Concerns with building a basement and first floor framing — coming back later to continue…
![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/160571787ef0e02a8ff673393513714a?s=52&d=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.greenbuildingadvisor.com%2Fapp%2Favatars%2F200x200%2Fm.png&r=g)
We are planning a pretty good house build in Northern Wisconsin (zone 7a) and are interested in pacing the house build over 2-3 years, excluding the bank and allowing us to be deeply involved in the build.
With that, I am breaking the project down into manageable phases and would like feedback on executing the basement this fall and picking up next spring after snowmelt. The building is a 26’x36′ rectangle.
Here is what we would do:
– Install well, septic, electric, plumbing rough-ins in slab, etc.
– Pour footings, basements walls and basement slab
– Construct basement framed walls, load posts and LVLs, install floor trusses/rim and subfloor
– Cover entire floor deck with solid pond liner for winter
1. Is this possible, a good idea, a bad idea? Any major concerns?
2. Are there other precautions that should be taken?
Feedback on this is greatly appreciated.
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
![](https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/app/themes/greenbuildingadvisor/dist/img/modules/detail-library/thumb1.png)
![](https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/app/themes/greenbuildingadvisor/dist/img/modules/detail-library/thumb2.png)
Replies
Sound like a reasonable plan. I would plan that you might need to replace a small section of the subfloor in case of water demage.
Your foundation will release a lot of moisture as it cures, you want to make sure there is some ventilation.
No matter what, you will get condensation under the liner, you probably want to space it up a bit off the subfloor to help with drying.
Flat things pond, make sure your liner is sealed. Would be better to get a bit of slope to allow for some drainage, could be a simple as a 2x10 on edge across the middle of the floor.
Michael,
To add to what Akos has said:
The most vulnerable element of that initial work is the plywood subfloor. Given that laying it will only take a day at most, why not leave it until Spring?
I don't know enough about your climate to know if frost heave would be a problem. Perhaps others can comment.