How long will a foundation last?

[jeffg]

I have long term plans to put an addition onto my existing 30x30 shop. I have another 30+ feet inline with the ridge that is bare dirt today.

While I know that I cant swing paying for the addition for a couple of years, I do have the funds to do the excavation work and foundation and pad pour now. My plan would be for full footers to the frost line a d 6" stub wall and the reinforced pad.

This would also eliminate the need to keep the bare dirt weed free for the next couple of summers and give me a place to park the lawn mower and what not.

Would the foundation last a couple of years while I got around to financing the framing and getting it wrapped up?

 

[maxpat82]

I see no issue except maybe the floor finish....but other then that, can' be worst then a concrete driveway.

 

[ford33]

Yes. Think of all the homes started construction during the real estate boom that never finished. Foundation placed and no home built for years.

Maybe consider a sealer on the horizontal surface but choose wisely if you want to finish the concrete floor later. Some sealer materials are not compatible with floor coverings.

 

[Jon_E]

I would think a concrete foundation would last for decades with only minor surface deterioration. A couple of years won't hurt a thing.

 

[tapered-pin]

your greatest concern would be from soil heave, but protect against that with the proper design and go for it.

why not just save the money or pay off other debt with it..?

 

[GarageGuy89]

Yes, perfectly normal.

Personally, I wouldn't do it though until you know what your building. You're putting the cart in front of the horse on this one.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Depends on how likely you are to change your mind about things like size, slope, door openings, insulation, downspouts, drainage etc. Also any bolts (sill plate) may rust or get damaged.
I'd wait until I was ready to at least go to a weather tight stage. I see very little advantage (actually none) in doing it early.

 

[JerryB]

As others have replied, the concrete work should last virtually forever. No problem there.

As pointed out above, you are taking a chance on changing your requirements, design, or your mind. Hard (impossible) to move the concrete over a foot or two!!

And, consider that in most construction, the J-bolts, other fasteners and plumbing are usually placed to accommodate stud placement, doorways, and other physical requirements for the interface between the foundation / floor, and the structural parts of the building. Really difficult (read "impossible" to put in a J-Bolt or move a drain line in an existing slab / foundation. Those items are normally part of the overall design of the build, and done prior to pouring the foundation and floor.

Consider doing the dirt work, including any fill or underlayment material as part of the initial project, then use the saved money to pay off other items, so you can pour the slab and build the structure sooner.

 

[850xpeps]

I agree with above posts. Not sure where your located but slabs finished for exterior where freezing is involved are left with open pores so they don’t bust apart. So that’s something else to look at. I wouldn’t do it until your ready to put a building on it. Just put the money aside and let it collect interest.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don't think as long as precautions are taken, that building in stages are a bad thing.

I don't know you stand in terms of cash or credit but most big box stores allow 6 months interest free on purchases of $300 or more. If you had an extra chunk of cash saved, you could frame it up, then put house wrap and complete the roofing via interest free credit.

Just use some common sense and don't get in over your head. . . . nobody wants to see that happen.

 

[Not1044]

As someone who has built a house on a foundation that had been abandoned for 20+ years, yes the foundation will hold up if it's properly done. The floor? Maybe, maybe not. Sill bolts as mentioned won't make it unless you coat them in some kind of preservative and judicially maintain them.

A bigger concern for me would be why? A lot can happen in 2 years. Unexpected illness, injury, death, job loss, divorce, economy goes in the crapper... you get the idea. A big unexpected life change happens in that 2 years and now you've got several thousand dollars in the ground you can't touch. I wouldn't go that route, but if you do and the next couple of years sail by as smoothly as you hope, your foundation should be good.

 

[matt_i]

My thought would be to acquire the galvanized J-bolts for attaching the bottom plate of the stud wall. If you go for the cheaper non-galvanized versions they will rust. You can paint them, etc but its a lot of work.

The epoxy is certainly a legit path but it is more expensive by the time one acquires the threaded rod and the epoxy.

 

[850xpeps]

No need to epoxy bolts. Wedge anchors are sufficient and can be drill in once walls are built.

 

[jetnow1]

Not sure I see the advantage of pouring it years before you are ready to build, especially as building trades are busy and expensive right now. I have built on a foundation that had been poured 10 years earlier with no problems, but its slab had not been poured. I would put the money in to a savings program till I was ready to build, I would bet the current cost to build will drop as the economy slows.

 

[rburke65]

I wouldn't think you would have a problem at all.