foundations-structures / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

What is the difference between a slab on grade and a crawl space? A slab on grade, or ‘frost protected shallow foundation’ is exactly that, a slab of concrete on the ground. There’s more to it of course, but let’s start with a ‘win’ in the comprehension department shall we?  A slab on grade rests directly on the groun...

Sustainable excavation: a homeowner's & pro's guide Building a new sustainable home or adding space for your family with a home addition is always a very exciting prospect, and its success rests quite literally on the first step of a proper excavation. Poorly planned excavation can lead to foundation issues, water ...

What is the difference between a slab on grade and a crawl space? A slab on grade, or ‘frost protected shallow foundation’ is exactly that, a slab of concrete on the ground. There’s more to it of course, but let’s start with a ‘win’ in the comprehension department shall we?  A slab on grade rests directly on the groun...

Self-healing concrete: how bacteria in concrete works to heal itself. The construction industry is witnessing a shift toward resilient and autonomous materials, with self-healing concrete (also known as bio-concrete) leading the charge for 2026. This technology allows foundations and slabs to repair their own cracks, p...

What exactly is a monolithic concrete slab? Imagine a monolithic slab as a large, continuous structurally solid 'plate' of concrete that makes up your home's foundation. The whole thing is poured at one time, combining both the finished concrete floor and its thickened edge footing. This single pour method is a real g...

Deck building tips for a durable deck construction: Meeting setbacks and getting building permits in Canada & US Raised Deck frame specification - make sure the structure is strong enough Which raised deck foundations are best: cement pillars (Sonotubes), screw piles, floating deck blocks What's the best type of d...

Slab-on-grade construction - technical guide   Deciding to build your home with a slab-on-grade foundation instead of a conventional basement or raised crawlspace foundation can greatly reduce your environmental impact during construction, and has the potential to offer significant financial savings as well. By replaci...

Should I renovate, remodel or rebuild? This very question comes up a lot for me during site consultations with clients. Some people buy an old home, maybe inherit an old home, or are just tired of living in an old home and aren’t sure of the best course of action. We toil over the same decision with old cars; sometimes...

Wood, steel and concrete each have specific structural advantages, each with their own characteristics. The following is a life-cycle comparison conducted by the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute (ASMI) of the materials only, and does not include any considerations of how they each affect thermal performance, vapo...

A frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is a well-proven alternative to deeper, more-costly foundations for cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave. And the simplest way to build a solid and dependable foundation is to use frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) forms. This co...

Why build a frost protected shallow foundation using prefabricated foam forms? Building a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is a well-proven alternative to building deeper, more costly foundations in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave. Traditional foundations for cold c...