New foundations and slab-on-grade

The first step to Green home design and construction is deciding what sort of base you will rest it on. The Guide pages below help choose between slab-on-grade construction, traditional strip foundations with crawlspace and basement foundations - then show step by step how to build them better.

Slab on Grade

Slab-on-grade technical guide

A slab-on-grade home or building is more affordable, more comfortable and more Eco-friendly. Here is a technical guide & design guide for construction of a slab on grade foundation. Slab-on-grade construction - technical guide Deciding to build your home with a slab-on-grade foundation instead of a conventional…

Foundation choices

Slab-on-grade vs foundation and crawlspace or basement

Considering between slab-on-grade construction compared to foundations and crawlspace or a basement? Take the first step of home design in deciding which foundations to build on. Is an insulated slab on grade the best foundation choice? Or is a basement better? Traditionally, home construction often starts with a…

Basements

Finishing a basement to be water resistant - reducing the damage from basement flooding

If you're unfortunate enough to have a basement that flooded, or that floods regularly over the years, this guide gives our top tips and information on how to rebuild a finished basement to make it more resilient to water damage in the future. Building a flood-resistant basement: Simple, sustainable solutions for…

Basements

Should you buy a home with a finished basement?

Most finished basements are moldy or will develop mold in the future because they are usually built poorly. Learn what to look for when home shopping. Basements, downstairs in more ways than one For those wishing to become homeowners, one of the decisions you'll face when buying a new property is whether or not to…

New foundations and slab-on-grade

What causes frost heave? Preventing frost heaving is down to good foundation design

Frost heaving of home foundations, basements, decks & garden walls in cold climates can cause issues - especially in clay soils that hold water - Ecohome built to prevent frost heave recently, here's what we did. Frost protected foundations - essential in cold climates Protecting homes and buildings in cold climates…

Slab on Grade

Raft slabs - How to build Insulated frost protected shallow foundations (FPSF) on problem soils

How to build on sites with expansive soils, high water tables and poor bearing capacity, and to build a frost protected shallow foundation easily in cold climates. A frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is an interesting and well-proven alternative to deeper, more-costly foundations in cold regions with…

Slab on Grade

Finishing the exterior of an insulated slab-on-grade floor

Insulating the exteriors of basements and slabs leaves you with needed to finish the exterior. In this video you see an easy fix to have the exterior surface secured by set concrete, while avoiding any thermal bridges in the process. See more videos about passive solar high performance home building here Once a…

Slab on Grade

How to build a slab-on-grade on standard soil

How to build a slab-on-grade with a thickened edge on standard soil. There are many ways to build a slab-on-grade (or frost-protected shallow foundation), the following is a step-by-step walk though of a thickened-edge slab floor we built. XPS or EPS rigid foam is typically used under concrete slab floors, in this…

Basements

Best practices for basement insulation in new home construction

Basements in Canada & USA face serious challenges: fluctuating water tables, surface floods, thermal shock, radon gas infiltration, condensation, mold, mildew, rotting walls and heat loss. Better basements manage these issues. The most common practices currently employed for finishing basement interiors as living…

Slab on Grade

Slab-on-grade construction: the Ecohome A to Z Slab building guide

How to build a slab-on-grade foundation saving money on basement frost walls for home construction with a Frost Protected Shallow Foundation. Slab on grade foundation, detail design; the basics There are many different soil conditions and corresponding slab designs. This page is about how to build a thickened edge…

New foundations and slab-on-grade

Traditionally in North America, home construction starts with a crawlspace or concrete basement foundation. Depending on the situation there are other options that can be more durable and affordable that will better protect your home air quality and energy efficiency - especially important for LEED, Passive House, ZNE or in the future Net Positive Energy homes.

The first factors to consider when designing the foundation of a home are lot size and soil conditions. When space is limited (with total footprint or height restrictions) a basement foundation may be the best option, but if space allows there is a strong case for avoiding basements altogether with a slab-on-grade foundation design.