The Slab!!!!!

Today was the day; SLAB DAY! Although I could probably almost down a slab in celebration it was the concrete variety that occurred!! My husband passed the trucks at about 6.20am this morning and they were still there working away at 5.30pm. Big day! Therefore my photos are limited till tomorrow. I took the girls back at 7ish to have a snoop with our touches but it was too dark for my camera to cope. 

Watching all the preparation work and the concrete going down has been extremely exciting but it also makes you wonder, "Is that supposed to look like that?" We are really confident in choosing Carlisle Homes, if we weren't we never would have chosen them. However, I think it's really hard not to think critically about aspects when you see them. I think it's a fairly natural feeling when you have invested your ideas, heart and money into a project that you have no true building knowledge about. How do we know if the slab has been laid correctly or if all the materials that should have been used, have been? I think that this is going to be the hardest part of the build. Trusting our SS (site supervisor) is a huge part of this and trusting in the build process. We've got a few builder friends, outside of Carlisle Homes, who will (hopefully) check in on our build process etc. as the journey goes along; if for no other reason than to ease my mind!!! By the way, the slab looks amazing!

In all this thinking I thought I would try and educate myself on slabs! Here is some information I found that I thought was helpful. 

Due to our soil testing, we had to upgrade our slab to a H1 class. That's great, but what does that actually mean, besides more money??! I found this table that I found really helpful - I cannot confirm it's accuracy though. 

Different classes of soil

• Class A - This denotes very 'stable' ground - mostly sand and rock, not affected                     by moisture
• Class S - Slightly reactive soil, slight movement due to moisture
• Class M - Moderately reactive soil, moderate movement due to moisture
• Class H - Highly reactive soil, a high amount of movement due to moisture
• Class E - Extremely reactive soil, extreme movement due to moisture
• Class P - 'Problem' soil, which experiences land slip, mine subsidence and so forth.                  If you are building on Class P site you will typically need to consult an                      engineer.

I also found this information on a waffle slab. We have all heard of them but other than been cost effective what are they!!

Waffle raft slab (also known as a waffle pod slab) - These slabs are constructed entirely above the ground by pouring concrete over a grid of polystyrene blocks known as 'void forms'. Waffle raft slabs are generally suitable for sites with less reactive soil, use about 30% less concrete and 20% less steel than a stiffened raft slab, and are generally cheaper and easier to install than other types (even in bad weather). These types of slab are only suitable for very flat ground. On sloping ground or with more complex designs, a stiffened raft slab is normally the better option. Waffle raft slabs are well suited to reactive clay sites in particular, because they're not embedded in the ground like stiffened raft slabs. Waffle raft slabs are best suited for Class A, Class S, Class M, Class H and Class E soils (although you may wish to consult an engineer about the suitability of the slab for very reactive soils).

The part I enjoyed most about this was the fact that they are, 'well suited to reactive clay sites,' which sums up our block perfectly. You only have to dig down 20cm to hit hard clay which is going to make landscaping a joy.........!!!

Advantages Extremely durable and hardy base for a floor Typically well insulated, because the underside of the floor is not exposed No maintenance once the concrete has cured

Disadvantages Impossible to access piping once the slab has cured Cracks can cause major structural damage, and may be irreparable Can increase unwanted noise

The Action From Afar

The Concrete Being Poured

Still Working - But Looking Close to Finished

The Portio is Lower and the Front and the Garage to the Right

Closer Look (best I could get from the car while they were still working!)

Information on slab and soil obtained from:
http://www.build.com.au/ground-level-concrete-slab-subfloor