How to build a cellar with your own hands at the dacha. Dacha according to science: how to organize a cellar on the site for storing canned food and vegetables

The cellar is one of the most necessary premises V household. If you build it correctly, then in the cellar you can store not only canned food and fresh vegetables, but even meat, dairy products and eggs.

Following the advice from the article, you can build a cellar with your own hands from scratch. We will tell you how to properly dig a pit, make walls, a floor and a roof in it, and also consider the main types of basements that can be used in the household.

Building a cellar with your own hands

Kinds

Construction stages

Additional work

What to consider?

Ground

Zemlyanoy

Semi-recessed

Wall-mounted

On initial stage choose a dry place with a low level groundwater. After this, they begin digging a pit, erecting walls and pouring the floor. At the final stage, the ceiling is installed and ventilation is installed.

The interior must be waterproofed and supply and exhaust ventilation. This is a necessary condition for maintaining the indoor microclimate.

During construction, the density of the soil and the level of groundwater are taken into account.

How to build a cellar with your own hands

A cellar under the house has certain advantages compared to free-standing buildings. Firstly, it can be done at the stage of building a house. Secondly, it is very convenient to use: you don’t need to go outside to store vegetables or take them out for consumption.

However, the construction of a storage facility also has some difficulties, which will be discussed below.

What is needed for construction

Before you make a basement under the house with your own hands, you need to take into account several features (Figure 1):

The pit must be deepened by at least one and a half meters. This will allow you to create the optimal temperature regime. If the room is less deep, the temperature in it will rise above +8 degrees, which negatively affects the storage of fresh vegetables.
It is imperative to determine the level of groundwater. As a rule, it is carried out at the stage of building the foundation of a house, but if you decide to build a storage facility in an existing building, you can determine the water level yourself. To do this, you need to dig a hole 2.5 meters deep and observe for a week how intensively it fills with water. Doing so better in spring or after heavy rains in the fall, when the groundwater level is at its highest.

Figure 1. Drawings and diagrams for building a basement with your own hands

If the water lies at a level of less than a meter, a basement cannot be built under the house. With an indicator of up to one and a half meters, it is possible to arrange a storage facility, but for this it is necessary to drain the soil and the room itself.

Note: It is best to deepen the room two meters or more. This will create a consistently low temperature suitable for storing vegetables and other foods.

A necessary step is also the selection of building materials. The floor can be made of earthen, plank or concrete, and the walls are best built from ceramic bricks, concrete blocks or stone. It is not recommended to use sand-lime bricks and cinder blocks.

How to choose a place for a cellar

When constructing above-ground or semi-buried structures, you can choose almost any location on the site. The main thing is that there is no stagnation of water on it. If the basement is located under the house, the choice of location will be very limited.

When selecting a location for an underground storage facility, take into account:

Soil density and composition- it should be loose enough so that you can dig a pit yourself. If the house is located on rock, construction will have to be abandoned, since it will require the use of heavy equipment that physically cannot be driven inside the premises.
Groundwater height- key indicator. It is best that the floor of the storage facility is at least half a meter from the level of underground streams. If this condition is not met, the basement will begin to flood even if high-quality waterproofing is installed.
Login to the vault should be in a place convenient for you (Figure 2). For example, in the garage, hallway or next to the kitchen. It is better to cover the entrance from above with a hatch, and make a staircase for the entrance. How exactly you will go down inside must be determined at the stage of designing and digging a pit.

Figure 2. Arranging a hole to enter the cellar under the house

After procurement of materials and determination of the site, you can proceed directly to construction work.

How to make a cellar with your own hands

The construction of the basement is carried out in several stages, which should be carried out in a clear sequence. First of all, you need to determine the size of the storage. As a rule, a room of 5-8 square meters will be sufficient for home use.

However, it should be borne in mind that the pit should be approximately 60 cm larger on all sides. This space will be needed to build walls and lay a layer of waterproofing.

You can see the main stages of construction in the video.

Pit

The first stage is digging a pit. To do this, you will need standard tools: a shovel, a pick and a container for removing soil (Figure 3).

Note: To dig a pit, it is necessary to completely remove the floor in the room under which it will be located.

Figure 3. Digging a pit for underground storage

Traditionally, a pit is dug to a depth of 2.5 meters under the house. In the future, taking into account the floor and ceiling, the height of the room will decrease slightly, but it will still be enough even for a tall person.

If groundwater is close to the surface, it is advisable to additionally dig a drainage well in which condensation and excess water will accumulate.

Construction of walls

Walls in underground storage facilities are usually made of brick or foam concrete blocks. However, walls made of reinforced concrete. They are made like this (Figure 4):

A reinforcing mesh of rods with a cross section of 10-15 mm is installed around the perimeter. It is advisable to fasten them together not by welding, but by special hooks or pieces of wire.
Formwork can be made from any available materials, even from scraps of wood.
To fill the walls, high-strength concrete is used, adding a small amount of crushed stone to it. Filling is carried out in stages, 10-20 cm, carefully compacting each layer.

Figure 4. Construction of walls

The top of the fill should be at the level of the ceiling. It will take several weeks for the solution to completely dry and harden. Only after this can the formwork be removed.

Floor

Concrete floors are most often used in storage facilities, as they resist groundwater better than earthen floors. In addition, rodents and other pests will not be able to enter the room through such a floor.

The construction of a concrete floor is carried out in several stages(Figure 5):

At the bottom we make a sand cushion. The sand is moistened with water and compacted so that its layer is at least 20 cm. It must be absolutely flat so that the concrete floor does not begin to bend in the future.
After the sand, a layer of gravel is laid and it is also leveled and compacted.
Lay the next layer waterproofing material. You can use special polyethylene or regular roofing felt. This will help strengthen the concrete floor and protect the room as much as possible from water penetration.
A reinforcing mesh of at least 5 mm rods is laid on the waterproofing and the structure is filled with a 10-15 cm layer of concrete.

Figure 5. How to make a floor in the cellar with your own hands

As with walls, concrete requires some time to dry and harden. Therefore, you cannot walk on it for the first few weeks.

Roof

Make a roof (or ceiling) for the cellar under ready home made from slabs is difficult, so they are more often used for these purposes wooden beams, between which a layer of insulation is laid. This design allows you to protect the underground storage from heat penetration from the house.

The floor beams are hemmed from below with a continuous panel covered with a heat-insulating film. Between the beams lay insulation (glass wool, polystyrene foam or mineral wool). There is no need to skimp on thermal insulation: the thicker and more reliable the layer, the more stable the temperature in the storage will be. The insulation is re-covered with film on top and the structure is covered with boards, plywood or OSB.

The manhole cover is made according to the same principle, but it is better to make it two-layer, placing heat-insulating materials in the center.

Types of cellars

There are several types of cellars, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages. For example, underground provides a stable storage temperature, but its construction requires certain skills. It is much easier to build above ground, and the building itself is suitable even for regions with close groundwater. However, in similar designs it is more difficult to provide the necessary thermal insulation.

Main types of cellars

Types of basements differ in the degree to which the structure is buried in the soil. For example, a ground-based structure is a full-fledged building with a foundation slightly buried in the soil.

There are also underground cellars (subfloors), which are most often equipped for residential building or a garage. Semi-buried and earthen ones are similar in design. The only difference is the degree of penetration of the structure into the soil. For small areas, wall buildings that are simply attached to the main building will be optimal.

Ground

An above-ground cellar means a small room or even a box with a layer of insulation.

It is not difficult to build it with your own hands, since they are small and require minimum costs materials and time. In addition, they are excellent for areas with high underground flows (Figure 6).

Note: It is best to build a ground structure in July, when the groundwater level is lowest.

Construction is carried out in the following sequence:

Select a dry area on a small hill. Upper layer the vegetation is removed and a small depression is made in the soil (about 40-70 cm deep).
Bottom of the pit compacted and covered with a layer of drainage (coarse sand, expanded clay or broken brick). The layer of such material should be approximately 10 cm.
Above lay 15-20 cm of fatty clay, in which you need to place bricks on minimum distance from each other. The side walls of the pit are strengthened in the same way.
Height of brick walls above the ground surface should reach 35 cm. This elevation acts as a foundation.
For walls First, a frame is mounted, which is sheathed with thick boards on both sides. Any available material is placed or filled in the center thermal insulation material(sawdust, crushed stone or mineral wool).

Figure 6. Drawing and photo of an above-ground cellar

The outer part of the walls is sheathed with dense material to prevent drafts inside the room. At the entrance, a vestibule with external and internal door. This will provide additional thermal insulation. For ventilation, a pipe is made, which is covered from the outside with a mosquito net. To prevent flooding, a blind area and several drainage ditches, and the roof is equipped with a gable roof, and covered with any available roofing material.

Zemlyanoy

The design of an earthen basement is very simple, and it can be built from almost any available materials. As a rule, a dry site on an elevated site is chosen for construction, preferably with dense soil.

Note: Earthen cellars are excellent for storing potatoes, since the tubers practically do not sprout, do not dry out or wrinkle.

The construction of an earthen storage facility is carried out using the following technology(Figure 7):

They dig a pit with walls at a slight slope to prevent the soil from crumbling. If the site has sandy soil, the walls are reinforced with boards or other supports. In addition, this will extend the life of the premises and create a favorable microclimate inside the storage facility.
The floors are made of adobe by adding crushed bricks. The thickness of the floors should be 15 cm.
The ceiling is made of poles, covered clay mixture and earth from the outside. The thickness of the soil layer should be about 45 cm in order to protect vegetables not only from summer heat, but also from the winter cold.
The gable roof is covered with light natural material(for example, branches or straw). It is better to lower the roof slopes to the ground. At severe frosts it can be additionally insulated.

Figure 7. Drawing earthen cellar

It is better to place shelving inside an earthen cellar on both sides of the passage for ease of use of the room.

Semi-recessed

This type of storage facility is perfect for areas with high groundwater levels, since its floor is no deeper than one and a half meters from the ground surface (Figure 8).

To build a semi-buried basement with your own hands, you dig a shallow pit, then make a low foundation, and build the walls from concrete, brick or stone.

Figure 8. Drawings for the construction of a semi-buried cellar

The ceiling is made from slab mixed with clay. This will protect inner space from moisture penetration and temperature fluctuations. Additionally, the roof can be covered with roofing felt, and thermal insulation material can be applied to the walls.

Wall-mounted

The main advantage of a wall cellar is that it saves space on the site. In addition, there is no need to specifically choose a dry place for it, since the building is being built close to the house (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Drawing of a wall cellar

How to build a surface cellar next to a house or other building? Any materials can be used, but they must be treated with hot bitumen for waterproofing. A blind area is made around the perimeter and installed drainpipes to remove moisture, and the roof is covered with rolled material.

This is the most simple design cellar, which can be easily done with your own hands from scrap materials. However, if you plan to use such storage long time, it's better to use quality brick, concrete and high-quality thermal insulation.

More useful information You will learn about the construction of dry cellars from the video.

Cellar – important element any suburban area, it is indispensable for storing vegetables, fruits and canning. The article contains information on how to build a cellar at your dacha with your own hands: a step-by-step description will help you take into account a lot of nuances, from the correct choice of location to the installation of waterproofing, etc. The external arrangement of the building also has great importance, and the construction of shelving and drawers will help to use the space efficiently.

Do not confuse the cellar and the basement. Building a cellar at your dacha with your own hands can come down to simply digging a hole and minimally arranging it. The choice of the type of structure depends on many parameters, for example, on its intended purpose, on the climatic conditions of the region, financial capabilities, etc. Also, when choosing the type and materials for building a cellar in a country house with your own hands, you need to take into account its location.

It is easier to build a separate building than, for example, to build a cellar under the house, but this option will require more materials, and therefore more finance. Make storage under a residential building or outbuilding will cost less, but this option is limited in space.

One of the most popular options is an ice cellar. It copes well with the function of long-term storage of food even in the hot season and is especially in demand in the southern regions. It is quite difficult and expensive to build this type of cellar in a private house with your own hands, but the result is characterized by high performance characteristics, durability and reliability.

Another a good option This building is a storage facility of two sections. As a rule, this type is used when it is necessary to avoid mixing the odors of various vegetables and fruits that are simultaneously stored in the cellar. To build such a storage facility, you need less materials than for a glacier.

A separate type of cellar is a wine cellar. It is used for storing wine products and has its own design features and nuances that must be taken into account in order to properly build the cellar. As a rule, in such storage you can store not only wine, but also various preserves.

The nuances of arranging a cellar with your own hands at a high groundwater level

When choosing a location for storage, it is very important to take into account factors such as total soil moisture and groundwater level. The lower it is, the easier it will be to build the structure, and the less often repairs will be needed. If we are talking about a free-standing structure, then you should choose the highest place on your site. It is best to determine the groundwater level when it is at its maximum, that is, in spring or autumn. If there is a well or borehole on the site, then you can determine the maximum elevation using them, otherwise you will have to drill a well separately.

It will be somewhat more difficult to build a cellar if groundwater is close. How to do this as efficiently as possible? First of all, it is necessary to pay great attention to the waterproofing of the structure. Also, with increased soil moisture for better waterproofing groundwater cellars should be used Construction Materials, characterized by increased resistance to water. In this case, you should not use wood or plywood, but rather give preference to concrete and brick.

Helpful advice! You can check the groundwater level by folk signs. To do this, you need to leave a piece of wool at the construction site and egg, and cover them on top clay pot. If in the morning there is dew on both the wool and the egg, then groundwater is close, but if there is only dew on the wool, it is far away.

Recommendations for building a cellar with your own hands: how to do it as efficiently as possible

Regardless of what type of construction you choose or what materials you plan to use, there are a number of general recommendations, which should be followed when step by step construction DIY cellars:

if you are going to use wooden elements, then they must be pre-treated with a special impregnation to protect them from the harmful effects of moisture;
It is best to start building a cellar in the summer, when the groundwater level is at the lower level. In this case, the soil will be the driest, and the risk of flooding of the structure will be minimal;
To ensure efficient storage of products, it is very important to consider a ventilation system;
if you want the structure to support desired temperature, then it is recommended when building a cellar with your own hands to make two doors separated by a vestibule;

special attention should also be paid to thermal insulation, then the optimal temperature in the cellar will be ensured at any time of the year;
The choice of tools and materials for construction is very important, so you should familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages in advance various types. The construction itself must be carried out in a clearly recommended order.

Features of using various materials

Most often, materials such as brick or concrete blocks are used in construction. They best tolerate high humidity and low temperatures, and are also characterized by durability, reliability and relatively low cost. When building a brick cellar with your own hands, you should take into account the operational characteristics of each type of this material:

cinder block or foam brick is characterized by increased fragility, so these varieties are not recommended for use in the construction of underground storage;
sand-lime brick is more durable, but reacts very poorly to high humidity. This means that a building made from it will not be able to boast long term operation;

red brick is ideal option for a cellar in a private house. How to make a building from this material as efficient as possible can be learned from numerous step by step instructions from specialists.

If you decide to use concrete blocks during construction, then you will definitely need specialized construction equipment, since they are characterized by heavy weight. A cellar made from them will last a long time and maintain the temperature well.

Also, when building a cellar in a house with your own hands, you can use bricks that have already been used, if its condition allows it. And in the event that you are just going to sheathe earthen pit wooden boards, they must be thoroughly treated with antiseptics to prevent rotting.

Note! Usage concrete slabs, reinforced with metal, is also possible. But in this case it will be quite difficult to maintain the desired temperature, so this material should not be used for a building in which you are going to store food.

Do-it-yourself cellar at the dacha: step-by-step construction guide

Strict adherence to the sequence of actions is the key to a proper cellar. How to make the construction as efficient as possible, spending a minimum of time and effort on it? For this installation work must be done in a certain order.

Arrangement of the pit

The turf is removed from the selected area, after which the ground is leveled and markings are made. Many photos of a do-it-yourself cellar show that specialized construction equipment is often used to build a pit, but if this is not possible, then you can use shovels and spades. Job advantage hand tools is that this allows you to preserve the structure of the soil. If the soil in the selected area is loose, then the walls of the pit should be sloped to avoid crumbling.

The dimensions of the cellar depend solely on your needs, but remember that the size of the pit should be 0.5 m larger than the size of the structure itself. In the process of building a cellar with your own hands, the excavated fertile soil can be distributed throughout the summer cottage. After finishing the work, the evenness of the bottom should be measured with a level and corrected if necessary.

Construction of the foundation

Although you can do without this stage (by simply filling the bottom of the pit with crushed stone or filling it with bitumen), the arrangement of the foundation will increase the level of waterproofing of the cellar from groundwater. How to make the foundation as efficient as possible, but not too expensive? To do this, you can use a reinforcing frame, on top of which a concrete mixture is poured. The recommended foundation height is about 40 cm. Installation of the foundation is prerequisite when building a cellar in a country house with your own hands, if groundwater is close. Thematic videos on the Internet will tell you how to make the foundation correctly.

Walling

If you use brick to build a cellar under your house with your own hands, then you will need a number of specialized tools. These include a trowel, construction cord, mason's hammer, building level and a bucket for the solution. For greater efficiency, you should use the help of another person.

A mixture of clay and sand or cement can be used as a mortar connecting the bricks. When building an underground or above-ground cellar with your own hands, laying should begin from the corners, and the first row should be laid without using mortar in order to more accurately plan the position of the wall. The bricks of the next rows must be sunk into the mortar until the seam thickness is approximately 12 mm.

Helpful advice! Be sure to use a building level and plumb line when laying walls. Using the first, you check how evenly the brick is laid, and using the second, the correctness of the angles.

DIY cellar floor installation

When constructing a ceiling, it is best to use wooden boards. If the structure is being built under a house, then beams can be used as a ceiling, and the ceiling of an above-ground cellar at the dacha is made with your own hands step by step from PKZh slabs or slate. In this case, the surface can be flat or gable.

Thermal insulation of the ceiling is done according to the same principle as the thermal insulation of a conventional roof - the gap between the wooden beams and the roofing material is filled with a layer of thermal insulation.

Types and features of floor installation in the cellar

There are many various options when arranging the floor in the cellar, which one is better depends on your preferences, the purpose of the building, the characteristics of the soil and other factors. You should also familiarize yourself with the specifics of each method in advance; this will help you quickly and efficiently build a cellar with your own hands. Both video and photo instructions can greatly facilitate the installation process.

Dirt floor- the simplest and cheap option. There is a misconception that the correct floor in the cellar should only be earthen, but this is not so. Even well-compacted soil will not protect the room from dampness and mold.

If you nevertheless decide to make a dirt floor in the cellar, then the base must be carefully leveled and compacted, after which a layer of gravel about 10 cm thick is poured. The advantage of this option is zero installation cost, but there are many more disadvantages. These include a high risk of flooding of the premises and a high probability that metal elements will rust, and wooden ones will rot.

Concrete floor– a good option to protect the room from high groundwater. Concrete screed can act not only as a floor covering, but also as a base for the installation of other materials.

To build a concrete floor, it is very important to level the surface, after which a cushion of crushed stone and sand 15-20 cm thick is installed. The sand must be thoroughly moistened and compacted, and bitumen must be poured on top. In order for the concrete base to be as strong as possible, you can install on top of a layer of bitumen metal grill. After this, you can begin pouring concrete.

You can install the waterproofing layer either on a sand cushion or on top of concrete. In the second case, it is necessary to pour another concrete layer on top.

Clay floor- a reliable, but very labor-intensive option in terms of installation. Requires large quantity high-quality material, so it is used quite rarely. Clay is considered one of the most environmentally friendly materials. It is laid on a base of crushed stone 10-15 cm thick, which can be impregnated with bitumen. Under the clay, it is worth installing a layer of waterproofing made of roofing felt or other material, and cracks that may form after drying are sealed with a clay-lime mixture.

Brick covering– strong, durable and attractive appearance. In addition, the material is quite cheap and easy to install. The brick floor is laid on a bed of fine crushed stone or gravel, and a clay mortar is poured on top. The bricks are slightly sunk into the mortar close to each other. You can also hammer cement mortar into the seams between the bricks using a stiff brush.

Wooden floor– used in above-ground cellars or where groundwater is very deep. Before installation, wood must be treated with special impregnations to extend its service life. Wooden boards are mounted on top of timber logs, which, in turn, are laid on a base of crushed stone and clay. It is best to fasten the boards using self-tapping screws, but you can simply nail them.

Note! For each of the materials you will need a separate set of tools, which it is better to purchase in advance.

Design and installation of a ventilation system

If you are building a ground-based structure, then the flow of air into the cellar can occur naturally through small openings. For underground structures, ventilation must be supply and exhaust. Exit exhaust pipe should be located near the ceiling, and the suction unit should be located near the floor. Many do-it-yourself photos of a cellar in a country house show that the ventilation outlets are equipped with special curtains, this allows you to more accurately control the temperature in the room.

Installation of stairs and doors

If the cellar is being built under the house or if you need to save space, you should make an almost vertical staircase to the cellar with your own hands. How to make it as safe as possible for descent? It is recommended to use handrails. Photos of a do-it-yourself cellar staircase show that it can be built from wooden planks fixed directly into the ground, as well as from brick or other materials.

Doors are mounted in ground-based design options; in other cases, a hatch is used. Making a cellar hatch with your own hands is quite simple.

Making a hatch

If the cellar is located under a house or outbuilding, then a hatch is used as an entrance partition. You can buy a cellar hatch, or you can make it yourself. The second option will allow you to get a design that exactly suits your needs. Self-installation includes the following steps:

a location for the future entrance is selected. It is very important that access to it is as simple as possible and not cluttered with shelves, drawers and other objects;
The dimensions of the hatch are determined. It all depends on your needs, but its parameters should not be less than 75x75 cm. In order for the room to be airtight, the side edges of the hatch must be sheathed with a sealant;
a cellar hatch cover is being made. How to make it light and durable? For this, it is best to use wooden boards impregnated with drying oil. They are connected to each other with slats, and a sheet of plywood is nailed to one side of the lid. If we are talking about a cellar in a residential building, then the top of the hatch cover can be sheathed with the same floor covering, as the floor around her. It is worth considering that if you plan to install a cellar hatch under tiles, its design must be made of sufficient durable materials, capable of withstanding all ceramics. If you prefer to use steel, then for the lid you will need a sheet with a thickness of at least 3 mm, which is welded onto a metal frame;

a handle is attached. The best option would be a special hidden or folding design. If the cellar is in non-residential premises or there is a need to save money, then you can use a regular door handle;
the hinges are screwed on. These can be regular door hinges or car hinges with springs. The latter option will make it easier to open the lid and fix it in any position.

There are many answers to the question of how to make a cellar hatch with your own hands, so you should choose the option that is most suitable in your particular case.

Wiring and lighting

Due to the fact that the design of the cellar provides for high humidity, the wiring in it must be reliably insulated. The best option for wiring are copper wires with double layer of insulation. Light bulbs should be placed in the driest places and additionally equipped with protective caps. It is strictly forbidden to make sockets when building a cellar. How to properly make wiring as safe as possible can be seen in training videos from specialists.

Installation of waterproofing in the cellar

As already mentioned, insulation from moisture is very important point when building a cellar at the dacha with your own hands. How to make waterproofing most effective - there are many options, and the choice of the optimal one depends on the level of soil moisture and design features the buildings.

Waterproofing can be external or internal. The external one is done during the construction stage, while the external walls are sheathed with insulating materials, and drains are installed, drainage wells and other designs. Internal insulation is done after the cellar is built. In this case, before using insulating materials, groundwater must be drained, otherwise the work will be ineffective.

Types of materials used for internal waterproofing

If you made a cellar in your country house with your own hands from waterproof concrete, then you are unlikely to need additional cladding insulating material. But for a brick structure you can use the following waterproofing options:

mastic or bitumen - used in cases where the groundwater level is below floor level. The solution is heated and thin layer applied to walls, resulting in the formation of a reliable waterproof film;

- the most expensive, but also the most effective option. It is good because it increases not only the level of resistance of walls to moisture, but also their frost resistance. Also, penetrating waterproofing reliably seals all cracks and micropores, is characterized by a long service life and is quickly installed;
Cement-based polymer mortar is one of the most reliable and easy-to-apply waterproofing materials. It fits tightly to the walls and reliably protects them from mechanical damage;
membrane-type moisture insulation - consists of various polymers, among which liquid rubber based on bitumen is very popular.

Note! It is very important to have effective ventilation for reliable waterproofing cellars in the country with your own hands. How to build a ventilation system so that there is no condensation in the storage excess moisture? The installation of a supply and exhaust system is best suited for this.

Procedure for installing waterproofing

Numerous photos of a cellar in a private house show that waterproofing can be hidden under decorative wall panels. This is not a prerequisite, but only affects the appearance of the walls. The nuances of installing a waterproofing layer depend on the type of material chosen.

Waterproofing using bitumen or mastic for the walls of the cellar under the house with your own hands, as a rule, is not difficult. To do this, the walls must first be plastered, and the waterproofing itself is best applied in two layers. Before the coating dries completely, it is recommended to sprinkle it with fine dry sand.

Before installing penetrating moisture insulation, the surface of the walls must be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and dust, and then moistened with water. After applying the insulation layer for several days, it also needs to be constantly moistened. Concrete walls Before installing penetrating waterproofing, they are treated with a wire brush.

For application liquid rubber, the walls must be leveled and cleaned. After this, the surface is primed and a waterproofing material is applied to it using a brush, spatula or roller. Decoration Materials can be mounted directly on a layer of liquid rubber after it has dried. Photos of wine cellars, for example, show that the walls are lined with wood panels.

The cement-polymer mixture is applied to well-moistened walls using a notched trowel or brush. It is best to do this in several layers.

DIY installation of shelves in the cellar: photos and instructions

Shelves and racks are integral elements of any cellar and basement. There are several types of cellar racks, which can be bought in specialized stores, but it is much easier and more economical to make them yourself. The most popular options are the following:

Wooden shelving is one of the most common answers to the question of what to make a shelf from in the cellar. The material is environmentally friendly and easy to use, and for shelving it is best to use timber with a cross-section of 100x100 mm and boards 3-4 cm thick. The installation scheme is very simple - racks are made from timber, in which sockets are cut to secure the shelves. In order for wooden shelves to last longer, they are impregnated with special compounds;

Concrete shelving is a good option if you want to know how to make your cellar shelves as durable and moisture-resistant as possible. To create concrete shelves, you can use reinforced concrete slabs or niches in the walls that are filled with concrete screed;
shelves made of steel angle – used in rooms with low humidity levels, otherwise the structures can very quickly begin to rust. In order to make a shelf in a cellar for cans, as a rule, a welding machine is used, but you can get by with simple self-tapping screws. First, frames are made from metal slats, then shelves are attached to them;
plastic shelving is one of the most economical and simple options, which is distinguished by its attractive appearance and resistance to moisture. However, plastic does not tolerate well low temperature, therefore cannot boast of durability.

Helpful advice! When wondering how to make a shelf in the cellar with your own hands, and what material to choose for this, consider the level of humidity in the room, as well as the average weight of the cans and boxes that will be stored on the racks. Concrete can easily withstand even very heavy loads, but plastic cannot boast of this.

From the same materials you can make boxes for potatoes in the cellar. As a rule, they are equipped with removable covers, which are installed if necessary. Regardless of what material you choose, in the warm season it is recommended to take shelves and drawers outside to dry. This will prevent the occurrence of mold and the proliferation of pathogens.

When the construction and interior arrangement of the cellar is completed, you can think about exterior decoration ground structure. Its option depends solely on your preferences - you can simply pour an earthen hill, or you can decorate it with turf or ornamental grass, turning it into an element landscape design. During the process of building a cellar with your own hands, use video and photo instructions that will help you take into account all the nuances and arrange a practical and functional room.

For storing homemade preserves and vegetables grown in the country or personal plot, three types of premises are used: completely buried (including basements), semi-buried and above ground. If everything is done correctly during the construction process, then in any of the 3 storage facilities the optimal conditions– darkening, fresh air and low temperature (from 2 to 7 °C). The purpose of our article is to explain how to build a cellar on the street with your own hands, choosing the most suitable design.

Selecting a storage project

For successful construction cellars, you should understand a simple rule: the deeper the structure is buried in the ground, the easier it is to create optimal conditions for storing agricultural products. The diagram below shows how soil temperature changes at different depths throughout the year. It is easy to notice that on the lower horizons it behaves more stable than on the upper ones.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to create the perfect basement. The reason is local geological and hydrological conditions, in other words, the specific composition of soils and the high level of groundwater. In any case, before building a cellar, the owner of a summer cottage or estate must find answers to the following questions:

how close to the surface is groundwater during periods of heavy rainfall;
what is the depth of soil freezing;
the nature of the underlying soils;
what area of the yard is allocated for construction.

Note. These questions are especially important when planning a device basement under a garage, barn or private house, since you will have to select and calculate the foundation of the building.

High groundwater levels pose the most serious problem for the construction of underground vegetable storage. Therefore, at the initial stage, it is necessary to experimentally determine at what depth they lie, for example, by drilling a well or interviewing neighbors who have managed to make cellars. If during the flood period the water does not rise above minus 3 m, then you can safely build a completely buried basement at your dacha, shown in the photo.

If the aquifers are closer than 3 m, then the bottom of the cellar or glacier should be made 0.5 m above this mark. This means that you will have to build a semi-buried or above-ground structure with a bulk top. At the same time, wet and heaving soils around the structure, freezing 1.5-2 m deep, must be replaced with loose fractions (sand, fine gravel).

Advice. Fighting flooding in a deeply buried basement is a troublesome and expensive task. To avoid having to build a full-fledged caisson - a technically complex hermetic structure, it is better to leave part of the cellar on top and embank it with earth. An example of such a structure with original design shown in the photo.

How to make a deep basement

All work on the construction of an in-ground cellar with your own hands is divided into several stages:

Clarification of the structure's layout.
Selection of building materials.
Digging a pit, erecting walls and ceilings.
Installation of ventilation and lighting, interior design.

There are 2 types of underground storage layout - with a hatch and a full-size door at the entrance. The first option is inconvenient to use, but it saves space and is therefore used for basement rooms under garages, country houses and sheds, and sometimes on the street. How the cellar with a lid and a vertical staircase is arranged is shown in the drawing:

To install an entrance door, one of the dimensions of the basement will have to be increased by at least 1 m in order to create steps along the wall. Another way is to build flight of stairs directly to the door, which is very convenient for moving supplies to and from storage. The drawing below shows a structure with a straight staircase, shown in section.

More details about the design of the basement are described in the video:

We select materials

The requirements for the design of the underground part of the cellar are simple - it should not be destroyed by moisture, transmit heat well and withstand soil pressure. So traditional building materials are suitable for building walls:

monolithic concrete;
ceramic red brick (not silicate);
cinder blocks;
various natural stones - flagstone, granite, shell rock, sandstone;
ready foundation blocks FBS series.

Natural stone masonry

Advice. Use of metal and sand-lime brick is an error. The first one rusts heavily in basement conditions and releases harmful compounds, and the second one is destroyed by dampness. Hardware are used only for reinforcing concrete fences and coverings.

To cover the basement, you can take wood - timber, logs and slabs, or pour a concrete slab on a steel frame. A more expensive and complex option is a brick vaulted roof, built using wedge technology (each stone is cut so as to wedge the neighboring ones), or on mortar using templates - circled.

Floors are made of three types:

earthen with the addition of crushed stone (clay);
bulk gravel and crushed stone;
reinforced concrete.

The first 2 methods of constructing floors are suitable for cellars dug in dry, dense soils - sandy, rocky, etc. If there is moisture, it is better to screed with a slope towards the pit.

Reference. In former times, storage facilities were made like dugouts - without stone fences. The earthen slopes were lined with wood, after which the pit was covered with logs lined with slabs, where insulation was laid - clay and straw.

Basement walls need waterproofing because they will still have to come into contact with moisture. For this purpose you need to purchase bitumen mastic or roofing felt.

We are building an underground part

The first step is to dig a pit, the dimensions of which are half a meter larger than the dimensions of the future cellar. Then, sinuses are formed between the walls and the ground, allowing for external waterproofing. Dense, dry soil can be dug vertically, at an angle of 90° to the horizontal, aligning the sides of the hole with a plane. In loose or wet soils, it is better to dig a pit with slopes of 30-45° to the vertical. Also at the excavation stage, you need to dig an inclined trench for the stairs.

Advice. To make work easier, it is worth using an excavator, which will remove the bulk of the earth. All you have to do is work on the walls and bottom of the pit.

To build concrete walls and floors, use the following technology:

Fill the bottom with sand to a height of 10 cm and compact it well, pouring water, repeat the same operation with crushed stone. Install formwork along the edges and lay a mesh of periodic profile reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 mm with cells of 15 x 15 cm.
Make a screed 10-12 cm thick from M200-250 concrete with a slope towards the pit or prefabricated gutter, as described in the video presented above. Allow the screed to set for 1 week.
Install panel formwork along the walls and secure reinforcing mesh in it, as was done in the photo. Don't forget to install the embedded parts and lay them on top ventilation pipes made of plastic.
Pour concrete to the very top of the pit, expelling air from it by immersing steel rods. After 7 days, remove the formwork and lay channels No. 14-20 on the walls in increments of 0.5 m. Weld reinforcement to them at intervals of 10-12 cm.
Install the bottom and side formwork monolithic ceiling. For this purpose sheets OSB plywood needs to be tied to reinforcement cage and support it from below with wooden beams. All that remains is to lay it down concrete mixture and wait 28 days until the entire structure is completely cured.

Note. Minimum thickness monolithic wall should be 20 cm. For stone and brickwork this size is 250 mm, and for cinder blocks - the width of 1 stone.

If there is an inclined staircase leading to the basement, then while the main structure is hardening, start finishing its walls and forming steps. It is not necessary to use concrete here; slopes and treads can be lined with available stone.

After the solution has hardened, be sure to treat the outer surfaces of the walls with a bitumen primer or cover them with roofing felt for waterproofing. Then backfill the sinuses with clay (the so-called clay castle). The ceiling also needs to be covered with roofing felt and covered with a layer of earth, or a beautiful gable roof must be made.

Reference. Nowadays, instead of traditional buildings, you can use more modern solution– ready-made plastic cellar cylindrical, completely installed in the pit. Judging by user reviews on forums, seamless plastic products from Russian brands Triton and Tingard.

Interior work

For creating normal conditions operation, the cellar should be equipped with a natural ventilation system and lighting, as well as shelves and bins for storing vegetables. It would not hurt to plaster and whitewash the inside walls and ceiling of the basement.

Let's give some tips on arranging a cellar:

Provide ventilation of the storage through 2 pipes - supply and exhaust, then the room will dry well. The outlet of the inflow is 30 cm above the floor, the hood is under the ceiling. The correct organization of natural air exchange in the cellar is described in detail.
For safety reasons, it is better to light the basement through a step-down transformer supplying 12 or 36 volts. Lay all wiring in protective plastic corrugations.
Make racks and shelves from wood treated with an antiseptic. Eliminate metal elements completely.
If you have built a small roof over the ceiling, then the ceiling must be insulated. Use polymer materials, not afraid of moisture - polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam and polyethylene foam.

Insulation of the coating is also carried out with outside. This will do simple materials– expanded clay, clay with straw or sawdust. By the way, the ceiling can be cast from concrete with the addition of expanded clay or polystyrene, then the structure will certainly be lighter and warmer.

Semi-buried structures

The technology for constructing such cellars differs little from the construction of deep storage facilities. The pit is dug to a depth of 0.5 m above the groundwater level, after which the work is carried out in the same order. To build the above-ground part, it is better to use warmer and lighter materials - foam block and aerated concrete, the simplest option is double sheets of slate with insulation in the middle.

Note. A good way to create a semi-buried cellar is to dig it on a slope or small hill. The earth removed from the pit will then be used for the top filling.

In order for the ceiling to withstand the weight of the soil, it is specially made vaulted. For this purpose, a reinforcement or wooden frame in the form of an arch, which is subsequently filled with concrete or lined with brick. You will learn more visual information about the construction of bulk cellars by watching the video:

Conclusion

As you can see, self-build cellaring on the street is not too complicated, although the process itself is long and labor-intensive. If you want to do it cheap and cheerful, then dig a traditional dugout, provided that the soil allows it. This option also has a right to life. But over the years of operation (and this is at least 20 years), any basement can be subject to flooding, since the groundwater level is a variable value. The simplest solution is to fill the floor to the detriment of the height of the room; another method is to collect and pump water from the pit with a pump.

Design engineer with more than 8 years of experience in construction.
Graduated from Eastern Ukrainian National University them. Vladimir Dal with a degree in Electronics Industry Equipment in 2011.

How to build a cellar with your own hands: step-by-step instructions, video review. A cellar is an important element of any suburban area; it is indispensable for storing vegetables, fruits and canning. The article contains information on how to build a cellar in a country house with your own hands: a step-by-step description will help you take into account a lot of nuances, from the correct choice of location to the installation of waterproofing and electrical wiring. The external arrangement of the building is also of great importance, and the construction of shelving and drawers will help to effectively use the space.

The process of constructing red brick cellar walls

Types and features of cellars

It is easier to build a separate building than, for example, to build a cellar under the house, but this option will require more materials, and therefore more finance. Making storage under a residential building or outbuilding will be cheaper, but this option is limited in space.

Arrangement of the cellar will allow for a long time preserve preserves and other products

Another good option for this building is a storage unit with two sections. As a rule, this type is used when it is necessary to avoid mixing the odors of various vegetables and fruits that are simultaneously stored in the cellar. To build such a storage facility, you need less materials than for a glacier.

A wine cellar has design features that must be taken into account at the construction planning stage

The nuances of arranging a cellar with your own hands at a high groundwater level

It will be somewhat more difficult to build a cellar if groundwater is close. How to do this as efficiently as possible? First of all, it is necessary to pay great attention to the waterproofing of the structure. Also, with increased soil moisture, for better waterproofing of the cellar from groundwater, it is worth using building materials characterized by increased resistance to water. In this case, you should not use wood or plywood, but rather give preference to concrete and brick.

Scheme of a separate cellar: 1 - foundation; 2 - steps; 3 - protective fence; 4 - walls; 5 - ceiling vault; 6 - ventilation; 7 - waterproofing; 8 - bulk soil

Helpful advice! You can also check the groundwater level using folk signs. To do this, you need to leave a piece of wool and a chicken egg at the construction site, and cover them with a clay pot on top. If in the morning there is dew on both the wool and the egg, then groundwater is close, but if there is only dew on the wool, it is far away.

Recommendations for building a cellar with your own hands: how to do it as efficiently as possible

Regardless of what type of construction you have chosen or what materials you are going to use, there are a number of general recommendations that you should follow when building a cellar step by step with your own hands:

if you are going to use wooden elements, they must be pre-treated with a special impregnation to protect them from the harmful effects of moisture;
It is best to start building a cellar in the summer, when the groundwater level is at the lower level. In this case, the soil will be the driest, and the risk of flooding of the structure will be minimal;
To ensure efficient storage of products, it is very important to consider a ventilation system;
if you want the structure to maintain the desired temperature, it is recommended that when building a cellar with your own hands, you make two doors separated by a vestibule;

To build a really good cellar, you need to carefully study the features of materials and types of structures

special attention should also be paid to thermal insulation, then the optimal temperature in the cellar will be ensured at any time of the year;
The choice of tools and materials for construction is very important, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the different types in advance. The construction itself must be carried out in a clearly recommended order.

Features of using various materials

cinder block or foam brick is characterized by increased fragility, so these varieties are not recommended for use in the construction of underground storage;
sand-lime brick is more durable, but reacts very poorly to high humidity. This means that a building made from it cannot boast of a long service life;

The ideal material for building cellar walls is red brick.

red brick is an ideal option for a cellar in a private house. How to make a building from this material as efficient as possible can be learned from numerous step-by-step instructions from specialists.

If you decide to use concrete blocks in construction, then you will definitely need specialized construction equipment, since they are characterized by heavy weight. A cellar made from them will last a long time and maintain the temperature well.

Also, when building a cellar in a house with your own hands, you can use bricks that have already been used, if its condition allows it. And if you are simply going to line an earthen pit with wooden boards, they must be thoroughly treated with antiseptics to prevent rotting.

Note! The use of metal-reinforced concrete slabs is also possible. But in this case, it will be quite difficult to maintain the desired temperature, so this material should not be used for the building in which you are going to store food.

Diagram of a semi-buried brick cellar

Do-it-yourself cellar at the dacha: step-by-step construction guide

Strict adherence to the sequence of actions is the key to a proper cellar. How to make the construction as efficient as possible, spending a minimum of time and effort on it? To do this, installation work must be performed in a certain order.

Arrangement of the pit

The turf is removed from the selected area, after which the ground is leveled and markings are made. Many photos of a do-it-yourself cellar show that specialized construction equipment is often used to build a pit, but if this is not possible, then you can use shovels and spades. The advantage of working with hand tools is that it allows you to maintain the structure of the soil. If the soil in the selected area is loose, then the walls of the pit should be sloped to avoid crumbling.

Building a cellar with your own hands. Step 1: Digging a Hole

Construction of the foundation

Although you can do without this stage (by simply filling the bottom of the pit with crushed stone or filling it with bitumen), the arrangement of the foundation will increase the level of waterproofing of the cellar from groundwater. How to make the foundation as efficient as possible, but not too expensive? To do this, you can use a reinforcing frame, on top of which a concrete mixture is poured. The recommended foundation height is about 40 cm. Installation of the foundation is a prerequisite when building a cellar in a country house with your own hands if groundwater is close. Thematic videos on the Internet will tell you how to make the foundation correctly.

Building a cellar with your own hands. Step 2: laying out the foundation

Walling

If you use brick to build a cellar under your house with your own hands, then you will need a number of specialized tools. These include a trowel, mortar line, mason's hammer, mortar level and mortar bucket. For greater efficiency, you should use the help of another person.

Building a cellar with your own hands. Step 3: building walls

Helpful advice! Be sure to use a building level and plumb line when laying walls. Using the first, you check how evenly the brick is laid, and using the second, the correctness of the angles.

DIY cellar floor installation

Building a cellar with your own hands. Step 4: installation of the ceiling

Types and features of floor installation in the cellar

There are many different options for arranging a floor in a cellar; which one is better depends on your preferences, the purpose of the building, the characteristics of the soil and other factors. You should also familiarize yourself with the specifics of each method in advance; this will help you quickly and efficiently build a cellar with your own hands. Both video and photo instructions can greatly facilitate the installation process.

Dirt floor- the simplest and cheapest option. There is a misconception that the correct floor in the cellar should only be earthen, but this is not so. Even well-compacted soil will not protect the room from dampness and mold.

If you nevertheless decide to make a dirt floor in the cellar, then the base must be carefully leveled and compacted, after which a layer of gravel about 10 cm thick is poured. The advantage of this option is zero installation cost, but there are many more disadvantages. These include a high risk of flooding and a high probability that metal elements will rust and wooden elements will rot.

Cellar with bulk sand floor

Concrete floor– a good option to protect the room from high groundwater. Concrete screed can act not only as a floor covering, but also as a base for the installation of other materials.

To build a concrete floor, it is very important to level the surface, after which a cushion of crushed stone and sand 15-20 cm thick is installed. The sand must be thoroughly moistened and compacted, and bitumen must be poured on top. In order for the concrete base to be as strong as possible, a metal grate can be installed on top of the bitumen layer. After this, you can begin pouring concrete.

You can install the waterproofing layer either on a sand cushion or on top of concrete. In the second case, it is necessary to pour another concrete layer on top.

Clay floor- a reliable, but very labor-intensive option in terms of installation. Requires a large amount of high-quality material, so it is used quite rarely. Clay is considered one of the most environmentally friendly materials. It is laid on a base of crushed stone 10-15 cm thick, which can be impregnated with bitumen. Under the clay, it is worth installing a layer of waterproofing made of roofing felt or other material, and cracks that may form after drying are sealed with a clay-lime mixture.

The floor in the self-built cellar is made of concrete.

Brick covering– strong, durable and attractive in appearance. In addition, the material is quite cheap and easy to install. The brick floor is laid on a bed of fine crushed stone or gravel, and a clay mortar is poured on top. The bricks are slightly sunk into the mortar close to each other. You can also hammer cement mortar into the seams between the bricks using a stiff brush.

Note! For each of the materials you will need a separate set of tools, which it is better to purchase in advance.

Example of a ventilation device: 1 - for a cellar under the house; 2 - for a free-standing cellar

Design and installation of a cellar ventilation system

If you are building a ground-based structure, then the flow of air into the cellar can occur naturally through small openings. For underground structures, ventilation must be supply and exhaust. The outlet of the exhaust pipe should be located near the ceiling, and the suction pipe should be located near the floor. Many do-it-yourself photos of a cellar in a country house show that the ventilation outlets are equipped with special curtains, this allows you to more accurately control the temperature in the room.

Installation of stairs and doors

Doors are mounted in ground-based design options; in other cases, a hatch is used. Making a cellar hatch with your own hands is quite simple.

The cellar is equipped with a metal staircase

Making a hatch

a location for the future entrance is selected. It is very important that access to it is as simple as possible and not cluttered with shelves, drawers and other objects;
The dimensions of the hatch are determined. It all depends on your needs, but its parameters should not be less than 75x75 cm. In order for the room to be airtight, the side edges of the hatch must be sheathed with a sealant;
a cellar hatch cover is being made. How to make it light and durable? For this, it is best to use wooden boards impregnated with drying oil. They are connected to each other with slats, and a sheet of plywood is nailed to one side of the lid. If we are talking about a cellar in a residential building, then the top of the hatch cover can be sheathed with the same floor covering as the floor around it. It is worth considering that if you plan to install a cellar hatch under tiles, its design must be made of sufficiently durable materials that can withstand all the ceramics. If you prefer to use steel, then for the lid you will need a sheet with a thickness of at least 3 mm, which is welded onto a metal frame;

Diagram of a cellar hatch

a handle is attached. The best option would be a special hidden or folding design. If the cellar is located in a non-residential premises or there is a need to save money, then you can use a regular door handle;
the hinges are screwed on. These can be regular door hinges or car hinges with springs. The latter option will make it easier to open the lid and fix it in any position.

There are many answers to the question of how to make a cellar hatch with your own hands, so you should choose the option that is most suitable in your particular case.

Wiring and lighting

Due to the fact that the design of the cellar provides for high humidity, the wiring in it must be reliably insulated. The best option for wiring is copper wires with a double layer of insulation. Light bulbs should be placed in the driest places and additionally equipped with protective caps. It is strictly forbidden to make sockets when building a cellar. How to properly make wiring as safe as possible can be seen in training videos from specialists.

Light bulbs in the cellar must be placed in dry places and must be equipped with caps

Installation of waterproofing in the cellar

As already mentioned, insulation from moisture is a very important point when building a cellar in a country house with your own hands. How to make waterproofing most effective - there are many options, and the choice of the optimal one depends on the level of soil moisture and the design features of the building.

Waterproofing can be external or internal. The external one is done during the construction stage, while the external walls are sheathed with insulating materials, and gutters, drainage wells and other structures are installed. Internal insulation is done after the cellar is built. In this case, before using insulating materials, groundwater must be drained, otherwise the work will be ineffective.

Types of materials used for internal waterproofing

If you made a cellar in your country house with your own hands from waterproof concrete, then you are unlikely to need additional cladding with insulating material. But for a brick structure you can use the following waterproofing options:

mastic or bitumen - used in cases where the groundwater level is below floor level. The solution is heated and applied in a thin layer to the walls, resulting in the formation of a reliable waterproof film;

Membrane type waterproofing material

penetrating waterproofing is the most expensive, but also the most effective option. It is good because it increases not only the level of resistance of walls to moisture, but also their frost resistance. Also, penetrating waterproofing reliably seals all cracks and micropores, is characterized by a long service life and is quickly installed;
Cement-based polymer mortar is one of the most reliable and easy-to-apply waterproofing materials. It fits tightly to the walls and reliably protects them from mechanical damage;
membrane-type moisture insulation - consists of various polymers, among which liquid rubber based on bitumen is very popular.

Note! It is very important to have effective ventilation for reliable waterproofing of a cellar in a country house with your own hands. How to build a ventilation system so that excess moisture does not condense in the storage? The installation of a supply and exhaust system is best suited for this.

Scheme of thermal and waterproofing of the cellar

Procedure for installing waterproofing

Before installing penetrating moisture insulation, the surface of the walls must be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and dust, and then moistened with water. After applying the insulation layer for several days, it also needs to be constantly moistened. Before installing penetrating waterproofing, concrete walls are treated with a wire brush.

One of the most effective options for moisture protection is penetrating waterproofing.

To apply liquid rubber, the walls must be leveled and cleaned. After this, the surface is primed and a waterproofing material is applied to it using a brush, spatula or roller. Finishing materials can be mounted directly on a layer of liquid rubber after it has dried. Photos of wine cellars, for example, show that the walls are lined with wood panels.

The cement-polymer mixture is applied to well-moistened walls using a notched trowel or brush. It is best to do this in several layers.

DIY installation of shelves in the cellar: photos and instructions

Wooden shelving is one of the most common answers to the question of what to make a shelf from in the cellar. The material is environmentally friendly and easy to use, and for shelving it is best to use timber with a cross-section of 100x100 mm and boards 3-4 cm thick. The installation scheme is very simple - racks are made from timber, in which sockets are cut to secure the shelves. In order for wooden shelves to last longer, they are impregnated with special compounds;

Installation dimensions of a wooden cellar rack

Concrete shelving is a good option if you want to know how to make your cellar shelves as durable and moisture-resistant as possible. To create concrete shelves, you can use reinforced concrete slabs or niches in the walls that are filled with concrete screed;
shelves made of steel angle – used in rooms with low humidity levels, otherwise the structures can very quickly begin to rust. In order to make a shelf in a cellar for cans, as a rule, a welding machine is used, but you can get by with simple self-tapping screws. First, frames are made from metal slats, then shelves are attached to them;
plastic shelving is one of the most economical and simple options, which is distinguished by its attractive appearance and resistance to moisture. However, plastic does not tolerate low temperatures quite well, so it cannot boast of durability.

Helpful advice! When wondering how to make a shelf in the cellar with your own hands, and what material to choose for this, consider the level of humidity in the room, as well as the average weight of the cans and boxes that will be stored on the racks. Concrete can easily withstand even very heavy loads, but plastic cannot boast of this.

There are wooden shelves along the walls of the cellar

When the construction and interior arrangement of the cellar is completed, you can think about the exterior decoration of the above-ground structure. Its option depends solely on your preferences - you can simply pour an earthen mound, or you can decorate it with turf or ornamental grass, turning it into an element of landscape design. During the process of building a cellar with your own hands, use video and photo instructions that will help you take into account all the nuances and arrange a practical and functional room.

Construction Materials

Peter Kravets

Reading time: 3 minutes

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On summer cottage you can build a room that will be cool and keep the products in the right condition throughout the winter.

By making a mini-cellar in your dacha, you can store vegetables and fruits grown on the site, processed crops, or prepared and preserved food there. In some cases, you can do all the work yourself, making a cellar with your own hands.

In order for it to function correctly, it is necessary to comply with all the rules for the construction and arrangement of the premises, then it can be used for many years.

As a rule, a cellar is built either under the house in which they live, or on the site in the form of a separate structure. Its main purpose is to store food supplies in the winter, and in the summer, when the temperature is quite high, the remaining food should be kept cool.

If you properly make shelving and distribute stored products in the space of an underground storage facility, you can significantly increase the functionality of such a room.

Cellars can be of several types depending on the level of their penetration into the ground:

In dry places, an underground structure is made;
In damp places where the level of water flow in the soil is at an average level, a semi-underground cellar is made;
If the soil is waterlogged and the groundwater level is high, an above-ground building is built, arranged like a cellar.

In areas where the soil is too wet and groundwater flows close, it is necessary to make a cushion from a mixture of sand and gravel. Then the basement structure will be separated from the ground and protected from the penetration of groundwater during its seasonal rise.

To build a cellar, you do not need to obtain special permits from regulatory authorities, but each owner of a private house must independently determine the location for its arrangement, taking into account certain features.

Experts recommend choosing a dry area, preferably at some elevation, away from trees and forests. This is due to the fact that the roots of mature trees can damage the underground room if it is located nearby.

These requirements do not apply to shrubs; their shallow root system will only entwine the structure, even if it develops so deep into the ground.

Once the location has been chosen, preparations for the construction of the winter storage can begin. All of the above stages of work apply to semi-underground and completely underground premises.

Regarding above-ground buildings, a different technology will be applied to them, which has much in common with the construction of houses and other structures of this type.

Pit preparation

The construction of a cellar begins with the arrangement of a foundation pit for the future structure. It is necessary to take into account the following requirements for the hole being dug:

The depth of digging a pit is calculated based on the design features of the future cellar - its functionality and dimensions;
The area of the pit should exceed the planned premises, but not by much. The walls of the room and its floor also occupy a certain space;
To prevent the soil from crumbling, temporary formwork is placed along the edges of the pit and its walls;
All soil that is removed must be left nearby, since it will be needed for the installation of formwork and the future arrangement of the storage facility.

If the cellar is made under the house, then there will be no need to arrange floors, since the floor at the level of the first floor will cope with this problem perfectly.

Base structure in the form of a floor

The most suitable option The base of the cellar will be filled with concrete mixture. To do this, garbage and other foreign elements are removed from the pit.

The entire surface must be carefully leveled and compacted, after which a layer of 15 centimeters of sand is poured. A membrane for waterproofing and a reinforcing mesh is placed on top, which will strengthen the subsequent layer of poured concrete.

Thus, when choosing base options for a cellar, you should pay attention to the concrete base because of its strength and reliability.

The walls in a mini-cellar at the dacha must, despite their compactness, withstand all the pressure that the soil exerts on them. For construction, concrete mixture, blocks, wood or brick are used. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, application features and installation technologies.

But the limitation in the estimate also plays a role, due to which it is possible to use those materials that are available, for example, after the construction of the main residential building.

Laying floors

One of the flooring options is wooden beams. Elements that will perform a load-bearing function are laid with their ends on opposite walls, on top of which a covering of boards is sheathed. A membrane is placed on top to protect against water penetration and prevent the formation of condensation.

An alternative could be reinforced concrete slabs, already prepared and purchased from the manufacturer. They are much stronger and will last longer than wood, which is why they are so widespread in construction. The slabs are placed on the ends of the walls and covered with earth.

This method is very simple to set up and is recommended by specialists.

Creating high-quality ventilation

Proper air circulation in the room will avoid the appearance of mold and fungal infections, which are present in any room in a dormant state, and when high humidity appears, they begin to multiply, covering all surfaces of the cellar.

Also proper ventilation will support optimal temperature indoors throughout the year.

To do this, two pipes are installed, one of which is called the supply pipe, and the second is called the exhaust pipe. Can be used plastic pipes medium diameters. But the size will depend directly on the dimensions of the room.

The supply pipe is installed in one of the corners of the cellar at a distance of 20 centimeters from the floor, and the exhaust elements are placed in the opposite corner at a distance of 40 centimeters from the ceiling. Due to the difference in levels there will be an influx fresh air and the outlet of the exhaust moist air from the cellar to the outside.

Features of building a cellar with a high groundwater level

If the water in the soil passes very close to the surface, then the problem of arranging a cellar arises. It’s worth noting right away that this is quite possible, you just need to take care of drainage around the perimeter of the entire structure.

Advantages of a drainage device

For arrangement drainage system for a cellar, perforated elements are installed at the bottom of the pit along the entire perimeter. Installation is done at a slight slope, about 2 centimeters per linear meter, pointing towards a collection well or a special pit for water drainage.

All pipes are covered with crushed stone, having previously been wrapped in layers of geotextile. This arrangement will protect the surfaces of the pipes from corrosion, and the drainage holes from the ingress of dirt, rubble or other debris.

If the floor is made of reinforced concrete, then high-quality waterproofing is necessary both inside and outside. You can make the room airtight by using a large plastic container.

Such a caisson is buried in the soil and, due to the solidity of its structure, does not allow moisture to penetrate inside. The arrangement of this option requires a special sequence of work in compliance with all construction rules and regulations.

Recommendations for arranging a mini-cellar at your dacha with your own hands

For comfortable use of the cellar, you need to make convenient descents and ascents into the room. A wide and comfortable staircase with a width of 40 centimeters will help with this. Its slope can be made up to 75 degrees, otherwise the main requirement will be violated - safety for the descent of a person. All stairs are made of wood, metal or concrete.

To store products correctly and accurately, it is worth making racks and shelves in the cellar, usually from timber with a diameter of 100*100. The height of such storage devices is limited by the height of the room and common sense.

Having finished arranging the cellar on the site, it is worth thinking about its lighting; even in such an underground space you can make safe switches and wiring.

They must be protected from moisture, since even the waterproofing made can be damaged at any time due to force majeure.