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Attaching wood walls to concrete slab

19K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  Ron55  
#1 ·
I am building a garage and want to make sure I protect my wooden walls sufficiently from the concrete. I am using pressure treated lumber for my bottom plate but wanted to know if it was necessary to use any additional barrier between the concrete and the pressure treated lumber? Also, when I apply the sheathing, which I was planning to have extend beside the slab, is it necessary to use pressure treated plywood for that?
 
#2 ·
Ron,
depends a lot on where you are located. Update your profile and you'll get better responses. I use a foam sill sealer between the treated plate and concrete slab or blockwork. Codes around here require bottom of framing to be at least 8" above finish grade. If you meet that, cdx plywood should be fine for sheathing.
Mike Hawkins:)
 
#3 ·
I hope you plan to use the appropriate anchor bolts to keep the garage held down and in the same county. You don't have to use special bolt materials for the embedded portion, but any fastener in treated wood has to be made for that purpose to prevent the preservatives from destroying it. - That can happen in a few short years.

Dick
 
#7 ·
#10 ·
Foundation bolts are needed. Do yourself a favor and build stem walls not just a pored slab. Do a key word on "stem wall."
By the questions your asking it may be best to have someone that knows what there doing build this for you.
 
#11 ·
As well as getting an experienced person to DESIGN and help build the whole deal, make sure you insulate under it if you are ever going to heat it: A minimum of 2" of rigid foam under the slab, and, if you are in a heating-dominated environment, under the footer, and in and out on the stem wall or edge beam (whatever you do there).
 
#12 ·
Guys, all I was asking about was the issue of the concrete touching the wood. I apologize for not making it clear that I was only talking about the exterior walls. I have anchor bolts in a monolithic slab. I appreciate the suggestion of the EPDM gasket which seems like a better way to keep it "green". I also apprciate the info regarding the use of cdx plywood when keeping the walls 8" above finish grade. Our local codes require the same 8" limitation. Thank you all for your input.