Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 08:10pm | #7

   *
   For a 32' square cabin foundation, northern Wisconsin building site.

   What are the pros and cons of a floating slab foundation over against setting a floor of 2X joists on piers?

1. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 03:58am | #1

   *Cold floor for the slab unless you insulate and use radiant heat. Critters seem to like cabins on piers but I believe it would be easier to heat and more comfortable on the feet. I assuming this is a vacation cabin.

1. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 04:22am | #2

   *I've been sold on the idea of an insulated slab with radiant heat ever since putting my feet on a heated floor! So that is what I plan to use. And it seems to me that the slab as a foundation and heat provider in one would be a natural way to save some bucks for something else.But a local developer in the area is building twenty small houses near the shore of Lake Superior using the pier system. They surely do go up quickly, and disrupt the land less than a normal foundation or slab - which is the why of my question.The proposed building is for weekends, vacations, and any other time we can steal - no matter what the season.

1. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 05:25am | #3

   *Might consider how long will it take for a slab to heat up to the desired temp. when the slabs' been cold? Mike

1. 
   Drew_Kirk | Nov 05, 1999 07:41am | #4

   *Lew...what do you mean by a "floating" slab.

2. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 07:27pm | #5

   *Well - now that you ask - I guess I really don't know what I mean by "floating." Have no idea where I picked up that term. Kinda sounds like the slab is intended to float, which also sounds rather unstable and surely not what a foundation should be. That being said, what I see in my mind when using that term is best shown on-line at http://www.jlconline.com/jlc/archive/foundations/frost_protected_slab/index.htmlThanks for the question - think I'll save the term "floating" for discussions about boats!LewVisit Chequamegon Bay Web - Lodestar of the Apostle Islands http://www.marlew.com

3. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 07:50pm | #6

   *Mike has a good point .... it will take some time to bring that concrete mass up to temperature. A wood stove might take the chill off till the slab warms up. I'm not sure there will be any initial cost savings with slab on grade/radiant heat ....perhaps some HVAC folks can comment on that. A local auto body shop installed radiant heat in their new facility ..... employees love it. They videotaped the location of all the runs in the slab before the concrete was poured ...... not a bad idea for future reference. No need to puncture a line when anchoring a interior wall etc.

4. 
   Guest_ | Nov 05, 1999 08:10pm | #8

   *Well - now that you ask - I guess I really don't know what I mean by "floating." Have no idea where I picked up that term. Kinda sounds like the slab is intended to float, which also sounds rather unstable and surely not what a foundation should be. That being said, what I see in my mind when using that term is best shown on-line at http://www.jlconline.com/jlc/archive/foundations/frost_protected_slab/index.htmlThanks for the question - think I'll save the term "floating" for discussions about boats!LewVisit Chequamegon Bay Web - Lodestar of the Apostle Islands http://www.marlew.com