I am stuck?


  #1  
Old 12-26-09, 01:28 PM
G
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I am stuck?

Hi Folks,

I have a wooden pole building that was built for horses. It looks very nice as the siding and shingles match the house. Not sure of the actual sq footage, but it is in the shape of an “L”. In main section part is about three full size pick up trucks long and one and a half wide. The other part of the L is about 20 X 20. It is one story. It does not have a foundation or a cement floor. It has 4x4 that sit directly on the ground. The floor is gravel.

Question:

Can you just pour concrete inside or do you have to add footer?

Am I better off tearing it down?

Thanks everyone for your time!
 
  #2  
Old 12-26-09, 03:54 PM
D
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 4,345
Upvotes: 0
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
I don't think you needed to post this again. You are also leaving out quite a bit of information about what you are doing and why you think you need a footer.

You don't need to have a footer for a slab. You do need tomake sure you have proper thickness, reinforcement, and concrete strength for your needs.

In regards to your worries about groundhogs undermining your slab, it seems they want to be inside the building, not under it. Pouring the slab so there is no gap between it and the exterior wall would prevent that. If you are still uncomfortable with this approach, you could always dig a trench and instead of putting in a foundation, install a wire mesh to make it more difficult for them to dig through.
 
  #3  
Old 12-27-09, 03:49 PM
P
Temporarily Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 10,265
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
drooplug: I don't see where the original poster mentioned ground hogs. Slabs tend to crack without footings.

green_horn: What are you going to use the building for, if you pour a slab?
 
  #4  
Old 12-27-09, 05:40 PM
D
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 4,345
Upvotes: 0
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
He has another thread somewhere. Why would a slab need a footing? It just needs a good base, no? There are concrete slabs poured all over the place without footings.
 
  #5  
Old 12-27-09, 05:52 PM
G
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I am stuck?

Originally Posted by Pulpo View Post
drooplug: I don't see where the original poster mentioned ground hogs. Slabs tend to crack without footings.

green_horn: What are you going to use the building for, if you pour a slab?
Hi Pulpo:

I would use the building for the following:
1) vehicle parking (cars, tractor, camper)
2) storage
3) woodsho

My concern is the slab cracking as the ground freezes and thaws without footings?

Also, a lot of critters around here. Will they dig under the slab if I do not have a footing or rat wall?

Thanks,
Mark
 
  #6  
Old 12-27-09, 06:33 PM
P
Temporarily Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 10,265
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
As I said, it's been noted over the years that slabs crack without footings. In some places, the code requires a footing now. You can always take a chance without it.

I don't know anything about critters. We have some raccoons, squirrels & a few possums but that's about it.
 
  #7  
Old 12-30-09, 05:27 PM
M
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 25
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I am stuck

I am certainly not an expert in concrete however what I've seen on many jobs is expansion joints where ever a possible crack may occur. An example of this would be a sidewalk. Whether you reinforce or not really depends on what your going to use this for regarding weight and where the weight will be . Another possible way to reinforce without a foundation wall is to thicken the concrete around the perimeter of the building or in the area where extra weight is anticipated .I would still use wire mesh or re-bar in the slab and like I said it depends on what you use it for
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: