March 2008
by Ted Cushman
In the flood-prone Gulf region, an elevated home is a no-brainer. The classic poured-concrete slab-on-grade — a simple monolithic pour with nothing more than a thickened edge at the perimeter — is not enough where floodwaters from a storm surge or rising water levels pose a threat. Using a raised perimeter stem wall can elevate the slab above flood levels. In colder coastal climates, where the risk of flood is not as great as the risk of frost heave, stem walls that extend below frost depth protect the slab. As Ted Cushman explains, in either case, the construction is similar.
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High and Dry Elevated slab foundations solve both structural and moisture problems Ted Cushman In a coastal environment, house foundations need to be water tolerant as well as strong and stable. The classic poured-concrete slab-on-grade — a simple monolithic pour with nothing more than a thickened edge at the perimeter — is not enough where floodwaters from storm surge or rising water levels pose a threat. A coastal slab foundation often needs to be elevated above flood levels using a raised perimeter stem wall, or, in colder climates, it needs a deep frost wall. In either case, the construction is
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