Question:
>> We’re in south Arkansas which probably explains the prevalence of slabs. > Probably a 10:1 ratio vs. crawl space foundations. >In southern California you MUST build slabs to meet earthquake code. Makes this >decision much simpler…
Well, earthquakes haven’t been much of a problem here in the southeastern U.S. (though they say the New Madrid fault is overdue….). <g> I can’t quote a price because we never even considered a slab foundation on our new house (eastern Alabama). Here, slabs outnumber crawlspaces in new housing–especially among spec houses–but in homes built 20 to 25 years ago I think there were more crawlspaces. We’ve been in our house for 8 months now, and I can’t imagine trying to get by with a slab. We’ve re-routed water lines, plumbed new faucets, run new wiring, added more outlets, fixed the doorbell, wired for satellite TV, added insulation, checked for pipe leaks, inspected for termites, rescued toads (OK, that wouldn’t be a problem with a slab)–all easily accomplished via the crawlspace. I work with a guy whose house developed a leaky water pipe in December. He took up a pool to guess how many holes they’d have to jack-hammer into his floor before they found the leak. I think the final count was 5. C. Brunner
Response:
>>> We’re in south Arkansas which probably explains the prevalence of slabs. >> Probably a 10:1 ratio vs. crawl space foundations. >In southern California you MUST build slabs to meet earthquake code. Makes >this decision much simpler…
There are a lot of houses here in Southern California that were built with a crawl space. I suppose it might not be code anymore (I wouldn’t know) but there are a large number of houses that were contructed in that manner. Dimitri
Response:
> There are a lot of houses here in Southern California that were built > with a crawl space. I suppose it might not be code anymore (I wouldn’t > know) but there are a large number of houses that were contructed in > that manner.
I don’t know if this is a city or county regulation. My house is in Anaheim, and it has a crawl space– but it was built in 1950. I was told by my insurer that if the house was destroyed (even by fire or flood) I would have to replace it with a slab foundation.
Response:
Check your codes guys! Whether to slab or to crawlspace is determined as a function of building site topography, NOT a state earthquake code requirement! Next time you’re up in the foothills or mountains, take a good look at some of the homes that are at ground level on the front and 2 or three stories in the air on the back side.
Response:
V, We’re in south Arkansas which probably explains the prevalence of slabs. Probably a 10:1 ratio vs. crawl space foundations. Len. > We’re planning on building a 2,500 square foot home. I understand that >it’s more expensive to build a crawl space foundation than a >slab-at-grade foundation. How much premium should we expect to pay
for about a 3-4 foot crawl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->space type? > I’d think some of this would depend on both the house design and > climatic conditions in the area. What is the desired elevation of the > first floor compared to the existing grade? If you want your floor > several feet above the ground level anyway, then any extra for the > joisted floor would partly trade off against the fill (admittedly a > relatively low cost items) to raise the slab. > But if you want the house down low then you will have extra excavation > in the interior area plus the floor cost traded off against nothing > much. > Climate plays in because up here in the north after going down 5 feet > or more for footer excavation around the perimeter anyway, it is not > that much more costly to just dig the middle too and have a full bsmt. > And slab on grade is a problem in a cold clime as there are tech > challenges to avoiding a cold floor at the perimeter and the > accompanying energy inefficiency. So the slab house and the crawl or > bsmt house are not necessarily the same house to compare. > Soory I didn’t answer you Q with a specific $ or pct. > -v.
– Len Miller One of the greatest desires of man is freedom of the mind — which is fortunate, since there is an equally great one to squelch it. Author unknown. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
> V, > We’re in south Arkansas which probably explains the prevalence of slabs. > Probably a 10:1 ratio vs. crawl space foundations.
In southern California you MUST build slabs to meet earthquake code. Makes this decision much simpler…
Response:
We’re planning on building a 2,500 square foot home. I understand that it’s more expensive to build a crawl space foundation than a slab-at-grade foundation. How much premium should we expect to pay for about a 3-4 foot crawl space type? — Len Miller One of the greatest desires of man is freedom of the mind — which is fortunate, since there is an equally great one to squelch it. Author unknown. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
> We’re planning on building a 2,500 square foot home. I understand that >it’s more expensive to build a crawl space foundation than a >slab-at-grade foundation. How much premium should we expect to pay for about a 3-4 foot crawl >space type?
I’d think some of this would depend on both the house design and climatic conditions in the area. What is the desired elevation of the first floor compared to the existing grade? If you want your floor several feet above the ground level anyway, then any extra for the joisted floor would partly trade off against the fill (admittedly a relatively low cost items) to raise the slab. But if you want the house down low then you will have extra excavation in the interior area plus the floor cost traded off against nothing much. Climate plays in because up here in the north after going down 5 feet or more for footer excavation around the perimeter anyway, it is not that much more costly to just dig the middle too and have a full bsmt. And slab on grade is a problem in a cold clime as there are tech challenges to avoiding a cold floor at the perimeter and the accompanying energy inefficiency. So the slab house and the crawl or bsmt house are not necessarily the same house to compare. Soory I didn’t answer you Q with a specific $ or pct. -v.
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