Setting Out

How to Start?
2
Drawing Guide Lines for
Excavation
4poles and 4 pegs hold the strings to
demarcate the excavation for the
foundation
3
Set the Outer Dimension of
the Building
4
Draw the Lines for the
Outer Foundations
5
Draw the Lines for the
Inner Foundations
6
Is It Rectangular?
Both Diagonals must be equal in length !
Measure the Diagonals with a String
7
How to Make a Accurate
Right Angle ?
Mark the
dimensions on the
string 3:4:5
Fix two pegs with
nails on top with a
distance of 3

3
4
5
8
Move
Move the 3
rd
peg
until you hit the
mark on the string
Nail it to the
ground
Now you have a
perfect rectangle

Hurdles for Guidelines
Instead of nailing pegs into
the ground you can set up
hurdles to fix the guidelines

10
Set to each corner profile boards to mark
the wall positions and draw the guidelines!
Use them also
to draw the
guidelines for
the brickwork!

You have the reference points
available during the entire
period of construction!
Already at this stage it is necessary to excavate the
trenches for sewerage pipes, water supply, electrical
conduits, sump, pits etc.
If you do not draw the lines for the trenches now and
excavate and lay the pipes you will have to break the
foundations later.
14
To Sump
Mains Underground
Before you build the
foundations complete the
sewage pipes, water
supply.
And if you need
underground conduits for
electricity, telephone etc.
complete them as well.
16
Keep pipe openings protected with
bags to prevent earth from blocking
the pipes !!

17
Rubble Foundation
Walls and houses
cannot be built on
soft soil; they would
collapse within a
short time. This is
why foundations are
required.
18
Pack the Stones neatly with
Cement Mortar
60cm
Width= 3 Bricks
19
Do not throw them in!
Foundation rubble
work requires
carefully packed
stones to achieve
maximum density
and bonding with
mortar. Otherwise
foundation will
give way and walls
crack.
20
Reduce the width and add
30..40cm to the Foundation
30cm
min
Wall size +4cm
21
Add the Damp Proof Course
2cm Mortar
Course leveled
with water
tube!!
DPC
Level
The DPC
The damp proof course is the final
level of the foundation
The DPC is determined in the
technical drawings as reference to
the entire building
The DPC has to be accurately
leveled with the help of a water
tube!
23
Apply a Tar Insulation
against rising Moisture
2 hot tar coats
Or 2 layers of
tar sheets
24
Start the Brickwork
Brickwork
25
Fill up and compact up to
the DPC Level
Backfill
DPC Level
must be higher
than ground to
prevent storm
water from
entering
26
Keep an expansion gap between
walls and concrete floor slab
Backfill
Polifoam
Concrete
27
Do not rest the concrete slab or
the Rendering on the foundation
Backfill
Wrong
Rendering
28
It will break
Backfill
When the
backfill drops
the slab will rest
only on the
edges of the
foundation and
break
Concrete
29
The Rendering must rest on the
Backfill alone
Backfill
Correct
Rendering
Foundations on Weak Soil
Foundations must be set on hard soil
If the ground is still soft at 60cm
depth the foundations need to be
enlarged to support the building
31
Foundation on Weak Soil
Reinforced
Concrete
Tie Beam at
DPC Level

Bricks used as
form work
Soil Filling
30cm
30cm
30cm
Octagonal Shapes






Draw
the
octagon
from a
square
and
included
circle