SLABS
Slab foundations are level pads of concrete that are poured on top of the ground underneath the floor of the house. This method is seen from time to thne in the Northeast, where it was favored in the post—World War 11 building boom because it was fast and cheap. It is more common in the South and California, and it is seen everywhere in Florida, where the groundwater is only a few inches below the grass. If there’s no frost to worry about, why not use a slab? If there’s no need for oil storage, no need for a place to put the heater, and no need for occasional plumbing and wiring changes, a slab is all right.
I really wonder about slabs for main house living, though. For one thing, they can crack. For another, many people find them cold and hard to walk on, even though judicious use of carpeting and tile can moderate the problem somewhat. If they’re not well insulated, they add to your heating costs and make plumbing additions very difficult. To add a new bathroom off the family room, you have to put a jackhammer to the slab. If you find yourself with a termite problem, it’s almost impossible to cure.
