polyethylene and bury it again;
  • in places of subsidence of the base, install several additional piles;
  • remove old piles, put new ones and connect them with a grillage;
  • increase the distance between the ground and the grillage or insulate the blind area.

Pile foundations are damaged when they are affected by the following factors:

  • heterogeneity of the base under the piles;
  • high frictional force of the upper soil layer with high highly compressible characteristics.

To fix the problems, you should take the following actions:

  • install additional piles in the place of subsidence of the base of the house;
  • exclude the addition of soil on the territory next to houses by more than 10-15 cm;
  • do not equip in the immediate vicinity of the construction sites and parking lots with concrete slabs.

Back to the table of contents

Strip foundations laid below the level of soil freezing

In the case of arrangement of deeply buried strip foundations, the causes of damage and deformation may be as follows:

  • incorrectly installed, due to which the load of the base exceeds the permissible norms;
  • the foundation was laid at a depth less than the level of soil freezing;
  • frost swelling forces act on the side surface of the base;
  • the foundation is poorly reinforced and not equipped with special anti-settling belts;
  • the building is not used all year round, due to which it freezes in the winter season.

Problems are corrected by taking the following measures:

  • around the foundation;
  • expansion of the sole of the base;
  • as a backfill, replace ordinary soil with non-porous soil;
  • reinforce the walls and foundations;
  • regularly heat the house during the winter season.

are assembled from industrially manufactured reinforced concrete structures. Thanks to the world's largest production base created in the USSR, the indisputable advantage of panel houses is their low cost.

Mass production

imposes restrictions on designers who are forced to proceed from the nomenclature base of products of precast concrete factories. Therefore, standard blocks dominate in the layouts of panel houses. Fixed are the heights of the ceilings, the sizes of windows, bathrooms, and so on. Both external and internal walls are load-bearing. Therefore, the possibilities of redevelopment in such houses are much more modest than in monolithic ones. But, if you are not very confused by the lack of free planning in a panel house, in return you will receive the best price per square meter, savings on the construction of walls, and a tight repair schedule.

Shrinkage of a panel house

In the production of reinforced concrete structures, tolerances are initially laid, which during assembly turn into seams. And the shrinkage of a panel house is the largest in multi-storey construction. In this case, cracks are often formed, mainly along the seams, between the slabs. The main shrinkage completion period is two years. However, for many panel houses, this stage is delayed indefinitely. Showers and toilet blocks in such houses, unfortunately, are sometimes still made of slate sheets. Such partitions must be changed immediately, since the degree of their subsequent deformation is incompatible with life, that is, with high-quality tile laying.

Monolithic-frame new buildings

are a cast concrete structure lined with brick or brick-wall panels on the facade. Monolithic house does not have joint gaps typical for panel houses. The concrete frame provides increased strength and service life for over a century! The "seamless" design provides good sound and thermal insulation. The thinness of floors and walls reduces the total mass of the house by up to 20%, which has a beneficial effect on the behavior of the foundation.

free layout

Internal partitions in apartments of such houses are installed either partially or not at all. The principle of free planning is that none inner wall is not a carrier. Therefore, the owners of such apartments can show great ingenuity in choosing the interior layout, the number of rooms, bathrooms and even apartment levels.

Uniform shrinkage

Shrinkage monolithic house minimal and uniform. This is ensured by the high strength of the frame, the soil can sag under the monolith, but the house itself does not give significant deformations. Therefore, repairs in a monolithic new building can be started almost immediately after purchase.

But..

However, in practice, there are unfortunate exceptions. Shrinkage would have been uniform if it were not for the complex geological basis of our Moscow area. And also the peculiarities of our construction: the mystical composition and consistency of concrete, a free schedule of its delivery and pouring, the magic hands and heads of Central Asian builders ... In short, there are monolithic houses that behave completely differently from a monolith, and as we expect, repairmen ... However, there is no reason for sadness: there are individual solutions for such objects.

Brick houses

currently, they can be classified as exclusive buildings. Unfortunately, they are being built less and less, since the construction time is long and the cost is high. But in terms of sound and thermal insulation properties, they may be better than a monolith with multilayer external walls. According to our observations brick houses built better than the others, either because of the high cost, or because of departmental affiliation.

Since a brick house is heavy, it has special foundation requirements. This is true for low-rise construction, and even more so for apartments. And in general, the quality of a brick house depends more on the conscientiousness of the builders than any other. Here it is "easier" to get curved walls, differences between ceiling slabs, etc.

In a brick house, as in a monolith, there are no joints between the panels. This may turn out to be a disadvantage: if cracks appear, they do not always go along the corners and joints. On brick wall you can also see diagonal cracks.

Buying an apartment in a new building or becoming the happy owner of a private house, you want to start interior decoration as soon as possible, so that the house will finally acquire a cozy look and become comfortable for living. But experts warn: do not rush and buy decoration Materials... Why? Because the building has to go through one more stage - shrinkage. All structures, without exception, are subject to this process. It is based on interaction physical properties materials and environment... That's when the structure is settled, the shrinkage of the house will stop, the decoration will justify the money and effort spent. In a hurry, residents run the risk of wasting time and money, because finishing materials may become unusable under the influence of internal deformation of the house structure.

After what period of time you can go from a rough repair to a real one, you can find out a thorough one by finding out the features of shrinkage in different types of houses, taking into account the influence of factors. If everything was calculated and made correctly, then the shrinkage will take place practically without affecting the used tiles, wallpaper, laminate. The owners do not have to dismantle the raised floors and find the tiles that have broken off the wall.

Shrinkage is a natural process for new buildings. The foundation and piles must be adjusted to the weight of the floors and walls. In addition, if the house is an apartment building, then you need to take into account the weight of everything that residents bring inside. Development companies include the time required for final stabilization of the structure in the project plan. What factors influence the degree of building shrinkage? This is a whole list of criteria based on research results:

  • feature of the soil in the selected area (on solid soils, the process ends faster than on moving ones);
  • type of foundation;
  • ground water level.

In a new home, the process can take from 2 to 6 years. On average, a building adapts in 2-3 years. It should be borne in mind that the greater the weight of the structure, the more difficult the process is. A brick structure will adapt worse than a cellular concrete structure, which has much less weight.

Shrinkage of a brick-monolithic house

What is the shrinkage of a wooden house

When can you start repairing and finishing

The desire to tidy up the living space is more than understandable. A rough finish does not add comfort. However, no matter how strong the desire to take on repairs, hold back your emotions and financial resources. Construction experts strongly recommend waiting at least 2 winter periods. During this time, the active part of the house shrinkage process will pass and further finishing will not suffer, or will take place with minimal losses.

In the process of shrinkage, the floors and walls are slightly displaced relative to the original geometric shape. It is impossible to determine these changes by eye, but it is quite enough to deform the finishing materials on the walls, floor and ceiling.

How is it shown? For example, ceramic tiles crack or come off in the kitchen or bathroom. Cracks may appear in the tile joints in the same premises. Wallpaper may fall behind, paint and plaster on the ceiling and walls may crack and crumble. The consequence of shrinkage will be the "excitement" of laminate and parquet panels. The openings of windows and doors are sagging.

The conclusion suggests itself: until the building shrinkage has passed, it is better to spend money exclusively on cosmetic repairs.



Shrinkage may cause cracks in floor tiles

Is it still possible to make a solid interior decoration? Even experienced master finishers will not give a 100 percent guarantee. If you really want to, then as a way out, experts suggest using materials that have a sufficient degree of elasticity to transfer the changing geometry of surfaces, these include:

  • stretch ceiling;
  • vinyl tiles;
  • non-woven or liquid wallpaper;
  • special plasters with elastic effect.

If the type of building allows a small percentage of deformation, then the materials used in the decoration can adapt to the displacement of surfaces and maintain the quality of the coating. "Gutta-percha" finishing will cost more than usual, therefore, before deciding on an experiment, it is worth weighing your possibilities.

When purchasing a home with finishing made by the developer, also prepare yourself for renovation in a few years. However, by that time, the active phase of shrinkage has already been passed, and you can safely use the materials you like.



Shrinkage of the foundation can contribute to cracking of gas silicate masonry

Features of shrinkage in different types of houses

Shrinkage of a house is a change in the geometric parameters of building elements due to the drying out of the materials from which they were made. This process must be taken into account when erecting a structure, since it is natural and it is impossible to do without it. With competent calculations, shrinkage will take place harmoniously and without consequences for the structure.

Settlement of the building, with which shrinkage is sometimes confused, on the contrary, is not natural and signals the instability of the soil in the selected area or the weakness of the foundation. Settlement can cause not only cracking of walls, but even their collapse.

The degree of shrinkage of the building directly depends on the material chosen for the construction. Wood buildings are considered the most problematic in terms of shrinkage. Concrete, foam blocks and bricks are also subject to this process, but not in such a pronounced form.

House type Main shrinkage period Features of the course
Panel 2-3 years
  • at the core - reinforced concrete structures factory production;
  • during construction, the tolerances for assembly seams are initially taken into account;
  • the final shrinkage is the longest of all, it can stretch indefinitely;
  • most often cracks are formed along the joints between tiles.
Monolithic-frame 1 year
  • the basis is a cast seamless concrete structure, lined with panels or bricks;
  • the thickness of the floors and walls is small - the weight of the structure is less than in other options. The load on the foundation is evenly distributed;
  • subject to construction technologies, the minimum shrinkage period.
Brick 3-4 to 5-6 years old
  • refers to heavy structures, makes special requirements for the foundation;
  • there are no seams between the panels;
  • if the technology is violated, during shrinkage it gives cracks not only at the joints and corners, but also diagonal on the walls;
  • the shrinkage process is uneven.


Deformations in concrete floor slabs

Panel

Shrinkage of a panel house occurs on average per year. The changes are so noticeable that the rough coating can in no way hide the traces of deformation. It is recommended to use coatings for the first repair, which can then be easily dismantled - laminate or linoleum. Most of the shrinkage can be quite noticeable in relation to the change in the geometry of the planes of the walls, floor and ceiling. The result can be noticeable cracks and distortions in the area of \u200b\u200bcorners and tile joints. The slabs themselves remain unharmed. Very often, after shrinkage, apartment owners have to think about the need to level the floor. Ideally, of course, it is better to wait at all with the repair before the active stage of shrinkage passes. It may not be so comfortable, but financial losses will be minimal.



Brick

In production building materials the technology includes the so-called shrinkage protection. Therefore, if the shrinkage has a significant percentage, this signals the low quality of the material, or the violation of the standards by the builders during the construction of the building.

At the production stage, the brick goes through a drying procedure, due to which the percentage of moisture in the product is reduced to zero. This means that further evaporation, which could lead to material shrinkage, is excluded. Concrete does not hold water in itself. In this case, freezing in the cold season or improper distribution of the load within the structure may become the cause of shrinkage. If the building was erected in the autumn-winter period, there is a high probability that the materials may get wet, and after being saturated with moisture, they will freeze. As a result, moisture inside cracks and pores turns into ice, which tends to expand. This can lead to severe external cracks.

Another disadvantage of brick buildings is the large number of seams. These gaps, if the masonry was of insufficient quality, can accumulate moisture inside itself, which, under the influence of temperature changes, will expand or decrease. The porosity of a brick, in comparison with other types of building materials, is its advantage and disadvantage at the same time. When building brick houses, builders must be very careful to ensure that all gaps are minimal and well designed. The degree of shrinkage of a brick house in comparison with a wooden one is minimal, but it will take 3-4 years in duration.



A crack in the ceiling is the first sign that a building is shrinking.

Monolithic-frame

At the heart of a monolithic-frame structure is a supporting frame, made not using welding, but made using vertical columns. This is a solid system in which the frame is assigned the role of support for the structure as a whole. With this approach to construction, the risk of cracking is minimized.

Shrinkage in monolithic houses is minimal compared to other types of buildings, since the one-piece structure qualitatively distributes the load on the foundation, due to which shrinkage occurs evenly. For people living in the house, the changes are almost imperceptible compared to a brick building. However, there may be soil subsidence under the monolith. In this case, a strong frame protects the building from significant deformations. This makes it possible to carry out repair work in a new building almost immediately.

True, if sufficient geological and geodetic studies were not carried out or there were serious violations in the construction technology, then even a monolithic structure is capable of showing unusual miracles of shrinkage.

The consequences of the shrinkage of a brick-monolithic house

Factors affecting shrinkage

It has already been mentioned that the shrinkage of the foundation of a house is a natural and logical phenomenon. The degree of its severity is influenced by external and internal factors. Taking into account their influence on the structure, you can further prevent unwanted manifestations.

External

The group of external factors includes the mobility of the soil - the uneven occurrence of soil layers leads to the fact that the movement at different ends of the building may differ. There are several types of this factor:

  • depth of soil freezing - it is not the soil itself that freezes, but the moisture in it. When water freezes, it causes the soil to shrink, and when it comes time to melt, it begins to expand. The soil around the foundation swells and begins to squeeze it. With a significant degree of freezing, the foundation lies at a great depth, since it must be laid deeper than the soil freezes. Accordingly, the shrinkage will be longer. In addition, the degree of freezing affects the strength of the foundation, because periodic squeezing leads to the gradual destruction of the base of the house;
  • depth of groundwater - moisture has a serious effect on the foundation of a building, but the degree of its influence is not the same. The blind area protects the upper part of the foundation from water, but the lower part is located underground. Despite the fact that rainwater also penetrates into the ground, the main impact comes from groundwater. Due to the difference in humidity, the foundation may shrink in the lower and upper parts in different ways over time. If the groundwater is close to the surface, drain the foundation to reduce moisture exposure;
    • horizontal - displacement leads to a tilt of the foundation to the sides;
    • vertical - here the movement of layers is characterized by upward or downward displacement. The foundation either falls through or is pushed out;
    • mixed mobility can displace the base of a building both vertically and horizontally. To reduce mobility and stabilize the soil, the foundation is installed on a foundation cushion of rubble, sand and concrete;
  • climatic conditions - the territory of our country is characterized by a humid climate, clay and sandy loam soils, as well as low temperatures. The soil freezes deeply, which must be taken into account when building a foundation. Failure to comply with construction technology can lead to serious deformation of the building during shrinkage;
  • time of year - you should not build a foundation in spring or autumn, when there is a lot of rain and the soil is saturated with moisture. This is especially important if further freezing is possible, which will negatively affect the integrity of the foundation.
Scheme for sealing a crack near a brick wall

Internal

  • expansion and contraction of building materials. Due to the temperature difference, substances expand or contract. In the case of the foundation of a building, there is an impact from both sides. Temperature affects the foundation itself and the soil in which it is submerged. So that this physical deformation does not harm the structure, expansion joints are made in the foundation;
  • moisturizing and drying materials. The main process causing shrinkage is drying of building materials. When moisture evaporates, the structure of the building becomes lighter, decreases in volume. If the materials get wet, then, on the contrary, swelling occurs, weight and volume increase. Shrinkage lasts exactly as long as required for maximum moisture evaporation, then the materials acquire maximum strength. The speed of the process will directly depend on the air temperature and humidity;
  • the quality of the materials used - the foundation bears a heavy load, therefore the materials at its base must meet all the requirements and construction standards. Stamps, fractions should be used only those that are prescribed in the regulatory documents. The quality of the building structure will depend on the clarity of the technology.

The foundation must stand before the building itself is erected. Otherwise, the shrinkage process will continue under the influence of the walls and load-bearing structures... As a result, some areas will sag, cracks will form on the walls and foundation. If the deformation is too strong, the house can simply collapse.

Based on the above, we can conclude: the shrinkage of a house is a natural process, but not always subject to warranty periods. Its course is greatly influenced by internal, external groups of factors, as a result of which one and the same construction technology may give different results. Moreover, in addition to the quality of the walls and floors, the properties of the foundation and how competently it was executed are very important. Did the builders take into account the type of soil mobility, did they measure the depth of the groundwater flow? Has drainage been taken care of for the foundation and how good is the foundation pad? There are many nuances, so in order for the finishing to become a timely event, it is worth making sure that the house is built in accordance with all applicable standards.

Video

Describes in detail what problems can be encountered when the building shrinks.

Photo with options for problems that may arise when a building shrinks

What threatens the shrinkage of an apartment building.






Buying an apartment in a newly built house is a pleasant event in the life of every person, which is nevertheless overshadowed by the need to make repairs, but do not rush to start repair work, as a brick house will shrink for several years.

This suggests that during shrinkage, the walls of the structure can deform and deteriorate. interior decorationtherefore, experts do not recommend using expensive facing materials in new homes. If you decide to buy an apartment in a new brick building, then you need to know some of the subtleties and nuances of shrinkage. This is a fairly important process that must be taken into account during the construction of a high-rise building.

First of all, it should be recalled that brick houses weigh a lot, so they put a lot of stress on the foundation, which must be strong and massive. The process of subsidence of the foundation lasts about ten years. The duration and consequences of shrinkage are influenced by numerous factors: soil type, total weight of the structure, number of storeys of the building and much more. In modern days, you rarely find houses completely built of brick, since this is a fairly expensive building material.

Most often, walls are erected from bricks, which put great pressure on the foundation and it is forced to sag. To minimize this process, you should carefully consider each step, and also take into account all the seams and dressings in order to prevent cracking of the walls. Today, there are two types of shrinkage process: as a result of expansion or contraction of building materials, which occurs due to temperature changes, as well as due to excessive moisture or drying out of the material.

In order to avoid cracks before building a house, you will need to use the services of a professional surveyor who will help you determine the most suitable land for construction. In order to reduce the percentage of deformations due to drying out of the building material, it is necessary to carry out high-quality sealing of the joints. It should be noted that any high-rise brick house will in any case be subject to a shrinkage process.

In panel and monolithic buildings, the shrinkage process is uniform and predictable, while in brick buildings this process is difficult to predict and impossible to control. In this case, it all depends on the experience and reliability of the developer. So, for brick houses, it is necessary to lay a massive and high-strength foundation that needs reinforcement. All surfaces must be flat, for which solid slabs are used.