How come houses are built on a 'slab' down south???

Question

You don't have a cellar, just a big ol' slab of concrete. I want to do this up here in the northeast, and people say I can't because of the winter or something. What's the explanation to all this?????????

Answer 1

Frost line. The bottom of the foundation must be well below the lowest point in the ground that freezes during winter, or the frozen moisture will lift it, causing no end of problems. In a warm climate where the ground doesn't freeze, a slab foundation is an economical choice.

Answer 2

The main reason for a slab base is the water table in the area. High water tables will tend towards flooding and leaking in a basement. You can still have a basement, but it will require a sump pump and that leads to another problem area. If you do have a basement with a sump pump, you know at some point you are going to flood. Decorations and furniture will be ruined, along with flooring, walls and electrics. The secondary reason (not related to the physical area) is simply cost. It is far less expensive to have a slab over a basement built. Cold, frost lines and such are not truly part of the equation. As long as the basement is below the frost line, it is fine,,,that is just a matter of proper insulation for the people inside. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

places like Florida have a high water table and a basement would always be flooding. In the Northeast, one would have to build a deep foundation wall below the frost line. Since you have to build that wall, there is not that much to be gained by eliminating the basement for the average home, but I have seen several newer commercial buildings in the Northeast that are slab on grade without basements.

Answer 4

there built on slabs every where, even here [northern Indiana]
usually they don't have to go down to far for the frost line,
[ground freezes at a certain level] you can do it but the slab will have to be below the frost line, or it will be pushed up in the winter,

Answer 5

My house is built on a "slab" of concrete.
I have a basement, complete with 2 guest bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, a library and a game room (full size pool table) and a piano.
Our main house is up-stairs.
I live in West-Central Florida and we have water-front property.
Are you talking to people in general or to the professionals?
Check with the building department, as they would be better informed, concerning the water table in your area.

Answer 6

In South Florida there is too much lime rock to have a basement, thats why there are no basements & no really deep pools (at residences anyway), so they build a slab to make a good foundation.

Answer 7

water table & expansive soils that would rip a basemant to shreads. it is not uncommon to a 3 to 6 inch ( per hour ) rain near Houston. Most other places have fatalities during such events due to mountains geography. th ground can have cracks 1"+ wide that will close over night from a good rain. That type of movement requires an engineerd foundation to with stand these forces.

Answer 8

it all depends some houses in the south have a cellar, i think "but not sure" the house has to be on a hill to have a cellar. because there needs to be a window and a way to exit the cellar

Answer 9

could be something to do with the fact that the ground freezes where you are. but, when I lived in Norway, houses were built on slabs, and it freezes there. maybe you need to check in with your building and planning permits people.

Answer 10

A lot of times it has to do with the water table level. They don't want the basements flooding.
It may also have to do with the type of soil and how that affects the building.