The Wafflemat™ Foundation Forming System

On-grade Mat Foundation for Expansive, Collapsible and Rocky Soils

 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

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It is
is not...

5
 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

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Setup
Setup
Groups of two/four Waffleboxes clipped & connected

12
Slab Pour
Finish
5,000 sf house in Hawaii
Note: Plumbing already up

16
Waffleboxes left out for point loads

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Cables in Clips
Strong enough to walk on
Working in Hawaii
Waffleboxes ‘lock’ when concrete poured
Used on Multi Levels
Finished House
 Technical Resources

• Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-Grade_Mat_Foundation_for_Exp
ansive_Soil
s

• 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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