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Re: Floating Foundation ????

From: Ayastigi@msn.com
Category: Foundations
Remote Name: 63.26.148.116
Date: 15 Aug 2001
Time: 07:44 PM

Comments

Another question for you - I just met with my builder out at the site. I asked him about ground preparation for the slab. He told me the slab would be a "floating foundation." From what I gather the expansive clay will have forms built on top, sand poured on top of the clay, then the concrete on top of the sand. I was under the impression that the initial, or existing soil/clay would need to be graded, or dug up in some way before the sand goes on top. Am I wrong in that assumption? There are currently some mighty big cracks in the ground out there. Seems like the sand would just fall in the cracks and disappear. Also, is it OK to pour the sand right on top of whatever plants, and grass that's there. Like I said, this is an old maze field which has just recently been harvested, so there are a lot of mowed down stalks still out there. It just seems to me that some type of ground preparation should take place first opposed to just throwing sand out there, and pouring the slab on top. Do you know what he meant by "floating foundation?"

Dennis

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