Floating Concrete - Potential Issues with Stud Walls

[Gillespie85]

I have a 40x60 pole buidling in central Illinois. The concrete is a floating slab and I am going to be framing in a office area on the inside of the building.

My question is... Will I have any issues securing the stud walls into the poles considering that the concrete is a floating pad? Does a floating pad move up/down depending on temperature in winter, etc? If so, wouldn't that put pressure on the stud walls if they were tied into the poles of the building?

Any experience or advice?

Thank you.

(picture to give idea, not actual)

 

[Gillespie85]

No one with experience doing similar?

 

[ConCretin]

I’m not an expert on pole structures but I suspect they aren’t really frost protected i.e. they move up and down with the frost at least a little. Frozen ground tends to grap and lift anything that isn’t anchored with a footing or by it’s geometry. A floating slab will also move up and down due to varying conditions.

I wouldn’t assume however that the structure and slab will move in perfect unison. I would definately allow for some differential movement. I’ve seen a couple threads on here with some methods of accomplishing this. Probably not much help but at least it’ll give your post another bump.

 

[BillK]

It would use a little more lumber but how about framing the office area as a free standing room with its own 4 walls and not attached to the pole barn walls ?

 

[6sally6]

Why not frame the addition with studs on all 4 sides...not attach it to the pole barn wall?
6sally6
OOOPS.....didn't read ALL the posts (like the one above me)

 

[Gillespie85]

my main reason for not doing as a standalone 4-walls is to utilize the space... and because one wall contains my surface mount electrical panel, which is already in place... so if put up a standalone wall it would cover that

 

[gungatim]

I remember a TOH or some other episode years ago where they did a log cabin. they attached interior walls to the exterior in a way they could float independent of the main house. maybe google how it's done, IIRC they weren't nailed directly but sort of boxed tightly around the poles if that makes sense. sort of a tongue and groove setup.

just a thought...

 

[Nick Danger]

my main reason for not doing as a standalone 4-walls is to utilize the space... and because one wall contains my surface mount electrical panel, which is already in place... so if put up a standalone wall it would cover that

Why not put in a doorway for the electrical panel?

 

[BarryWells]

Build it from steel studs and drywall and dont attach anything but the lower tracks to the floor. Foating office, No fires, no termites. Fast and clean and STRAIGHT.( cuz I know you have **** lumber at the boxRus) "drywall fini$hers dream.Oh. It's a shop. Use 5/8 blue board.

 

[Gillespie85]

i havent yet ran conduit and electrical to the panel, which will all be surface mount... so if i place a wall in front of it, i would have to leave a gap and i think it will just make all the electrical that much more difficult?

 

[jives]

I've heard here and elsewhere that the finished walls of a pole barn with a floating slab should hang from the poles and girts, and not anchored to the floor. I did not do it that way and have had no apparent problems. My gravel base was compacted with a massive vibrating road-building roller, and I have 2" of EPS rigid foam board separating the slab from the base skirt board. 5" of wire mesh reinforced concrete, no thickening at the edges. 5 years, no movement, no cracks, no wall heaving. The concrete was poured all the way to the bottom of the bottom bookshelf girt. We've had temps in the minus teens, and no heat in the garage.

I have a PT 2 x 4 that runs, on edge, around the base of my garage. It is secured to the posts and bottom girt. My walls are 1 1/8" inch solid core door panels that rest on the 2 x 4s. If there was any heaving something would give.

This is not an endorsement of anything, just my situation.

 

[rburke65]

Myself...I’d frame it like you wanted...to the posts. Whats the worst could happen?