Browse Forums General Discussion Re: slab or stumps 4Feb 15, 2010 9:21 pm http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: slab or stumps 5Feb 16, 2010 6:02 pm Stumps require more skilled trades. Slabs are faster & cheaper. Me, I'd choose stumps every time without a doubt. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: slab or stumps 6Feb 16, 2010 7:02 pm thanks for the replies the block we have brought is an eco block so we don't want to have to dig up to much.the block has a slight slope and is up in the hills so we thought cost wise it would be better to go stumps as we might hit some rock.another question how can you achieve good thermal mass if your house is on stumps???? Re: slab or stumps 7Feb 16, 2010 7:56 pm take2 We have both as we are building on a slope, the benefits of the parts on the stumps is that we won't need to do any retaining around these areas. In our build it was cheaper to put part of the house on stumps. Look at some of the smaller builder in your area, as most project builder don't like to build away there normal build as they have all their tradies lined up. Cheers Lou take2 are you saying your build is part slab and part stumps? I had never heard of that method of construction before. How common is it for people to build in this fashion? My mind is ticking over now for our upcoming build.... Re: slab or stumps 8Feb 16, 2010 8:05 pm This is what we need to do to reach 5 star - our house is raised something like 420mm - Aluminum Improved Windows - 2.0 and DS sisalation to external walls - 4.1 and DS sisalation to roof - 2.0 to underfloor (our house is raised) - External doors to be weather sealed - Internal LV downlights to be sealed - Internal exhaust fans to be self closing Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: slab or stumps 9Feb 16, 2010 8:30 pm msbyrne thanks for the replies the block we have brought is an eco block so we don't want to have to dig up to much.the block has a slight slope and is up in the hills so we thought cost wise it would be better to go stumps as we might hit some rock.another question how can you achieve good thermal mass if your house is on stumps???? What do you mean by an eco block? I wonder if an internal brick/stone wall would provide good thermal mass? My folks have a big old brick fireplace and chimney right in the middle of their home - it heats beautifully in winter. Someone on here will know for sure! Building on an acre in Macedon ......one day. Re: slab or stumps 10Feb 16, 2010 8:46 pm the half acre block is in jarrahdale in the "woodlot estate" your house needs to friendly to the enviroment try to preserve as much of the natural bush, solar passive and waterwise this is going to be a big change for us, we currently live in suburbia on a 600sqm block standard brick and tile home below groung pool only front garden. we can't wait but the kids aren't impressed no pool Re: slab or stumps 11Feb 16, 2010 9:01 pm So by having stumps do you think it protects the native vegetation more than having a slab would? I only ask b/c I have an acre of native veg that I've just had a fauna and flora survey done on in preparation for a planning permit application ... I hadn't considered that stumps might be kinder to the environment b/c I figured without sunlight the native veg would be kaputz anyway? Building on an acre in Macedon ......one day. Re: slab or stumps 12Feb 16, 2010 9:39 pm rotanon take2 We have both as we are building on a slope, the benefits of the parts on the stumps is that we won't need to do any retaining around these areas. In our build it was cheaper to put part of the house on stumps. Look at some of the smaller builder in your area, as most project builder don't like to build away there normal build as they have all their tradies lined up. Cheers Lou take2 are you saying your build is part slab and part stumps? I had never heard of that method of construction before. How common is it for people to build in this fashion? My mind is ticking over now for our upcoming build.... We have about a 6m fall over the building zone on our house, so we put in 2 slabs one at the top of the block for the garage, and the other at the bottom. The upper level of the house comes out level with the garage and sit above the lower level slab in effect a 2 storey home. We have stumps coming off the lower level and on the upper level. Its very hard to explain you are best to have a look at our blog if you go to the oldest posts you will see plans and elevations. There are a lot of houses around us building this way due to the slopes on the blocks. Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: slab or stumps 13Feb 23, 2010 10:29 am mummagoose So by having stumps do you think it protects the native vegetation more than having a slab would? I only ask b/c I have an acre of native veg that I've just had a fauna and flora survey done on in preparation for a planning permit application ... I hadn't considered that stumps might be kinder to the environment b/c I figured without sunlight the native veg would be kaputz anyway? Without sunlight nothing will grow on the surface of the dirt but if the roots below the surface are undisturbed and the soil is not compacted surrounding vegetation will thrive. We are having to avoid the roots of a neighbouring angophora so I'm learning about not suffocating the soil. I imagine this would also encourage more roots in your plumbing down the track. I am no authority on the matter but having lived in a '50s bungalow with roots blocking our sewer every spring I think it is someting to be wary of. Re: slab or stumps 14Feb 23, 2010 7:12 pm Hmmm, that makes sense mb@147a, thanks for that. I think that in my case the council are quite "interested" in the understory - the native grasses etc and not just the trees so I'm assuming the effect of slab vs stumps would be similar for this stuff? Building on an acre in Macedon ......one day. Re: slab or stumps 15Feb 23, 2010 8:32 pm Hi msbyrne, a lot of builders won't go near stumps as it is perceived as being a more cost effective solution and this is what the majority of the market want. there's definitely some big cost savings by going with stumps but the price depends on a number of factors. if you look at homes on stumps, there's generally more labour in getting the prepwork for the base of the home. a slab is easy, pours in one day, prep work takes 1-2 days and cure time is a couple of weeks depending on the time of year etc. with stumps, you require more engineering detail (can cost big $$ pending the design), the sub frame floor whether it be steel or timber requires a bit more work to get right and with steel - you have the cost of the materials. in saying that, if you build on stumps and have a framed home, your build times can be quicker and allow more flexibility with the design - plus there's the ability for the home to look that little bit more awesome as it is unique. i work for The Rural Building Company, we've built a number of framed homes on stumps using metal and/or timber. We get asked this question a lot and more so throw it back to the client with what they would prefer/like. Putting a home on stumps can cost more, but will look more appealing and have a different feel. A home on a slab may cost more but may not look as nice pending your tastes and preference. A framed home should cost less on the basis that it will be quicker to build etc but if you put it on poles, add to the cost your scaffolding and safety requirements which definitely add $$. we've done the exercise on a framed home on poles and a bricks on slab - the difference was $8k for a $300k home. the slope on your block and the soil conditions will also have a large effect. Not sure if you have already spoken to us, but if you would like to chat further (obligation free), i am more than happy to go through everything with you and discuss some of the options. i can give you some addresses for some homes on poles we have built if you are interested in doing a couple of drive bys. attached is an image of a home WA Country Builders built (one of our Designs) a couple of years ago - steel subframe and poles. in terms of insulation, keeping the house warm and energy ratings. you can add extra insulation to underneath the floor of your home, and upgrade the insulation in your wall cavities. all of our designs are solar passive and we do provide the owners with a certificate showing the energy rating of their home before we go to site. there's a number of things you can do to improve the rating of your home, just depends on how much you wish to spend and in what areas (glazing, insulation etc). Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: slab or stumps 16Mar 07, 2013 4:21 pm I wrote an interesting (to me) article about this. If you want check my website clark new homes. cheerios If you're in a flood zone, not only are you dealing with the importation of fill and laying it down in 150 lifts to achieve compaction, you're going to have to consider… 4 5620 Are they stumps or screw piles ? How much fill is there, is the site a class "P" ? A "H2" site is not supposed to have stumps it is supposed to have grid beams according… 1 7290 Thanks for the insights, that makes perfect sense, and yeah, I will be leaning on the experience of the excavator operator entirely. 6 16519 |