They average only four inches thick and the footings only reach about 12 inches from the base to the top of the floor. This means you’ll only have to dig down about six inches and the entire thing can be done by hand if you’re motivated enough. Structures that utilize mono slab foundations score LEED-certification points due to their efficient use of building materials and better insulation. That they require minimal excavation and no expensive rock drilling or blasting makes them particularly attractive to clients in regions with rocky, hard soils.

Mono slab foundation engineering is most common in warmer areas. Since there is often a shallow frost line or no frost line at all, the footings and slab can be poured right on top of the ground. The footings and slab can often be poured at the same time. When the footings and slab are poured together it is called a mono slab foundation. One of the biggest problems with other foundations is that they call for concrete to be poured in different stages. Pouring concrete in stages means you must wait for each section to set and harden entirely before moving onto the next. This might not seem like a huge hassle, but labor costs over time add up fast. Mono slab foundation engineering is the quickest and cheapest foundation because they require less labor, skill and materials cost. With proper reinforcement, this is the foundation of choice for cost, speed and structure. It is also the easiest to convey. When the concrete is poured all together and backed up with enough steel so as not to separate, it is by far the best choice. There are no seams or cold joints unless there is joint reinforcement. There is no use of precast footings. One of their many benefits is that these foundations are generally less expensive to construct than pier and foundations. Since wooden members such as floor joists aren’t required, as they are with pier and beam structures, that price is eliminated. In addition, since there is no crawl space under them, utility bills associated with air conditioning and heating are lowered.

Mono slab foundation engineering can be used anywhere that regulations allow and conditions make possible, and are well-suited for exterior structures like sheds, gazebos, detached garages and even small barns. Mono slab foundation is most commonly constructed on property that has been graded, as it should be. It is very important that the soil be graded because if it’s not, the foundation could sink or settle due to poor soil compaction. A mono slab foundation is the way to go if you want to save a considerable chunk of change and shorten the timeline of your construction project. Properly designed mono slab foundations are approved for use on garages and accessory buildings by many municipalities across the U.S. They need to be heavily reinforced with steel rebar to prevent them from cracking under building loads and to help spread those loads over a wide swatch of ground.

By choosing a mono slab foundation engineering over a traditional foundation, you’ll save several weeks and countless dollars over the course of your project.