I finally put the down payment on the 30’x40′ steel building that is going to be my shop. The price of the building includes one set of engineered drawings for the slab/foundation. In my county, we have a frost depth of 24″. I plan on digging the foundation, laying and compacing the gravel, and putting in the steel myself. I worked as a concrete laborer summers in college, but haven’t really touched the stuff since.
Several people I have talked to have said that a monolithic pour is the way to go. The engineer at the steel building company said they had six standard foundations and that I should think about it and let them know what I wanted.
Having dug out regular foundations, is there anything particularly different about monolithic pours? Any reason to favor a different method?
I will be using a skid steer to dig out for the slab and a small back hoe on my tractor to dig the trench for the stem wall. I assume one uses forms on the outside and uses the dirt on the inside. Any pointers, suggestions, tips, and tricks on digging a good, square trench.
A previous discussion on Breaktime led me to believe it was probably not cost effective to put a lot of insulation under the slab in a shop. However, I probably will put hydronic tubing into the slab just in case I want a toastie floor. What tips might you guys have on positioning and holding rigid insulation on the inside of the stem wall and perhaps the perimeter of the slab?
I probably won’t be near an internet connection for the next week, so will look for your collective wisdom then.
Thanks
Replies
Several questions. At the column locations do you have piers or is the wall width enough to support the columns? How thick is the wall? Is it just a wall or is it a stem wall sitting on a footing?
If it's just a wall. cut a trench and pour a trench wall, no forms, except the outside 2x perimeter set at top of slab. Trying to pour a bull wall with only one side formed may not be a non professional task you would want to tackle. If you have to pour a footing, and a stem wall use the standard 2 side form method. Remember dig the wall trench wide enough to be able to set and remove the forms.
I'd hire an experienced foundation tradesman by the hour to help you out. He can help you lay it out, come by and check on you as you ready to pour and be there for the pour. You've got a lot of money riding on this and believe me there's a lot that could go wrong. There are guys around that would help you, I'd get one.
Layout is important, setting the job for pour is important, and pouring this thing is critical. Every step has its tricks and pit falls. Once the trucks show up, its got to be right or it's a disaster. For a few hundred bucks you could hire experienced help, save a bundle and avoid a potential train wreck.