Information
To efficiently divert water away from the house, a special structure needs to be built around it – a blind area. The blind area calculator will help you accurately determine the amount of material needed for this purpose.
For reference:
- the house plans do not affect the amount of material (just specify the dimensions of the building), and they are shown only so that you are not confused by the presence of only one plan
- the area of the waterproofing layer is calculated taking into account the lateral adherence to the foundation
Why is a blind area needed around the house?
First of all, let's clarify: if you need to divert water from a house under construction (or already built), you need a proper and high-quality blind area. What should it be like?
What is the key function of a blind area? Being a waterproof platform (usually about 1 meter wide), the blind area diverts rainwater away from the house. Often, there is a gutter at its end, through which water flows into the drainage system. The blind area itself is usually made of either concrete or paving stones.
What should the blind area be like?
One of the features of a proper blind area is its insulation, which is most often done using extruded polystyrene foam. This insulation provides the blind area foundation with very important qualities – rigidity and strength. But the main task of insulation is to prevent the ground under the blind area from freezing. Otherwise, it will not only lose its decent appearance but also its ability to divert water away from the house. And if you have a basement or a cellar, an insulated blind area will help keep these spaces warm.
Attention! A common mistake in arranging the blind area is improper backfilling. If you have drainage and a membrane is provided, you can use crushed stone for the blind area. However, if you only divert water from the foundation, crushed stone should not be used because it will allow surface water to seep through, which will flood the foundation.
To build a high-quality blind area that will last for many decades and won't require excessive investments in construction, a blind area calculation is necessary, more precisely, a calculation of building materials (concrete, rebar, formwork boards, etc.). The area of materials is also important for planning.
Now, this has become even easier with the help of the blind area calculator.
Blind Area Calculator
First, specify the dimensions of the house: either enter the length and width parameters or the perimeter (if you have this information at hand). Next, proceed to enter the data for the blind area itself. You will need to determine the width and material you will use: concrete or paving stones. After this, by determining the height of the screed, you can optionally calculate other parameters using our calculator: formwork, rebar mesh, insulation, and waterproofing. And, of course, a nice bonus – if you plan to prepare the concrete mix yourself, the program includes a concrete calculator for the blind area. It will help you calculate the parameters – the amount of sand, cement, crushed stone, and water.
If you do not know how to calculate the amount of materials, our calculator will help you accurately determine the volume of necessary resources. For example, to calculate the concrete for the blind area, specify all parameters and get an answer to how much concrete is needed in cubic meters. This will allow you to calculate the volume of cement for the blind area and other materials.
Once you have entered all the necessary data, click the "calculate" button, and the calculation results will instantly appear on the right side of the screen. Now you will see the required amount of concrete (or its components, rebar mesh, formwork boards, waterproofing, and insulation). Use our online construction calculator, it is extremely accurate, free, and absolutely free. Happy building!
