slab-on-grade
Floor touching earth
A slab-on-grade is a concrete foundation poured directly on the ground, forming both the structural base and the floor of a building.
Common in warmer climates and for garages, it eliminates the need for a basement or crawl space: The house was built on a slab-on-grade foundation.
Also called slab-on-ground.
Solid building mixture
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- monolithicMassive and undifferentiated
- pourSend liquid streaming out
- footingSecure ground position
rebar · reinforcement · formwork · curing · subgrade · vapor barrier · wire mesh · crawl space
Reducing volume through pressure
- excavationAct of unearthing
- fillMake something full
- drainageLiquid removal system
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
sand · leveling · moisture control · soil testing · geotextile · French drain · slope · backfill
Thermal transfer prevention
- heat lossWarmth leaving a system
- radiant floorEmbedded subfloor warming system
- hydronicUsing water for heating
- thermal massMaterial storing thermal energy
R-value · rigid foam · EPS · XPS · energy efficiency · passive solar · climate zone · frost line
Breaking without separating completely
- settlingReaching resolution or rest
- heavingMoving up and down
- spallingSurface material fragmenting off
- efflorescenceCrystalline surface deposit
radon · mold · repair · waterproofing · sealing · expansion joint · shrinkage · cold joint
concrete
Solid building mixture
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- monolithicMassive and undifferentiated
- pourSend liquid streaming out
footing · rebar · reinforcement · formwork · curing · subgrade · vapor barrier · wire mesh · crawl space · basement
compaction
Reducing volume through pressure
- excavationAct of unearthing
- fillMake something full
- drainageLiquid removal system
gravel · sand · leveling · moisture control · soil testing · geotextile · French drain · slope · backfill · tamping
insulation
Thermal transfer prevention
- heat lossWarmth leaving a system
- radiant floorEmbedded subfloor warming system
- hydronicUsing water for heating
thermal mass · R-value · rigid foam · EPS · XPS · energy efficiency · passive solar · climate zone · frost line · underfloor heating
cracking
Breaking without separating completely
- settlingReaching resolution or rest
- heavingMoving up and down
- spallingSurface material fragmenting off
efflorescence · radon · mold · repair · waterproofing · sealing · expansion joint · shrinkage · cold joint · delamination