Remodeling my Home Construction Question?

Bird Dogs, Wholesaling
1

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to buy a 1,280 sq ft house in Ithaca. It has terrible carpets which I will dispose of.

  1. how much does it cost to seal the slab from moisture and cold?
  2. what are the required materials?
  3. how much would it cost in total?

Thank You

2

I don’t think any body on this site knows the answer to your question. After considerable thought and realizing my ignorance in regards to your question,
I suggest you contact a building contractor.

3

Hi,

As a licensed engineering and building contractor I will try this:

First it is much easier to include and install insulation in a new home than it is to retrofit an existing home.

Because the concrete slab is in contact with the footings and the footings are exposed to the outside temperature’s and I assume when you refer to Ithaca your referring to Ithaca New York.

Now I recommend you speak with a local contractor as various methods and materials availability are different state by state.

Your biggest culprit in winter is the frost line, the depth of soil which potentially freezes xx inches deep.

First to keep the slab from freezing you can excavate around the perimeter and install a ridged insulation against the footing face and water seal again on the exterior side. Using this method if the footing is not deep enough to get below the freeze line you can vertically excavate an additional few feet, install the ridged insulation to your depth and water seal, backfill and finish to grade.

This will keep earth and footing from transferring freezing temperatures from outside inside. The slab will stay above freezing but will probable be in the 40’s or 50’s in winter. Installing a radiant heating under tile is a way to keep the floor warm and feel good to the touch. The only other product I can think of right off the bat is used in basements a lot and is a subfloor material laid on the slab which has a moisture barrier and allows the underside to drain as needed while providing an insulated subfloor above to finish off as desired.

This material raises the floor level about 2 inches so you have to be able to reframe door ways to except a raised floor and still allow a standard door to fit. You lose about 2 inches of ceiling space so a home with low ceilings already will feel Closter phobic.

There may be other products available so check with a local contractor.

               GR