Alaskan Slab - Small Cabin Forum

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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Alaskan Slab


Author	Message
mag162 Member	# Posted: 1 Jun 2011 07:32am Reply Good morning all, I have a 12x28 amish built shed that I am converting to a cabin. I have added windows and built a 2.5" thick door for it also. It has been insulated. 2 weeks ago I took delivery of a bunch of rough sawn pine for the interior walls. So here is my dilemma. Before I close up the walls inside. I need to make a decision on its foundation. As she sits now on a bed of gravel with double chimney blocks. along the outside edge of the cabin the gravel has washed away in 3 areas under the blocks. I have a friend who can do an alaskan slab for me. 6" concrete with rebar and wire. and then just drop the cabin on top? Any ideas on this type of contruction in upstate NY. Herkimer county.

PlicketyCat Member	# Posted: 12 Jun 2011 05:22am Reply I can't speak to NY, but here in Alaska that floating slab works fairly well on the right site. Your site might not be right for it... need to figure out what's causing your gravel to get washed away first. 1) How deep is your gravel bed? 2) How many layers and what size is your gravel? Did you start with coarse rock and end up with small gravel with fines that you tamped down? 3) Do you have gutters? If so, are the downspouts extended well away from the walls and graded away from the house? Your existing foundation should be working if your gravel bed is solid and you're controlling the water with spouts and grading. If neither of those is right, then even a concrete slab will have problems.