What Does A House Built On A Slab Mean?

The base on which your house is constructed can have a significant effect on the structural integrity of your home. The slab base is made of concrete, which is usually 4″–6 “thick in the middle. The concrete slab is also mounted on a sand sheet to drain or serve as a cushion. Houses built on a slab do not have crawl spaces, and there is no room under the foundation.

A concrete slab does not have a crawl area underneath it. In this respect, this type of foundation varies from house foundations with basements: there is no room under the floor. Basements are usually located in the North, if it’s getting really cold.

A concrete slab foundation is most generally installed on a property that, as it should be, has been graded. It is very important that the soil is graded because, if it is not, the foundation might sink or settle due to poor soil compaction. If you are considering constructing or buying a house on a concrete slab, there are a range of advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered.

Advantages of Concrete Slab Foundations

Here are five reasons to select this type of base for a house:

• Less time to dry up

It takes less time to dry a concrete slab. Less downtime ensures that construction will go on without delay. There’s no need to wait a few days for the concrete to recover and dry in a poured basement.

• Less chance of harm due to leakage or leakage of gasses

Slab foundations mitigate the possibility of flooding or gas exposure, such as radon, from the basement or crawling into the building.

• Protection against pests

A concrete slab may shield a home from termites or other similar insects, since there are no open spaces underneath the house that provide access to wooden joists or help insects that may chew.

• Savings in Cost

Cost reductions are one of the main benefits. In certain instances, the home buyer will cut up to $10,000 off the cost of the property. If it’s built on a slab, there’s no crawling room or basement for the budget. This is particularly true when the contractor has to cut a basement out of solid rock — a very costly proposition.

• Less Steps

Slab homes are also constructed closer to the ground than homes with basements or crawl spaces, minimizing the amount of steps needed to reach the house. Simple access is beneficial for those who are less physically capable.

Disadvantages of Concrete Slab Foundations

Despite the advantages of this type of construction, a concrete slab is not for every house site or homeowner. Here are five reasons to consider passing it up:

• Heating and cooling units Use space above ground

An air-conditioning unit and a boiler will also have to be mounted on the ground floor, which ensures that they would take up a space that could otherwise be used for other purposes.

• Slab Cracks

One of the most important possible drawbacks is the cracking of the slab. This will greatly damage the structural integrity of the house and make it impossible and costly to repair it. Tree roots, soil displacement, earthquakes, or frozen soil can be among the factors that could lead to slab cracking.

• Some people consider the Slab House unattractive

Some people find the lower-to-ground look of a slab house unattractive.

• Pests can also reach the walls

While termites and other pests can not be reached directly below the building, they can enter through the walls as the building is normally closer to the ground. This is especially true if the siding is made of wood and sits on the field.

• Ductwork Requires Isolation

Ductwork for heating and air conditioning is typically operated through the roof of the ground floor, which ensures that it must be tightly insulated in order to maintain the correct temperature.