 Re: Plastic needed under foundation slab?
On the advice of a local mason, I put the cement footing right into the clay. I sprinkled some sand in the bottom so the wet clay wouldn't stick to my shoes, but that's it. The clay was very solid, moist, and easy to make level with a flat-blade shovel (not too easy to dig, though!).
Just fyi ... I dug down about 51" below grade, installed a 2x4" form, and then dug down another 8.5" from there. The footing is 16" wide by 12" deep, and measures 96x88" on the outside; 1.25 yards of cement. The 44" wall sits in the center of the footing. The top of the wall is about 3.5" below grade, so the top of my 5.5" slab will be about 2" above grade. All that (and more to go) before even starting the foundation slab! Us northerners have it rough!! |