StarDestroyer.Net BBS

All the new houses around here are being built on concrete slabs instead of the older raised foundations. I was just curious, is this done for economic reasons or is there something better about a slab from an engineering point of view?

Are slabs common all around the country now or just here in CA ? Most houses here dont have basements, and newer tract homes, never have basements.

I'd imagine it's for stability on soft land...

Slabs are cheap and quick. Its hard on the feet, though.

Howedar wrote:Slabs are cheap and quick.

The true not only of the slab its self, but its easier to build everything else on top of one as well. They are also better for earthquakes then a riased foundation, but only if built stoutly.

Basements are not found with many new houses because they're expensive and slow to dig and also can be quite expensive to maintain in many areas.

Yes, but you leave out the intermediate of the crawlspace system.

Thats what our house has, and I like it that way.

It also is an advantage when it comes to resisting Termites...

It is the way to build in the South.. also if you have a high water table or build on marsh land....

I think warmth has something to do with it as well.

Also, if you can get in before the concrete sets, you can write your name in it.

Thanks all for the answers. I spend about an hour under the house Im helping fix up. Having a crawl space certainly makes running wires easier.

It's also because on soft ground they tend not to have the same problems with settling. Quite simply there's less weight to worry about not to mention it's quicker and cheaper.