Living Offgrid Affordably: The Floor Goes In

Reader Contribution by Jeff Chaney
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3

After our last step, Laying The Foundation, we are ready to build the floor system. I couldn’t help but look up and be thankful for that huge black tarp. No rain was in the weather forecast, but I knew it would come sooner or later.

The next step was to place the vapor barrier, which must be done very carefully to prevent damage. Any holes or tears will reduce it’s effectiveness. The plastic is pushed down over the stainless steel bolts protruding from the termite shield. Care must be taken when cutting holes for the drains. A tight fit is imperative! One must be meticulous with the small details, or the effort is useless. In hindsight, laying the vapor barrier directly on the ground would have been just as effective, and a lot less work! Another great idea would have been to insulate the foundation, but this was just going to be a storage building, destined to be dismantled in the future.

At this point, we again vary from the norm. According to the Southern Building Code, which was in effect at the time of this construction, all lumber used within 18 inches of the ground must be treated lumber. Arsenic is typically used, and we did not want that! Plus, I was concerned about rain damage, since I was doing this myself and progress would be slow. So I decided to use water sealer on all the framing lumber. Part of the reason for this was to eliminate any pine beetles, which were prevalent in the area. This, and the termite shield, would give ample protection. I purchased a bunk feeder from a farm supply store, and used it to soak the framing lumber in water sealer. The boards were laid on sawhorses to dry.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368