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Grade Beam

Last Post 30 Jan 2009 08:56 PM by ICFconstruction. 5 Replies.

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saskicf

New Member

Posts:3

29 Jan 2009 05:13 PM
I am planning on building with ICF and wanted to know if I could do my garage grade beam on piles with ICF. I am not planning on heating my garage and will just stick frame that but will have enough left overs from my order to do the 2 foot grade beam on piles, so was wondering if that is possible? Can I build and ICF grade beam on piles as I would a conventional grade beam? would I still need a frost cushion etc. Thanks

Chris Johnson User is Offline

Advanced Member

Posts:878

29 Jan 2009 09:26 PM
Yes, you can do the grade beams, you still need to be below the frost line or use a shallow wall/footing detail.

Chris Johnson - Pro ICF<br>North of 49

saskicf

New Member

Posts:3

29 Jan 2009 10:17 PM
Thanks for responding If I do the grade beam on Piles, as a conventional grade beam I don't need to go below frost level do I. Also If I do it on piles would I still need to do a footing for an ICF Wall. Where can I find a shallow wall/footing detail. Nathan

Chris Johnson User is Offline

Advanced Member

Posts:878

29 Jan 2009 11:43 PM
If you don't go below the frost line what is going to stop the frost from getting below the area of wall not on a pier and heaving? No you do not need a footing if you are on piles. Shallow wall/footing detail is available from some ICF manufacturers or your Provincial building code. How are you coming up with piers anyways? Is an engineer involved? Should be if not, I would say you are outside the scope of the building code that deals with this. Keep in mind I am in California and everything I do is outside the scope of the building code and must be engineered.

Chris Johnson - Pro ICF<br>North of 49

saskicf

New Member

Posts:3

30 Jan 2009 10:18 AM
My plans alreadey call and are passed for a garage grade beam on piles with a frost cushion, That is pretty standard here in Saskatchewan for the garage grade beam. So basically all I was thinking was that I would just do the exact thing but instead of having someone come in with their wood forms and stripping them later, I would just use my extra ICF forms to build the frost wall. I would still use the frost cushion to prevent frost under areas without. I just wanted to see if that was something I could do or not. I will look around for the shallow wall detail. Thanks Nathan

ICFconstruction User is Offline

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30 Jan 2009 08:56 PM
We do ICF grade beams all the time here in Minnesota. Works great. We do not need to go below the frost level (42" here). That has to be engineered and a cushion, insulation, dry sand or other to prevent frost from heaving the grade beam.

Brad Kvanbek - ICFconstruction.net