Building a Monolithic Slab Foundation | the (4) Most Important Steps

We are building a Post and Beam heavy Timber framed wedding barn event space on a MONOLITHIC SLAB FOUNDATION. Although the barn will not be enclosed and heated, its super important to install a vapor barrier underneath so that the ground moisture does not migrate into the slab and cause issues with condensation on the concrete floor, foggy windows, or decomposing concrete over time. As with any concrete foundation, reinforcement like rebar and remesh are also critical layers that will keep the concrete strong and prevent structural cracks and damage that may jeopardize the strength of the concrete. We cut control joints in the concrete to encourage the concrete to crack at certain spots.
Tamping and compacting the underslab gravel is a critical step for prepping a concrete monolithic slab foundation. It will ensure that the slab has a solid base that won't settle over time causing cracks and weak spots in the concrete.
Another important detail before pouring or placing concrete is to wrap and protect your plumbing pipes from direct contact with the concrete. That way, any expansion and contraction will not damage the piping.
Check out these other important steps in our first video on prepping this concrete monolithic slab foundation.

[TokenTombstone]

It's always fun coming back from a big 420 break then have the homeowner quizzing you about the project.

[jeffersonheath]

Great video, thank you!... may i suggest.. a quick edit with a voiceover instead of the wind noise ....

[fitzmeister]

Very informative and well done. My only complaint is the background music during the dialogue with the mason. It was distracting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[dmowolfenspeedster]

This is so cool, you guys seem to know how to do things. Been trying to learn how to draft plans with chief architect, seeing how it goes down is really helpful, thanks.

[natebryant]

Solid content man, I appreciate you & Jason making time to share.

[thomaspaine]

So much good info in this video, but it really needs to be reposted with a voice-over. Very difficult to hear over the wind noise.

[bengunderson]

1:24 - Good tips from Jason the Mason.

[bmdibble]

Looks Great! And informative, well done. Question regarding your interior concentrated load point: Did you taper the footing edges? So that your not going straight from a 20" deep footing to a 4" slab with a 90 degree angle and possible cracking at this intersection? Tapering the concentrated footing so that the footing meets the slab at at a 45 degree angle, thus having less of a hard angle? Similar to typical perimeter foundation details?

[abdullahbahaa]

Thank you for this information, and can you explain to me in which direction the main rebar is

[yoancyr]

very informative video! thanks for taking the time

[LucasSkylarScott]

Looks super pro but wind noise and music make it impossible to hear what’s being explained 😳😳

[joesink]

Hey there, who did you use to do your slab! We are down the street basically and are looking for someone to help do our monolithic slab!

[xLilxLEGEND]

This is music from Hotwheels Unleashed hahaha

[pacodefrancis]

Do you have a video of how you are doing the post bases? Wet set or anchor bolts? I’m doing a post and beam cabin soon and I’m wondering if I *need* to go the Perma-Column route which requires 18” thick concrete

[jasonrector]

Great video, which stone did you use? Do you like crushed concrete?

[barbaracorso]

Hi how big of a this slab would one need for a pre-fab 14x40 log cabin??

[ghesoonkarim]

Hello
Do you know a company in michigan
Looking at building a house
Without basement. Thank you 😊

[majorleaguegrowing]

wouldn't there be air pockets trapped under the plastic?

[DocYates]

Do you sell the plans and sketchup designs for this barn?

[rlopezm]

Ok… how do you fix a basement that’s monolithic and has a leak? I got a quote for 16K to fix it and add drains…. Our walls are bucking too… what do you recommend? I’m having a second person come out from a different company to give me another take. I did not want to go with 16k right away. I like to compare prices and how jobs are done.