Basement Slab Forming MISTAKES!

www.AsktheBuild... founder, Tim Carter, shows critical mistakes made in forming a poured concrete basement slab. Tim does phone coaching: shop.askthebui...

[@darrinmc]

If they put in floor drains where could they drain to? I'm in MA and I want to replace my garage floor and include drains. The contractors I've talked to all want to slope the floor toward the doors instead of drains.

[@askthebuilder]

They're treated just like a downspout drain outdoors. Those should be piped to a low spot on the lot. In the OLD days, the floor drains in the garages connected directly to the city sewer.

[@davidibbitson7585]

Any ideas why they even have the 6x6 there? Why don't they just pour all the way across and therefore not need the 6x6? Need to keep the slabs separate for some reason?

[@askthebuilder]

No idea as I believe I stated in the video. Yes, the concrete floor should have just been placed over the footing.

[@davidibbitson7585]

@@askthebuilder An odd decision for sure!

[@danthechippie4439]

Hi, just wondering how you gain access to these properties as you are not the owner or contractor. Don't get me wrong I like what your doing

[@askthebuilder]

www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xviii/212/212-34.htm

[@williamm.7978]

Recreational criticism!

[@Ninjump]

Treated lumber as any kind of support in direct contact with concrete is a mistake for sure. At the very least, coat the 6x6 with something non-reactive like prosocco r-guard etc. My guess is they are going to over- vibrate and rely on the cement and fines that makes it under the 6x6 to provide support. Probably it'll work but it's definitely going to crack and provide a nice moisture pathway from the slab surface to the underside of that lumber. No insulation under radiant will definitely decrease it's efficiency and they will run it way more than they would need otherwise. Have you talked with homeowner about these issues? I'd be super pissed we're this my job.

[@askthebuilder]

I've never in my residential career seen *ANY* flatwork vibrated! Are you telling me that's a common practice in your area? I've not yet seen the homeowner nor the builder. I tried to reach out through my HOA to get their contact information, but the management company is not coughing it up. Next step is to the town office to find out the mailing address to where the tax bill is sent.

[@Ninjump]

@@askthebuilder not at all a common practice but with all the goofy stuff going on with this job maybe that's the thought process. Idk 🤷🏾‍♂️ Sometimes flatwork will be vibrated slightly to get better finish when trying to confirm to a surface, such as when pouring what they call board formed concrete where you want that wood pattern to really show. Pretty rare to do that on flatwork edge though

[@lou704]

The mason contractor is a total joke. It tells you how bad the GC is also.

[@askthebuilder]

Yes, the builder was AWOL on this job. I don't know if he ever stopped by to check on the sub-contractors' work.