Floating Slab vs. Monolithic Slab: Exploring the Differences

Introduction to Monolithic Slab

Monolithic Slab foundations are the easiest, fastest, and most inexpensive Types of Foundations available. The truth that they are poured in one go says that they are efficient to prepare, and they similarly give a solid foundation.

Monolithic Slab foundations are nicely suited to flat ground. If the ground is not flat, then a quantity of fill dirt is utilized to level off the ground; in time, this can lead to difficulties with cracking if the ground is not suitably compacted.

Floating Slabs are concrete slabs that are established over the ground, without any kind of anchoring, as if it just sits on it and floats.

A floating slab, as the word says resembles a plate that is simply laid over the water, with no kind of connection between them.

The major application of floating slabs is to utilize them as a base foundation for sheds, manufacturing workshops, home additional rooms, or garages.

Read More: Monolithic Definition | Monolithic Slab | Monolithic Footing

What Is A Monolithic Slab?

The construction of a Monolithic Slab is much faster and the labor expenses are low as in this slab the concrete is poured all at previously.

When utilized under favorable conditions, a Monolithic Slab can be almost as strong as Stem-Wall slabs.

In most of the construction of sub-division communities, the floor is leveled and soil is evenly allocated throughout the land which creates the area densely compacted.

In this particular case, a Monolithic Slab may be the nicest choice if all the complete floor elevations are similar from lot to lot and there is an extremely small slope. Several major difficulties can occur if various conditions are not contusive with the Monolithic Slab.

Monolithic Slab cannot be utilized when more fill dirt is required because the concrete is additionally likely to crack if the ground is not compacted adequately.

This is a difficulty for houses that require to be constructed to rise above the flood plane given by civil engineers.

In this particular case, the Monolithic Slab tends to crack around the periphery walls and different large load-bearing areas.

These cracks can result in structural problems affecting different aspects of the home while the construction procedure such as dry walls and floors if the framed walls are not stable.

What Is A Floating Slab?

In the Floating Slab, the slab has an edge of thickened reinforced but no frost footings. Floating slabs are known as “floating” because they are enabled to move over the ice line as a monolithic unit.

Insulation can similarly be added to decrease movement due to frost, depending on the necessities of the project.

Building a floating slab is one of the great economical ways to construct a foundation. Conventional foundations contain a strip footing on the perimeter with a frost wall on top. The strip footing is positioned below the level of frost.

The cost of a Floating Slab is higher because there is a quantity of excavation, concrete, and labor needed for the construction of strip footing and the frost wall.

A floating Slab is the nicest choice for the construction of sheds but for the construction of a home, there are some disadvantages to think about.

When Floating Slabs are built in a building they can be heated with radiant floor heat which will give comfortable and equal heat.

What Is A Monolithic Slab Vs Floating Slab?

The floating slabs are occasionally called monolithic slabs because they have no connection with the foundation. In some construction, a floating slab is utilized as support, and just after the foundation has been constructed that we throw the floating slab.

Generally, the monolithic slab is less costly compared to the Floating slabs. Floating slabs similarly occur to be a monolithic slab-shaped as an upside-down U, where concrete is to be applied monolithically or in 2/3 steps. Mono pour indicates the way it is constructed and poured, rather than the kind of foundation of a building.

If there is a big structure or unstable soil, you need a deep foundation, but with a basic garage in decent soil, a floating slab is decent and attractive.

If the local soil has limited stability or as normal water on the subsurface, then the floating slab is extremely floating, and it is prone to cracking or tilting.

Floating slabs are those lads that float on the floor or in frost areas. Floating slabs are called monolithic slabs in such an environment because they have no connection with the foundation.

Construction Of Floating Slab

The construction of the floating slabs needs details to start the proposed building needs a solid foundation to completely support the entire weight of the superstructure.

As mentioned they are more utilized in garages, an expansion of the home, or sheds that do not certainly need huge foundations. These buildings are light in structure.

So floating slabs are found greatly favorable and economical, compared with traditional slab construction.

The floating slab construction involves the following steps,

1. Site Excavation For The Floating Slab Construction

The preliminary phase of floating slab construction is to clean the land and excavate the area as per the plan. This is the preliminary preparation for the construction.

The step similarly includes making drainage in the sides, for the water to drain out through the gravel base.

The trench constructed is sealed with geotextile and gravel, which will wipe out water from the concrete slab foundation.

Establishing a Gravel base layer over the area for drainage of unwanted water.

2. Reinforcement For Slabs

The slab mold is positioned for the casting process. To strengthen the slab, the reinforcing bars are provided as per the dimensions and the codes.

3. Casted Floating Slab

The concrete is filled into the slab formwork.

Its compaction is done either by labor or by the means of a mechanical vibrator depending on the area to be compacted and its workmanship.

Adequate compaction has to be undergone, to generate the slab fully productively. Adequate curing has to be undergone for just 2 to 3 days.

Following The Steps To Build a Floating Slab

Step 1: Determining the area of the floating slab and then marking the four corners with 3feet metal stakes.

Step 2: Measure out the two feet in the periphery (laterally) and mark off this area for drainage.

Step 3: Measure down 2 feet and 11 inches in the border strings. Here is the beginning point of the foundation for the slab. Excavate this whole interior area of the foundation to this depth. Similarly, excavate the 2feet drainage section.

Step 4: Fill the excavated area 3 inches deep with crushed stone to construct a drainage area to the foundation. Enclose the 3 inches of rockfill with 2 feet of sand.

Step 5: Compact the sand utilizing a tamp (sand compactor) until it is 8 inches below the borderlines. Inspect the area in several locations to make sure the whole area is level.

Step 6: Place 2 inches by 10 inches of lumber around the border of the proposed slab to build the slab molds. Adjoin the corners with joints and protect them with framing nails. Make sure the forms are level.

Step 7: Insert support stakes [2 feet metal stakes with nail holes] on each foot along with the outside of the slab form. Protect these with framing nails as well.

Step 8: Eliminate the initial guideposts and border string. At this point, it is time to establish any drainage lines or electrical conduit that must run through the foundation.

Step 9: Dig a 16-inch by 18inches trench only within the slab form to give extra support on the exterior of the slab to support walls.

Step 10: Establish the 2inches of foam insulation over the sand as well as cut pieces to fill in the sides and base of this trench.

Step 11: Establish a vapor barrier over all of the foam. Overlap pieces by 2 inches to 4 inches and secure with tape.

Step 12: Place the three-eighths-inches rebar in a criss-cross pattern within the vapor barrier. Be sure to utilize the 2inches rebar helps to lift the rebar off the ground so liquid concrete may flow around it.

Step 13: Adding the five-eighths-inch rebar within the trench area and creating a cage with the bars adds additional support.

Mix and pour the cement. If you are working with a cement delivery service, they will specify the amount of concrete essential for the pour.

Step 14: Contrarily, you will have to follow the computations on your cement bag to specify how much to pour.

Read More: Types of Foundation | What Is Foundation | Types of Footings

Advantages Of Floating Slabs

Floating Slab has the following advantages,

• The floating slab construction can be utilized in site areas with lower load-carrying capacity and where investing huge money in soil treatment is ineffective.
• This system lets us use it over loose soil or in soil with differing compressibility.
• Floating slabs possess the property of circulating the vertical loads or stresses arriving over them to be allocated over a larger area.
• Floating slab foundations are a decent solution when it comes to the expansion of houses.
• There is a situation when we need a building expansion without affecting the already existing foundation. This won’t interfere with the building structures already constructed.
• Floating slabs act as a barrier for the opening of water coming from the ground. It operates as a barrier between the superstructure and the ground.
• This avoids seepage of moisture and frosting. For this objective, the slab can be protected from frost or moisture. This created their widespread usage in cold region construction.
• The floating slabs do not need the use of footer trenches. They can be poured with the support of trenching or digging which is inexpensive.
• The floating slab does not affect any disturbance to the earth layer lying beneath neither it will interfere with the quality.
• In regions where there are chances of shifting in the earth layer, largely due to great moisture content, the floating slabs are nicely suited.

Disadvantages Of Floating Slabs

Floating Slab possess the following Disadvantages,

• The floating slab does not make underground soil accessible for underground access of connection lines facing the utilities.
• It has primitive technology.

Uses Of Floating Slab

• The main uses of the floating slabs are as a base foundation for industrial workshops, sheds, and garages.
• It is relatively cost-effective in regions where the requirement for a necessary foundation is not required.

Monolithic Construction

The monolithic structure indicates the entire structure along with the slab is cast at a time. To construct a monolithic structure, we needed formwork for construction.

Monolithic construction for foundation slabs is one of the extensively popular options for step-wise foundations. Rather than breaking up the foundation into various pieces, monolithic slabs combine the concrete slab and the foundation footings into one item.

You will pour the slab and the footing at a similar time, which will enable you to finalize your projects quickly. In comparison to more conventional foundations, monolithic foundations end up being much thinner.

Generally, the footings for these foundations will just go about 12 inches from the base to the floor, and the foundation will simply be about four inches thick.

While some of the specialized digging equipment can be utilized to dig into the earth to create it faster, you can similarly typically handle the digging by hand since you just have to dig a few inches into the ground.

With monolithic slabs, you will similarly find that they rest on top of a gravel bed, designed for adequate drainage. The slab will similarly feature wire mesh or rebar to strengthen the slab and lower the possibility of any cracking.

Especially in the cold weather, you can add the layer of insulation that surrounds the foundation and gives internal heating. The insulation layer will push the frost line away and protect your structure safe from freezing and thawing.

Advantages Of Monolithic Construction

The following are its advantages,

• Utilized monolithic slabs allow speedy Construction.
• It enables filling the gap between the demand and supply of housing rapidly. Provide a speedier solution to the housing shortage.
• This technology enables to optimization of the cost and time of the project.
• The structure was established by optimal usage of time, money, and building material.
• It gives a disaster-resistant structure.
• Monolithic buildings are stronger against horizontal forces (earthquakes, cyclones, etc.) as compared to traditional Buildings.
• It is not needed expensive construction equipment in the case of a building constructed with aluminum formwork.
• In this technology, No requirement for any type of bricks, blocks, and plastering work.
• Monolithic Structures are Box type structure that is additionally suitable from the Earthquake point of view.
• We get an Outstanding finished structure that avoids expansive plastering costs.
• The thickness of walls is smaller due to that we get more plinth area and carpet area.
• The durability and quality of Monolithic construction are extremely high compared to ordinary construction.
• The monolithic construction is fast and lightweight.

Disadvantages Of Monolithic Construction

Monolithic Construction has the following disadvantages,

• The main disadvantage of monolithic construction requires Skilled and Semi-skilled laborers.
• It required a few days of training for workers.
• Repair and maintenance of monolithic construction are complicated.
• The thermal radiation is more.
• This kind of construction requires a high initial investment.
• A required particular type of Formwork like Tunnel Formwork.

Read More: What Is Floating Foundation | Suitability of the Floating Foundation

Some Difficulties With A Monolithic Foundation

Despite the comfort and ease of establishing a monolithic foundation, problems could occur that can compromise the foundation.

The foundation can need expensive repairs, which indicates that it could be better to go with a conventional foundation.

The typical difficulties found with a monolithic foundation are cracks in different house areas supported by the foundation. Foundation cracks are a huge area of concern.

When the foundation cracks, the foundation can distinguish at the cold joints (wall meets slab). The thin openings make it easier for water, moisture, and bugs to reach the house.

Difficulties with a rise of moisture in the soil or inappropriate construction can compromise the foundation.

It may lead to countertops, floors, and walls in the house becoming unlevel. Movement in the foundation can lead to doors and windows that stick and crack in sheetrock walls.

FAQs

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