Slab vs foundation??

[fitzee]

Im putting togeather a plan now to final put up a garage and need some input into what would be best for me.I live in Eastern Canada and looking for info on slab Vs Foundation setups.. I am looking to build a 30 by 40 garage and I am looking to which is better..I see alot of slab down south but up here Im thinking a 30 by 40 slab might be trouble in the winter.. any sites out there for making heavy duty slabs? also should I just have a 4 foot frost wall and pour the floor after. thinking of a 8 foot wall with a 4 feet under ground that way i have a fire wall in the garage as I will be using this shop as a spot to restore and build car projects and welding is something I do alot.any ideas for firewalls??.i just cant decide what to do.. any input or ideas would be a great help.

 

[kbs2244]

Talk to the local concrete guys.
They know your area and the pros and cons are decided every day.

 

[1969]

If this building is not attached to your home, you certainly can build on a slab successfully.
Site prep is of most importance.Gravel, good drainage, proper compaction, also use multiple runs of rebar in the perimeter. As the other chap already said........ talk to your local concrete guys. Building in colder climates on slab is being done all the time now. Again, proper prep.

 

[wizard1212]

I just poured a 30x40 detached shop last summer.

I am in central Alberta so was also concerned about the winter and having a slab move due to the frost.

I ended up doing a slab but I got it engineered using metal screw pilings which are 6 inch in diameter (16 I think). It cost a bit less than if I did the frost wall, and they can come and put them in a couple hours. No excavating, no forms, no concrete. You just tie the rebar onto them and pour the slab.

If you want more info let me know. Hoping to put together a thread on my build soon.