floating foundation advantages and disadvantages

A slab is a great place to bury electrical work, plumbing, central vacuum tubes, phone and internet lines, speaker wires, and most importantly, tubing for radiant floor heat.Ī slab-on-grade means no basement, no basement walls, just one slab of concrete on which you build your house. It can also be much cheaper, more ecologically sensible, and offer a better quality of life to build 'up' instead of 'down'.Ĭheck out our video building guide: passive solar slab-on-grade construction Slab-on-Grade Construction is best if: Slab on grade polished concrete floor © Bala StructuresĪ slab floor is a fantastic way to start a passive solar home, as your entire floor surface consists of several inches of thermal mass to absorb heat. It will also account for between 10 to 15 percent of the total building costs, which does not include finishing the inside basement walls, or building a floor on top of it.Īnd if you remember the 'One-Tonne Challenge' that asked Canadians to reduce thier carbon emissions by one tonne in a year, well this one move could offer you a century of success in that. The production of one ton of Portland cement releases one ton of greenhouse gases, and the average home foundation wall uses between 75 and 100 tons. Building basements ‘just because’ invites unnecessary costs, potential humidity problems, and greater environmental consequences. Factor in a subfloor and finished flooring, you’ll be lucky to stay under $40,000. Concrete foundations - pros & cons:įor a modest sized home, a concrete foundation will cost you easily between $20,000 and $30,000.

When space is limited (with total footprint and height restrictions) a basement foundation may be the best option, but if space allows there is a strong case for avoiding basements altogether and choosing to build a slab-on-grade instead. The first factors to consider when designing the foundation system for a home are lot size and soil conditions. Traditionally, home construction often starts with a concrete basement foundation - But is that the best choice?

Is an insulated slab on grade the best foundation choice? Or is a basement better?

Floating foundation advantages and disadvantages