Home Slab Pointers
Home Slab Pointers
(OP)
Can anyone suggest a good reference to review which will cover the high points to consider for a residential slab? My future slab will be on sandy soil - hard clay under approximately 3 feet of sandy soil.





RE: Home Slab Pointers
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Home Slab Pointers
RE: Home Slab Pointers
The PCA site appears to be a goldmine of information.
I agree that it is prudent to have the finished concept reviewed by someone with the appropriate experience; that is probably a governmental requirement to obtain permits also.
RE: Home Slab Pointers
RE: Home Slab Pointers
RE: Home Slab Pointers
RE: Home Slab Pointers
302.1R-96: Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction if you can stand the $91.50 price (before shipping).
The web address is http://www.concrete.org/BOOKSTORE/bkstr.htm
If you live near a university, they may have it in their engineering or architecture library. Boo1's 1/20/04 post has good advice.
Good luck.
RE: Home Slab Pointers
Thanks again to all.
RE: Home Slab Pointers
RE: Home Slab Pointers
I looked at a slab that was setout and ready to be poured for a home for a client. The client is the type that reads everything and then applies the new found knowledge (which is great when they get it right). He changed the entire house layout from single storey to double storey to reduce the size of the slab to save money (a bit of tail chasing because the cost of the additional level was similar to the cost of the extra slab). He then talked the designer into providing a reduced interior beam depth and to state the sandy silt as being suitable for founding on (BP 100kPa but will be easily effected by moisture related movement).
During our discussion he mentioned that he was pleased he saved $5000 on the slab cost, now he could place imported tiles and have the more expensive taps in the bathroom. He then got rather upset when I told him that he was a fool. I explained to him that yes he has saved a dollar on the critically important footing of his home but had then blown it on the trivial internal fitout items.
The designer (drafting firm) was promptly contacted by myself and was advised that the slab was marginal in design. The designer advised that the building surveyor had passed the drawings so it wasn't his problem any more. The building surveyor said that the design complied with the relevant standards (despite a lot of marginal assumptions being made by the designer and the building surveyor).
I have advised the building surveyor, designer and owner in writing that my site classification report should now be considered void because the recommended founding depth has been ignored. I can't wait for the law suits in 2 years time when the damn thing moves.
So the moral of the storey is yes do your own research so you can better understand what people are telling you, but take their advice and don't use your new found knowledge to try and cut costs.
regards
sc