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Howard and Bob talk about the steps saved in pouring the slab and about Insul-Tarp which acts as a barrier to the moisture below the slab and provides insulation that prevents heat loss. The haunched footings, the slab, and any reinforcing are all done in one step. Traditionally, a 10’x10′ steel reinforcing mesh would go down before the concrete is poured, but that step was eliminated by blending the fibers into the concrete mix. Although the mesh adds to the cost of the concrete, this method is still much cheaper than the traditional one. After the concrete has been poured and allowed to set, the diagonals are checked to make sure the slab is completely square and points are perpendicular. Bob also talks with Ron Ardres of ReddiForm about the ReddiForm insulated concrete form (ICF) system that was used for the foundation walls. The ReddiForm blocks are lightweight and made of expanded polystyrene, a material similar to that used for drinking cups but with added flame retardants. ReddiForm’s no-tie rebar chair is being placed on the tops of the forms to prepare for the rebar dowels that will connect the walls to the foundation. Holes are drilled into the slab to install sections of rebar through the ReddiForm blocks. These pieces of rebar tie the walls to the existing slab. The walls will be seven and a half feet high with a structural slab or upper floor placed on top. The walls and the first floor slab will all be poured in one pour.
