Pea gravel, drainage tiles and water barriers can be used help with most water issues in very saturated places, too. In areas where flooding or heavy rainfall is possible, a sump pump typically is installed to pump water out of the basement if it starts to become flooded. Most of the time, basements that serve as entire rooms or floors require a specific foundation. There are other types of below-ground storage and access that can be managed with a more standard foundational structure, though.

A slab foundation is built into the ground at ground level and generally provides no available space below the first level of the house. A crawlspace foundation is built at ground level or is slightly raise above the ground, and a small space, usually just wide enough for a person to crawl through, is available under the first level of the house. This crawlspace can be used to access or install pipes and electrical wiring below the house, and it sometimes can be used for additional storage space.

A post-and-pier foundation is used in areas where flooding is possible or likely, and it is constructed so that the home is raised off the ground. The posts upon which the house stands must be driven deep enough into the ground to provide for a solid and stable foundation.

What about a hybrid - we don't need a full basement, what are the implications of having half of the footprint as a slab, and half basement? A hybrid can be done no problem, but it would add cost and building complication, so if it were me I wouldn't do it unless there was a very good reason due to the building terrain a house was to sit on.

A hybrid would still leave you with embedding stuff in concrete as well as the durability concerns of a basement, so that sounds to me like it will ensure you are concerned out about it whichever one you choose :. We are currently building a new demo house, on a slab, here is a video of the install if you want to have a peek. It is entirely above grade, and as I write, the house on top is being built, which will be insulated with cellulose recycled news print.

Here are some other pages on slabs for your interest. Your question raises pertinent points. Basements are certainly useful, but from an environmental point of view, the benefits of slab-on-grade construction over a basement are undeniable, you can read all the pros and cons here -.

And have a look at the Edelweiss House that we built a few years ago, it is a 4 bedroom home or three and storage room.

A slab-on-grade home or building is more affordable, more comfortable and more Eco-friendly. Installing 8 inches of Roxul mineral wool below a concrete slab floor. Insulating below slab-on-grade foundations Why insulate under a slab on grade foundation…. One of the first decisions when building a home is what type of foundations to sit your home on - cold-climates, termites, problem expansive clay soils, insula….

The importance of properly insulating basements cannot be stressed enough. Uninsulated basements and poorly insulated basements can be responsible for as much …. How to build a slab-on-grade foundation saving money on basement frost walls for home construction with a Frost Protected Shallow Foundation. Slab on Grade fou…. Whether a house is worth rebuilding or is better torn down depends on a lot of factors, many of them personal, but also financial considerations like grants, s….

Why are basements moldy? Because we build walls so they can't dry. Simple changes in wall design will result in mould-free durable basements. Basements don't h…. Slab-on-grade technical guide. Insulating below slab-on-grade floors. Slab on grade or crawlspaces, which is better? Properly insulating basements and concrete slab floors. How to insulate crawlspaces properly as part of renovating an older home. Can you replace an old slab foundation with an air heated slab? What are the factors I should consider for choosing between a slab on grade and….

Why do you say building on a slab is more ecological than starting with a basem…. Does slab on grade need to have in floor heating? Can you help me decide between a foundation, slab on grade and crawlspace? Basement reno - How do I effectively insulate my basement?

Insulation on interior or exterior of frost wall - or both - for floating slab? Fridge organization - how to optimize fridges to reduce food waste and why it …. Google Maps updated to show most eco friendly and fuel efficient routes first.

Home foundation trends in are encouraging for sustainability as slab on gr…. Guides Foundations and Basements New foundations and slab-on-grade Foundation choices Considering between slab-on-grade construction compared to foundations and crawlspace or a basement? Take the first step of home design in deciding which foundations to build on!

Ecohome March 25, Last updated: July 28, Is an insulated slab on grade the best foundation choice? Or is a basement better? Concrete is hard , and consequently not as comfortable for standing. Without a basement you will need to account for a main floor laundry and utility room, so factor that into your plans. A utility room can be noisy, so try to situate it away the general living areas and be sure to soundproof the walls. Be sure to check out The EcoHome Slab-on-grade Technical guide too Foundations with a basement make sense if: As we mentioned, not all sites are suitable for a slab.

Insulating under concrete floors is essential Many building codes have only recently insisted on the inclusion of insulation below concrete basement floors , and as always, it is important to realize that the requirements of building codes are the bare minimum only. Comments 35 R. Rochell Dec. Mike Jan. Mike Reynolds Jan. Ecohome Jan. Jayme-Lyn Jan. John Morgan Jan. Mike March 11, , a. Pierre March 12, , a. Adam March 23, , p. Brian Knowles April 22, , p.

Suzanne May 2, , p. Richard Langley July 27, , a. Anonymous Aug. Richard Langley Dec. Anonymous Jan. Ecohome March 13, , p. Ecohome July 8, , p. Henri T. De Souza July 29, , 2 p. Sharleen Peitsch-Tyerman Dec. Related products See more. FAQs Can you replace an old slab foundation with an air heated slab? What are the factors I should consider for choosing between a slab on grade and basement? So much so that we have a page highlighting the pros and cons, check it out - Slab on Grade or Foundation and Basement; Which is Best?

But to address your questions specifically, I've included your questions in the response to make it easier for both of us - 1. A hybrid would still leave you with embedding stuff in concrete as well as the durability concerns of a basement, so that sounds to me like it will ensure you are concerned out about it whichever one you choose : We are currently building a new demo house, on a slab, here is a video of the install if you want to have a peek.

Best practices for insulating basements Choosing between a slab and a basement. Why do you say building on a slab is more ecological than starting with a basement? Basements are certainly useful, but from an environmental point of view, the benefits of slab-on-grade construction over a basement are undeniable, you can read all the pros and cons here - Slab on Grade or Foundation and Basement; Which is Best?

Slab on Grade Slab-on-grade technical guide A slab-on-grade home or building is more affordable, more comfortable and more Eco-friendly. Insulation and soundproofing Insulating below slab-on-grade floors Installing 8 inches of Roxul mineral wool below a concrete slab floor.

Insulating below slab-on-grade foundations Why insulate under a slab on grade foundation… See more. Foundations and Basements Slab on grade or crawlspaces, which is better?

One of the first decisions when building a home is what type of foundations to sit your home on - cold-climates, termites, problem expansive clay soils, insula… See more. Insulation and soundproofing Properly insulating basements and concrete slab floors The importance of properly insulating basements cannot be stressed enough.

Uninsulated basements and poorly insulated basements can be responsible for as much … See more. Slab on Grade fou… See more. Whether a house is worth rebuilding or is better torn down depends on a lot of factors, many of them personal, but also financial considerations like grants, s… See more.

Healthy indoor air quality Basement renovations: How to prevent mold when finishing basements Why are basements moldy? Basements don't h… See more. Related Advice Can you replace an old slab foundation with an air heated slab? Posted by Mike Molloy Nov. Slab on Grade 1 Responses. Posted by Shaun B April 2, , a. Slab on Grade 3 Responses. Posted by Geri P Dec. Foundations and Basements 1 Responses. Posted by Lauren Panzani Nov. New foundations and slab-on-grade 1 Responses.

Posted by David Davenport Nov. Posted by Steve J Feb. Foundation and basement improvements 2 Responses. Posted by Marc-Andre Roy Oct. Slab on Grade 5 Responses. An error occurred. Sorry for the inconvenience. Cost — the cost for a basement foundation is higher than the cost of slab and crawlspace foundations, but with the cost come many benefits; storage, the potential for additional living space, and higher resale value to name a few.

Disadvantage — The cost of installing a basement foundation in extreme rock conditions or extremely wet conditions could make it unaffordable. If your land has shallow bedrock or boulders then it may be more costly to dig a basement. If you have a sloping lot it may be difficult to use a slab foundation. If you have a cold climate then you may need to dig down at least four or more feet to put the home's footings below frost level.

If you have to go at least four feet deep then it may be worth spending some extra money to dig a few feet deeper and have a full basement. Also, it is easier to install and maintain mechanical systems in basements compared to a crawlspace. A homebuilder can help you determine what type of foundation is best suited for your area. The choice of foundation is also affected by personal preferences and costs. Basements can add thousands of dollars to the cost of a home compared to the cost of a crawlspace.

However, when you consider the extra useable space created by a basement it is some of the cheapest square footage space of a home. You must be logged in to post a comment. Yellow Pages. Posted by Editor in Foundation 0 Updates. There are three main types of foundations: Slab including slabs with frost walls Crawlspace Basement Some homes are constructed with a combination of foundation types.

Slab foundation highlights With a slab foundation, the house framing begins on top of a concrete slab. A slab foundation is usually at or near ground level and work best on a fairly level site.

There is no access to utilities or any space for storage under a slab foundation Some plumbing, heating or electrical elements need to be installed before the concrete slab is poured. The concrete slab is poured in place over a prepared bed of compacted sand or gravel.

The thickness of the slab is determined by an architect or engineer who has determined load bearing requirements. Rigid insulation is installed below the slab, around the perimeter, to create a thermal break between the outside and inside of the home. Anchor bolts are imbedded in the concrete to secure the exterior walls of the house.