Footing and foundations winter work
Hi all – I am in process of building a new home in Ashburnham Ma. and my schedule is working out that I will be in process of starting the foundation (footings and slab) in October. There is obviously a possibility of this foundation and slab to sit unprotected during the winter months while I wait for a weather break to do framing. The foundation will be fully insulated using ICFs and the slab will have 4″ XPS foam under it. The house hopefully would be very close to PHI standards. BUT – what risks do I have to worry about if the footings and slab are left unprotected during snow times in new England?
There will be in slab radiant floor tubes and drains for the various rooms. I would like to leave the footings open but if I have to, I will backfill them when completed. I want to leave them open to run underground cable/water etc..
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Replies
It's always risky to leave an unheated and uncovered foundation in the ground over-winter.
If the ground is well-drained and the water table is low, it will likely be OK. But you most definitely should backfill to grade, both for proper drainage and for the insulating factor of the earth. Otherwise, you're inviting the frost deep into the ground under the footings.
Floor drains, if they have traps, and any water without antifreeze in the radiant tubing is likely to freeze - so they both should be emptied and sealed.
My suggestion: don't pour the foundation until the Spring.
Mark,
Robert's right; it's better to wait.
I once left a partially finished foundation exposed through the winter. I protected the footings with many bales of hay.