I am thinking about buying a lot that is solid rock. Would build a house on a slab. What is the best technique to inulate under the slab, and/or the perimeter of the foundation? I am thinking about radiant heat in the slab, with some sort of stone surface over it, maybe a colorful slate. I am also thinking about sleepers over a portion of the slab for a bedroom and bath. How would you do radiant heat under the plywood, over the sleepers?
The whole house will be designed to make the most of the rock lot, and I will bring the stone texture into the house. If designed right, I will landscape with out a single blade of grass.
Replies
dave , i like 2" EPS Performguard (2lb/cf )... on a gravel base.... under the entire slab & thickened edge..
run the design by your Building Inspector tomake sure you won't hit any snags
Mike Smith
Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Dave, why would you want to sleeper the slab in the other areas?
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
The reason for the sleepers is that this may become my own house, and my wife has leg problems. Being on wood is easier on her for walking. Also, an inexpensive way to create a dropped floor for the great room, by raising the rest of the area. Also, even though I would make every effort to create a vapor barrier, I still have a problem putting a wood floor, such as strip oak or reclaimed pine, over concrete. It would also give a bit of flexibility to correct for plumbers that can't really read a tape measure. As I said, this is a rock lot, probably the only excavation will be utilities, and picking loose rock. Other than that, drilled and pinned, and a slap with some aggregate sub base.
Thanks for the reply dave and best of luck on the project.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Dave,
If your wife finds timber floors easier on her legs why not consider cork tile floors?
They are really resilient, warm, easy to install and will stick straight to your concrete (you might need some self-leveller is all)
You'd save all the bother of sleepers.
I work in a town that sits on a mountian. I have seen people get geological tests on the rock and if stable were allowed to pin the rock and pour foundations right over, accepted by the building code. If your budget only allows a crawlspace, air space is still aces when it comes to insulating and ventilating