Hi Everyone. I'm thinking of using pole barn style construction for my green home project. I really like the idea and economy of a post foundation but can get my head around trying to thermally isolate the slab and create a good barrier to the outside of the building. With a continuous poured wall, you can have a "foam boat" for the slab and seal the WRB or sheathing or whatever on the outside of the wall to the concrete on the outside of the wall. But for a post foundation, does anyone have any helpful advice? I see how you could similarly insulate the slab, but how would you deal with sealing the space between the posts and slab? Could you also fill that area with concrete? If anyone has any ideas on this that would be really helpful. Thanks, Ben

Posted By benman on 09 Jul 2013 05:27 PM
Hi Everyone. I'm thinking of using pole barn style construction for my green home project. I really like the idea and economy of a post foundation but can get my head around trying to thermally isolate the slab and create a good barrier to the outside of the building. With a continuous poured wall, you can have a "foam boat" for the slab and seal the WRB or sheathing or whatever on the outside of the wall to the concrete on the outside of the wall. But for a post foundation, does anyone have any helpful advice? I see how you could similarly insulate the slab, but how would you deal with sealing the space between the posts and slab? Could you also fill that area with concrete? If anyone has any ideas on this that would be really helpful. Thanks, Ben

Ben,
I saw many of these built in western NY and NW PA in the 70's
The slab is poured after the posts and skirt board is installed, I would use EPS to insulate the slab from the skirt board, typically studs @ 24" oc are installed in between posts and allows for fiberglass batts in the wall.

Ok, jonr hit him with it