I live in southern Saskatchewan where we have to deal with expansive clay soils.  Standard practice around here is to go with a concrete or PWF basement on concrete footers.  Almost all the homes I have visited, exhibit some amount of basement floor movement, in some cases, it is serious enough to cause structual damage.  I want to forgo the basement in a future build, and am considering either a monolithic slab, or concrete grade beams on concrete pilings. (using FPSF techniques)  Yeah, I know, hire an engineer.  Just hoping to garner some knowledge from the experienced folk here.

Garth

I have similar situation (marl + high water table) and am leaning towards a FPSF thickened edge monolithic slab. Probably with post tensioned cables. The alternatives were driven pilings or soil screws. I completely agree about no basement - or a fully exposed basement if you prefer to call it that.

Louisiana here - expansive clay soil and water table practically inches from surface. I went with a post-tensioned monolithic slab.