Wafflemat Script 4

It has been well established that a Wafflemat Foundation for residential and commercial buildings is more cost-effective and durable than any other type of foundation.

On one hand, when a completely new project is started with this foundation in mind, site development gets simplified as the it sits higher above the graded pad height which means a significant reduction in the costs for excavation and the off-haul of spoils, thus shortening the cycle time.

On the other hand, adapting an existing house plan to use a Wafflemat foundation is still simple and straightforward, regardless of the stage in the cycle reached.

Architects, engineers, concrete and P/T companies familiar with the Wafflemat system’s design considerations can quickly substitute it in place of a ribbed or uniform-thickness slab-on-ground foundation.

The main thing to consider when overtaking this adjustment is the effect of the raised floor height on the site development plans in regard to slope and drainage.

The Wafflemat floor height is usually 13.5 inches above pad grade, about 6-7 inches higher than the other types, however there is no major disadvantage to the floor being a bit higher than plain and can be executed without consequence.

And in case the raised floor height doesn’t appeal when it comes to aesthetic, a simple solution is to backfill a few more inches around the perimeter of the residence, which will not only make a smoother drop but also improve natural drainage of runoff.

Another thing that might seem troublesome is the need to maintain a balance between floor, street, and curb heights, but most designs do leave room for minor modifications to finished floor levels without compromising the integrity of the drainage calculations.

Ultimately, reduced materials costs and shortened cycle times mean that converting to a Wafflemat foundation is beneficial at every stage, and incurs even greater savings when the project is started with the system in mind.

To learn more, please visit www.Wafflemat.com