Hello.
According to the architect, a strip foundation should be more cost-effective. We are planning a single-family house with a basement.
In my opinion, however, such a foundation involves considerably more work, whereas a slab foundation without strip footing would just require a few centimeters more concrete... Labor costs are often higher than the raw materials. We don’t have any quotes yet since we are not that far along, but I would still be interested in your experiences.
The energy consultant prefers the slab foundation, as it is easier to insulate and carries less risk of thermal bridges – which makes sense to me.
What are your experiences with this?
Thanks and best regards from Swabia.
According to the architect, a strip foundation should be more cost-effective. We are planning a single-family house with a basement.
In my opinion, however, such a foundation involves considerably more work, whereas a slab foundation without strip footing would just require a few centimeters more concrete... Labor costs are often higher than the raw materials. We don’t have any quotes yet since we are not that far along, but I would still be interested in your experiences.
The energy consultant prefers the slab foundation, as it is easier to insulate and carries less risk of thermal bridges – which makes sense to me.
What are your experiences with this?
Thanks and best regards from Swabia.
There is always a slab foundation.
Strip footings are required when structurally necessary or practical. This can be the case, for example, if the slab would have to be excessively thick to support the load or if the soil is not sufficiently stable.
Example from our construction project:
The soil was not stable enough up to about 1.40 meters (4 feet 7 inches) below the planned bottom edge of the slab.
Recommendation according to the soil report: completely excavate the soil and refill it in layers with compacted gravel.
Alternatively, strip footings under all walls as specified in the soil report, excavation plan, and by the structural engineer.
Although a significant amount of concrete was used for the strip footings, this alternative was about 4,000 euros cheaper.
Edit: Of course, the planned slab was then poured on top of the strip footings.
Strip footings are required when structurally necessary or practical. This can be the case, for example, if the slab would have to be excessively thick to support the load or if the soil is not sufficiently stable.
Example from our construction project:
The soil was not stable enough up to about 1.40 meters (4 feet 7 inches) below the planned bottom edge of the slab.
Recommendation according to the soil report: completely excavate the soil and refill it in layers with compacted gravel.
Alternatively, strip footings under all walls as specified in the soil report, excavation plan, and by the structural engineer.
Although a significant amount of concrete was used for the strip footings, this alternative was about 4,000 euros cheaper.
Edit: Of course, the planned slab was then poured on top of the strip footings.
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Peanuts7417 Aug 2016 14:27Sebastian79 schrieb:
Because you can't build frost-free foundations with just a slab-on-grade...But I guess it also depends on the slope where the house is built and how deep you fill with gravel, right?
We built on a slope and just used a slab-on-grade...
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Sebastian7917 Aug 2016 14:32You’re funny – if you build on crushed stone, you don’t need a strip foundation.
In this question, I’m assuming the soil is sufficiently load-bearing.
In this question, I’m assuming the soil is sufficiently load-bearing.
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Peanuts7417 Aug 2016 14:48There is some gravel layer anyway, right?
The load-bearing soil was about 20–30cm (8–12 inches) deeper than the house’s intended foundation level, so it was filled with gravel, and the slab was poured on top of that...
The load-bearing soil was about 20–30cm (8–12 inches) deeper than the house’s intended foundation level, so it was filled with gravel, and the slab was poured on top of that...
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Sebastian7917 Aug 2016 14:49No, you don’t generally do that. You should fill with gravel if you want to have load-bearing, natural soil—except on slopes, where frost protection might be necessary.
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Peanuts7417 Aug 2016 15:03No idea. In every quote we received, there was something about 20cm (8 inches) of gravel beneath the slab...
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