Foundation

[Aegis]

Re: Foundation

Hi Mike,
I was wondering on what you decided to do for your slab/foundation. I did get my patio pavers down but not much else. Leaves, job, etc. eats into my time. Winter is here so back to the design stage. I will be looking at the exterior design and what to use for a roof. Let me know how you are doing and I will of course let you know if my slab/sono tube design makes it through the winter without frost damage.
Happy Thanksgiving
John

[Mike Brez]

Re: Foundation

Hey John
Im still reading the forums and surfing the net for ideas. I think im just going to dig down 8 inches add some gravel and pour a slab with some rebar in it. I do have some left over soni tube in my shed so I think I will add that also.

I sent Bob in Oxford a pm and he sent me alot of contact places for supplies and offered to show me his stove and have pizza just so darn busy.

Im going to collect all my materials over the winter and start after the thaw. I want to keep a low profile so I think im going to finish it igloo style.

How is your stove comming along??

Mike

[dmun]

Re: Foundation

I think im just going to dig down 8 inches add some gravel and pour a slab with some rebar in it. I do have some left over soni tube in my shed so I think I will add that also.

Using sonotube protrusions below your slab is a bad idea, unless you use the forms to create proper footings below the frost line. Just having a few cylinders of concrete poking down just gives the ice lenses something to grab on to.

The conventional wisdom stands: Pour a reinforced four inch slab on well drained crushed stone, or dig below the frost line and pour footings on undisturbed soil. Doing a little bit of each is not a good idea.

[Neil2]

Re: Foundation

Agree with dmun. Sonotube piers, if installed properly can be effective. As a minimum they should:

- Extend a foot or so below the frost line and be "belled" out at the bottom to prevent frost jacking.
- They should not be connected to at grade slab.