Storm-Ready Design Project

Stem Walls, Slab, and Reinforcement for Concrete Walls Video

After seven days of steady rain, the crew is ready to pour the concrete for the foundation and slab at the Punta Gorda, Florida, storm-ready home. Bob explains how code now dictates that foundations be elevated and supported by a three-course block stem wall set on reinforced footings below the grade. These perimeter stem walls are reinforced with horizontal and vertical number five diameter steel rods or rebar. The stem walls and slab are poured as one to create a seamless slab and foundation. This integral foundation will protect against water intrusion and hydrostatic prssure that lifts slabs and compromises structures when storm surge comes. The concrete is floated and polished to finish the slab before the reinforcing steel rods and mesh are set for the walls. Vertical steel rods are spliced to the reinforcing rods protruding from the foundation, then steel mesh is attached with wire to the rods. Stirrups and rebar create the headers, and spacers are attached to the mesh to keep it centered in the new wall once the concrete is poured.

Additional Bob Vila Showrooms
• Owens Corning - Basement Finishing System™
• Lumber Liquidators - Hardwood Flooring for Less
• The Basement Tuxedo - The most advanced basement finishing available!
• ZN Custom Building - Modular Homes
• FloorMall.com - Hardwood Flooring and Area Rugs
• Basement Systems Inc - Basement Waterproofing and Crawl Space Contractor Network

Carpentry, Construction & Materials
• Mercedes Homes - General Contractor
• Precise Forms, Inc. - Aluminum form systems for concrete homes and basement foundations
• Solid Wall Systems - Aluminum concrete form system

Miscellaneous
• Ultimate Chase - Stock Footage And Storm Video Production Services

Real Estate
• FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes) - non-profit, organization dedicated to promoting disaster safety and property loss mitigation
• Mercedes Homes - Developer - homes designed and built for comfort, elegance, efficiency, and safety in Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas.

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	Other Video Clips from this Episode

	Setting Aluminum Forms for Concrete Walls Cameron Parker, production manager for Solid Wall Systems, shows Bob how the aluminum forms are prepped and erected for the concrete pour at the Punta Gorda, Florida, storm-ready house. Parker ... Watch video and view full description
	NOW PLAYING Stem Walls, Slab, and Reinforcement for Concrete Walls After seven days of steady rain, the crew is ready to pour the concrete for the foundation and slab at the Punta Gorda, Florida, storm-ready home. Bob explains how code ...
	House Failures in Hurricanes Bob is joined by Wayne Sallade, the emergency manager for Charlotte County, Florida. They stand before a residential property that has been condemned since the strike by hurricane Charley. Sallade ... Watch video and view full description
	Building Reinforced Concrete Storm-Ready Homes in Florida Bob is joined on the site of the Punta Gorda, Florida, storm-ready home by Jim Crain of Precise Forms. Precise Forms partners with Mercedes Builders to create high-quality, reinforced concrete ... Watch video and view full description
	Removing the Concrete Wall Forms and Planning the Plaster Finish It has been nearly 12 hours since the concrete was poured on the Punta Gorda, Florida, storm-ready house. The crew from Solid Wall Systems is on site to strip the ... Watch video and view full description
	A Concrete House for a Hurricane Zone Homeowner Jim Minardi is checking out the layout of his new reinforced concrete home that has materialized from sand after just two days. He joins Bob at the window of ... Watch video and view full description