Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Mar 07, 2014 07:35am | #1

   Peter,
   A company called Reese Enterprises sells thermally broken thesholds. Check out these three pages:

   http://www.reeseusa.com/category/Thermal_Break_Offset_Threshold

   http://www.reeseusa.com/category/Thermal_Break_Panic_Threshold

   http://www.reeseusa.com/category/Thermal_Break_Saddle_Threshold

   Here are three other Q&A threads that you may want to read:

   Door threshold in a 12-inch wall

   Worth worrying about heat loss through aluminum door threshold?

   Exterior door thresholds for thick walls

2. 
   davidmeiland | Mar 07, 2014 09:46am | #2

   Pemko also has thermally broken thresholds.

3. 
   jackofalltrades777 | Mar 07, 2014 01:02pm | #3

   I think you misunderstood my question. I need to thermally break the CONCRETE SLAB as it transitions from the exterior to the interior on a grade-on-slab condition.

4. Expert Member
   MALCOLM TAYLOR | Mar 07, 2014 11:52pm | #4

   Peter, How are you planning to thermally break the slab under the exterior walls on each side of the door? Could you not use the same detail under the threshold?

5. 
   davidmeiland | Mar 08, 2014 12:25am | #5

   Do you mean a mono-slab, or are you pouring stem walls first and then slab within?

6. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Mar 08, 2014 05:10am | #6

   Peter,
   I'm still confused by your question. Most slabs are insulated at the perimeter with vertical rigid foam insulation. Do you anticipate a situation in which you have a slab that extends continuously from the interior to the exterior (forming some type of exterior patio)?

   .

   
7. 
   jackofalltrades777 | Mar 09, 2014 11:28am | #7

   Martin,

   Yes, I am anticipating a situation in which I will have a slab that extends continuously from the interior to the exterior, forming an exterior patio.

8. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Mar 09, 2014 11:34am | #8

   Peter,
   That's a bad idea, for two important reasons. The first is one that you have identified: thermal bridging.

   The second involves water management. A patio slab will be soaked by rain (and possibly covered with snow), and that means that water will wick indoors continuously whenever the slab is damp.

   Fortunately, the solution is simple: pour these two slabs separately, and make sure that there is a thick layer of vertical rigid foam between the two slabs. Ideally, the exterior slab will be about 7 inches lower than the house slab, to manage water entry.

1. 
   Tim_E | Jun 03, 2023 11:13pm | #9

   I have a monolithic slab with perimeter insulation and am not certain how to handle the transition from the garage to the driveway and keep the thermal break. I would also like help making the garage door as airtight as possible.

   Along these same lines i would like to know the best option with the other doors in the house. The windows are easy but how do we keep the thermal break with the doors?

1. 
   Trevor_Lambert | Jun 04, 2023 07:31am | #10

   I asked a similar question not too long ago:
   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/door-thresholds-for-insulated-slab-on-grade

1. 
   Tim_E | Jun 04, 2023 10:34am | #11

   yes, i had a look and didn't really find a solution. garages are generally dropped to a stem wall slab arrangement so i guess we are asking about something that is seldom done...