Replies

1. 
   Schelling | Oct 08, 2002 04:59am | #1

   You can do it either way, depending on what kind of finished floor you will be having, the height of the existing base, the accessibility of the basement and other factors. In a new house we would pour the slab on top of the footer.

2. 
   Mongo | Oct 08, 2002 08:30am | #2

   Slab on top of the footing.

1. 
   lekpeter | Oct 08, 2002 04:58pm | #3

   Thanks guys for the speedy reply.

   I would like to run perforated pipe on both the outside and inside perimeter of the footer, and thought that with a break between the slab and the footer any water getting in would seep into the pipe and out the sump.

1. 
   Mongo | Oct 09, 2002 12:10am | #5

   Since the sump pump is a given, think about installing a floor drain in your basement slab. The sump cans have knock out holes in the sides of the cans to accept 4" Sch40 PVC pipe.

   While the slab iteslf doesn't have to be pitched to the drain, the pipe does have to be pitched from the floor drain to the can, so I usually install the floor drain within 10-15 feet of the can, and I try to put the drain in a location where a future utility sink may be installed. I put laundry rooms upstairs, not in the basement, but if your laundry is in the basement you might want the drain near the washer.

   The drain may not catch a 5-gallon spill over in the other corner of the basement, but it'll protect you from a catastrophic leak.

3. 
   rjw | Oct 08, 2002 05:34pm | #4

   In my area (NW Ohio), I've never seen the top of the slab level with the top of the footer; it's always poured above the footer.  I believe its done that way (i) to keep it level in case of some settling and (ii) to discourage water penetration.