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To: doug-e-mini who wrote (30608)	8/13/1999 4:20:00 PM
From: Nemer	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 44573

Sure, Doug .... The post to Hal tells some of the basics ... The predominant method of residential construction in Texas is slab ... actually in the trade, it is called a "floating slab" ... It is a large block of concrete, normally 4 inches thick with an interlocking grid work of "piers" which are usually about a foot wide and 18-24 inches deep and make up a grid around the perimeter and cross connections to the outer pier with 12 foot by 12 foot grids internally .... or maybe closer depending upon the height of the structure and even the number of interior walls ... not to be too technical, this "floating slab" actually floats on the surface of the earth ..... with the piers holding the entire slab together and providing some "grip" on the face of the soil...... When the surrounding yard dries out (as in the current heat wave) the soil contracts and expands at differing rates from the soil underneath the slab .... thus causing an upheaval similar to ground heave cause by freezing up north ..... causing the slabs to crack ... in severe cases, concrete is pumped in under high pressure (after excavation) below the slab, in effect, shoring up the slab and stopping the cracking action .... Hope that helps some .... but as I said , it is a fact of life around this area .... preparations taken before construction will alleviate the problem to a large extent but soaking the perimeter of the house is a necessity ... for example, on my house, I had the forms in place a year before I poured the slab .... watered the dickens out of the area which was formed ..... because I had 15 truck loads of dirt hauled in to raise the level of the slab above grade ..... haven't had a crack yet and that was done 20 years ago, but four houses within 300 feet of me have had to be fixed. aren't you glad you asked ? ? ? heheheehe