Slab on grade / Discussions

...ondensation ? Does it create condensation problems? does it help with insulation / change the insulation options? 3. Is there a way to have a slab foundation is more economical in the amount of materials needed? Thanks A slab on grade foundation would be my preference over building on piers for a few reasons, namely yo...

...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...

...slabs (connected or touching) with 1 building on both slabs? There should be no reason that you couldn't attach a new slab on grade foundation to an existing slab provided the existing slab is not showing signs of frost heave or significant cracking. This page should help- How to build a slab on grade - a comprehensive...

...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...

...one 4b. I would like to build a Slab on Grade foundation. Reinforced concrete perimeter footings approximately 12" x 40" deep, and a 4" thick concrete slab on top of 2" rigid insulation. This will be a monolithic pour. The top of slab will be approx 12" above the soil. I plan to isulate the outside face of the perimete...

...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 dry. My main reason for considering a crawl space is I would like everything on one l...

...on where the inside of the foundation stem walls are insulated and the rest of the horizontal part of the foundation is foam insulation mon on the bottom followed by 4" of AB topped with 5" of concrete? From what you describe above, no, your stem walls will not offer any thermal mass heat regulation, but your slab will...

...slab on grade for a 20 by 14 room extension on a main house with Poured concrete dirt floor crawl space.  Yes, you can pour a slab on grade as a frost protected shallow foundation directly adjacent to a house with an existing foundation. You would need to have it properly engineered of course a good possible solution i...

...on a concrete pillar below the frost line, how would you integrate the Slab on grade with that construction? There isn’t a case where we would suggest going below the frost line with frost walls for a slab on grade, we prefer to to stay on grade and install a skirt of insulation around the perimeter of the building. On...

...slab on grade will be more durable and resilient than a basement. The only reason a slab would crack and damage a house is if it isn’t properly made. Assuming you don’t build on a flood plain, a slab will also not flood. With a basement, you can take measures to protect it, but there will always be at risk of flooding ...

...slab on grade, but these are not sold separately, they are a feature offered the company if you have them provide an engineered slab on grade foundation kit. Alternatively with a hand-built slab on grade foundation, you can remove a few inches of insulation where door openings will go to allow concrete to pour over it ...

...on, which then lends itself to the constant problem of erosion unless the backfil is contained in a crib of some sort.  Also, in order to save on costs building the shop, can I vary the slab thickness to accomodate different loading or do I have to pour one massive slab? I have a 12 tonne truck in one area, footprints ...

...onstrution. A heated floor can have a detrimental effect on some types of flooring, but there are many options. Is this a concrete floor? The easiest way is to just to polish it, a polished concrete floor is durable and affordable, and there is no problem if its heated. It’s more a problem with solid wood, the extreme ...

...on helical piles.  It is fairly common to find expansive soils such as leda clay in the Bas Saint Laurent region so I’m wondering if that was what steered you in the direction of building a home on piles. Another option to explore – what we like for ecological reasons among many other reasons – building a raft slab on ...

...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...

...Ontario (Zone 6A). We want heated slab on grade but are concerned about preventing seasonal issues in winter. Legalett systems look very good especially their air radiant system. The question for us is what happens in winter when we are away for a few weeks? We'd need to keep heat on? At what level? Would pipe size in ...

...slab with footings. The contractor is suggesting 2 inches of insulation and 3 inches of concrete, which seems too little base on what I have read. What do you recommend the thickness to be for the insulation and the concrete for the slab and radiant floor system? Thank you. If you install only 2 inches of insulation un...