Slab foundation / Discussions

...slab-on-grade house using ICF walls and SIP roof.  We are trying to decide on the best mechanical options that would address heating and cooling and be integrated with a geothermal loop.  Any suggestions would be great.  Thanks

...slab on grade foundation - or frost protected shallow foundation - is a great alternative to a standard foundation, and they work in all climates, contrary to what a lot of people think. This page is a great start for all things slab related - How to buid a slab on grade foundation - the Ecohome A to Z guide You open u...

...slab on grade foundation starts with building it on a suitable base that won't heave and that has sufficient drainage. First I would read this page - How to build a slab on grade foundation: the Ecohome step by step guide We can advise you on the best practices for building a slab on grade, but you would still need a d...

...Slab Foundation: This concrete floor is not intended as a structural slab foundation. Should I directly design it as a traditional slab foundation? In this case, the thickness would be around 4-to-6 inches. Floor Sandwich Structure: I'd like to understand how the layers of the floor system should be structured for this...

...foundation uses 'insulation' as insulation instead, read more here on our slab guide page - How to build a slab on grade foundation in a cold climate and prevent frost heave Wyoming is a cold climate for sure, but there are much colder climates with slabs that never had a problem. what is missing from the equation in w...

I am in the early stages of planning a new home build. Am I correct in assuming that slab on grade constuction with passive floor heating would rule out the use of a heat pump. Also I would question your depiction of crawl spaces as damp and moldy. In a previous house I built with ICF walls the crawlspace was warm and ...

I'm designing our new home in Anchorage, Alaska (building zone 7) to be insulated to R-40 or better ICF walls and an appropriate level of insulation in the roof and slab. I'm taking inspiration from Passive House but not pursuing the official certification. We've already decided on finished concrete floors throughout t...

I posted this elsewhere before i found this page: i am trying to decide on slab on grade vs basement for TOTAL cost. While i know SOG is cheaper than basement, i can do 750 sq ft on top of 750 sq ft basement with finishing in two years after concrete dries vs about 1200 sq. feet with SOG to accomodate our total needs. ...

...slab with dimple membrane, 2" XPS and osb/plywood achored with tapcons. The problem here is that there's a significant slope to a central drain (4" at the lowest). I will be removing that drain and other old cast iron pipes. If I level with sleepers, there will be multiple breaks in the insulation.  My ideas was as fol...

...slab on grade foundation. My builder was suggesting that we at least start with the foundation in the fall and then start work back up again in the spring. This may be okay when installing a full basement foundation, but can a slab foundation hold up in the cold new england winters without any protection from the eleme...

...slab on grade raft slab which only requires digging 6 inches down to remove the organic layer as it is all built on a flat surface with no thickened edge footing needed. Raft slabs distribute the load of the building evenly over the whole surface. The page linked above is an example of just such a slab.   

...slab still be in tact? What happens if the slab cracks and part of the house tilts? Here you have lots of old houses on basements that are still standing. With a basements you can redo basement walls, easily get to plumbing etc. With a slab what happens when a pipe breaks in the slab? How can you even find leaks? What ...

...slab this slab it really needs an experienced engineer, so I would check with your engineer that this is within their wheelhouse, if not I would look into a company that specializes in providing engineered slab on grade prefab kits where point loads are all considered and engineered for you, as well as skirting.  

...slab EPS foam insulation is nothing compared to the labor required to switch to an entirely different method of insulating. I would first point you to this page -  Slab on grade technical guide We have other pages on slab construction as well that are worth looking at, you can find them if you enter slab on grade in th...

We want to build an eco home in the hudson valley. We are not sure where to start on finding land and coming up with a suitable budget. We would really appreciate advice either for where to start or for a company that might be able to work with us. This is our first time building a home. There is a lot to think about w...

...slab will heave, crack, etc.  Also, do you have a list of foundation contractors who have experience with building these slabs? Having built several LEED certified High performance homes on slabs with different methods, our preferred method on how to build a slab on grade would be with an engineered prefab raft slab ki...

...foundation supports the house evenly and did not need a lot of fill dirt. What is my best option for cost and energy savings? should I just use a stander slab, or do you have something like this without the heated floors that would work better? A Legalett raft slab has an optional air heated radiant floor, but it is no...

...slab you may be bettter with a raft slab that spreads the weight evenly over the whole surface. But for your general knowledge, here is our guide on slab foundations -  Technical guide on how to build a slab on grade foundation  It is more than the thickness of concrete that will determine its structural integrity, it ...