The Wafflemat™ Foundation Forming System
On-grade Mat Foundation for Expansive, Collapsible and Rocky Soils
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Upfront
• The Wafflemat Foundation-Forming System– What it is – and isn’t– Features– Typical installation steps– ‘How To’– Photo Sequences– Technical resources– Contacts
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Description
• What it is– Elevated post-tension slab (4” to 6”) poured monolithically over either
8.5” or 12” high, 19” x 19” foundation forms (‘Waffleboxes’), which provide void space for movement of soils
– A series of ribs, 3’8” on center, are created by inter-connecting the foundation forms
• What it’s not– Slab resting entirely on grade, made entirely of concrete, without a
place for movement of soils
– Dirt-formed rib system requiring significant trenching and construction
It is
5
is not...
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Section View
Top View
Cross Section
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Features
Design: – Use on expansive, collapsible, and rocky soils.
Performance: - Voids resist swelling from over-watering, surface drainage, and flooding. Ribbed footprint
means less contact with soil, yet extremely stiff slab. Prefect placement of cables equals minimum sag/additional strength. Acts as built-in vapor barrier.
Implementation: – No presoaking pads, no trenching for concrete beams, no footings, no earth spoils and off-
haul. Less depth of trenching for plumbing laterals beneath foundation forms. Quick -- and, fool proof -- set up/installation.
References: - Millions of sf residential & light commercial space installed since 1995 in most difficult soil
conditions in US and Mexico without one structural callback/failure.
One More: Made of “green” (re-cycled polypropylene plastic) materials
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Typical Installation Cycle
• Day 1: Form boards set, plumbing installed, inspection
• Day 2: On-grade mat foundation forms (‘Waffleboxes’) spread and clipped/connected– Two sizes of void boxes; 8.5” uses plastic clips, 12” metal clips– Place tendons/anchor bolts– Set interior form; i.e., garage firewall / porch– Inspection
• Day 3: Slab poured– Strong enough for crew to walk on
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‘How To’
• Estimate number of Wafflebox foundation forms in footprint- Take total sf of footprint, divide by 4.15- Example: 1500 sf / 4.15 = 361 Waffleboxes needed
• Calculate number installed per man hour- Detailed survey of last 15 projects; most 175 per man hour, least 28 per man
hour, average 75 per man hour
• Determine yards of concrete in a Wafflemat slab- 28 sf per cubic yard using 8.5” Wafflebox w/ 5” slab- Example: 1500 sf / 28 = 54 yards
Setup
Setup
12
Groups of two/four Waffleboxes clipped & connected
Slab Pour
Finish
5,000 sf house in Hawaii
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Note: Plumbing already up
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Waffleboxes left out for point loads
Cables in Clips
Strong enough to walk on
Working in Hawaii
Waffleboxes ‘lock’ when concrete poured
Used on Multi Levels
Finished House
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Technical Resources
• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-Grade_Mat_Foundation_for_Expansive_Soils
• Google: ‘On-grade mat foundations’
• Best Base Website → ‘Technical Papers’– Wafflemat Slabs Provide Superior Performance – Lowering the Carbon Footprint When Using the Wafflemat
System for Concrete Slab Foundations – Wafflemat System Design Considerations – Wafflemat FAQ – Thermo Mechanical Analysis of Wafflemat Samples– Wafflemat and the IBC
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Contacts
• www.thebestbase.com
• Tom Richards, 925.683.2739
• Jim Winslow, Implementation: 925.352.2456
• Rich Treanor, Planning/Production: 925.640.8680
• Tom Bragg, Engineering Liaison: 925.915.0808
• John Cook, S.E.: 707.578.8185
• Dan Rhoades, G.E.: 925.932.1177
• Greg Carr, P.E.: 925.336.6366
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