![]() I staggered the direction of the foam tiles to prevent seams from aligning between the two layers. To protect from frost heave, and to add energy-efficiency, I put down 2 layers of 1.5” XPS foam. We then spread 3” of #57 gravel, and 3” of #304 gravel, which we compacted with a plate compactor. Here is the basic breakdown of the steps: Step 1: ExcavationĪs I mentioned above, we were able to complete the entire home excavation with a small garden tractor. While I’ve bragged on the ease and simplicity of my monolithic slab, it was still a detailed process. A stem-wall foundation is far more common than monolithic.ĭetails of My Monolithic Slab Construction People like to do things the traditional way.(This is how typical stem-wall foundations are constructed.) What many people don’t realize is that proper insulation techniques on a monolithic slab can protect the foundation from frost, eliminating the risk of freeze heave. For this reason, there is a misconception that all foundation walls must sit below the frost line, which is 32” underground here in Ohio. The freezing and thawing of the ground can cause cracks and structural issues in your foundation. Freeze heave occurs when ice forms underneath the soil.If you think you “need” a basement, this foundation will not work for you, because you need foundation walls.If your home needs to be built high off the ground due to being in a flood zone, a monolithic slab doesn’t allow for this elevation.Too much concrete is required to compensate for the slope of the ground. If your ground is not even, a monolithic slab is not a great option.(Gotta love Ohio winters!) Here are some of the reasons that people shy away from monolithic slabs: They are not common – especially in colder climates. When the building inspector looked at my slab, he admitted he had never seen anything like it. ![]() ![]() Every minute we saved in the foundation process was a minute earlier that we could start framing. Anyone who has ever built a house knows that time is money. Only having 1 concrete pour, rather than 3, also saved us a significant amount of time. For the simple excavation process, my brother brought over his handy garden tractor and did all of the ground prep work in 2 days. We got the entire foundation prepped, poured and cut within a week. I also saved money by not having to buy block, only having to pay for one concrete pour, and significantly reducing labor costs. If someone told you that you could save $20,000 on your foundation without sacrificing quality or durability, would you do it? (Of course!) Because I don’t have a basement (a blog post for another day) and I didn’t have to dig footers, my excavation was a breeze. I Saved Tons of Money on My Monolithic Slab I was also able to maintain a continuous air barrier from the slab to the exterior walls. I plan on utilizing the slab as a thermal mass to hold heat on sunshiny days, so having that insulation is important. The monolithic design allowed me to put 2 layers of 1.5” XPS foam in the slab. If you know anything about my new home build, you know that energy efficiency is at the core of every decision I make. My Monolithic Slab is Well-Insulated and Helps with Energy Efficiency While there’s nothing wrong with a traditional stem-wall foundation, there are a number of reasons why I chose to move forward with a monolithic slab. Monolithic slabs combine those all into one piece, and act as part of the structure of the house.įor those nerdy building science guys and gals (like me), here is a detailed diagram of my foundation: Why Choose a Monolithic Slab? Traditional foundations, often referred to as stem-wall, typically take 3 pours – the footing, foundation walls and then slab. In my design, the concrete is 12” thick around the perimeter to support the load-bearing walls with a 4” thick slab in the middle. What is a Monolithic Slab?Ī monolithic slab is a concrete foundation that is completed in one pour. If you know anything about me or the home I’m building, you’ll know that it’s not exactly traditional. That said, I promised to take you along my energy-efficient home-building journey, so sharing about my foundation seems like a good place to start. Turns out building a house takes a lot of time and energy. It has been a while since you heard from me. Learn about the benefits of a monolithic slab over a traditional concrete foundation, and see how I implemented this in my energy-efficient home.
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