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Replace basement slab? Cost?

6 years ago

Hi all,

Background: we're gutting and renovating our home in Toronto, including the basement. Basement square footage is around 1300sf.

Currently the basement slab abuts the foundation, they do not overlap. We can see that the concrete around that joint is darker and feels a bit wetter than the rest of the slab.

In addition, the slab is really wavy and uneven - we were going to pour gypcrete to level it, but the gypcrete person said that she wasn't sure it would adhere properly to the parts of the slab that have moisture.

It's very clear from simple observation that the moisture is coming up through the crack between slab and footing, not through the walls.

We're at the top of the hill and even with all the flooding in recent years, our basement has never flooded.

Decision: So now our builder is suggesting that we replace the slab, this time pouring it so that it overlaps the footing. They would also be installing interior weeping tile, and the slab would be poured over gravel and insulation and vapor barrier. According to his quote, this will cost $24,000. It sounds like a ton of money to me. Is it in the ballpark of what a new slab should cost? Should we:

a) bite the bullet and replace the whole slab with our builder; or

b) go get some other quotes to do the slab (is that a faux pas when already working with a gc?); or

c) forget about slab replacement, put down some DryBarrier or DryCore and live with the fact that the floor is uneven?

Help!

(thanks in advance)

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Comments (5)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
I'd place the gypcrete and forget about it, especially since its never flooded. You can replace a hell of a lot of wet carpet for 24K.
sweetncrunchy thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
sweetncrunchy
Original Author
6 years ago
@Joseph Corlett - do you think there'd be an adhesion problem with the gypcrete going on over concrete that has some moisture in it?
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
I doubt it, but I'm not sure and would have to investigate further. 24K is just a ridiculous amount to spend it seems to me, and I make my living at cost effectiveness.
sweetncrunchy thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
worthy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Easier to follow on a single thread.

24K is just a ridiculous amount

Well, I've been building and renoing in TO since the early '80s and the pricing sounds right to me. Which I took as the original question. But whether the OP can get by with less, sure. Just keep the dehumidifier running.
sweetncrunchy thanked worthy
sweetncrunchy
Original Author
6 years ago
Worthy, thanks - that's valuable input. I think we're going to go ahead and do the new slab.

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