Expert: Michael Curry - 10/22/2007

Question
I have a 24' x 36' garage with a slab that has several large, wide, long and very deep cracks. The sill plate is only about 2" about the soil line. And yes water is a problem. Solution I would like to do is install proper drainage, not quite sure of exactly how to do this.Then jack up the garage and along the outer perimeter of the slab either pour a 8" wall or install cinder blocks, also not exactly sure of how to do this. Then replace the deteriorated sill plate. Finally place vapor barrier on old slab, followed by sand ?? then rebar and finally a new poured slab. Dry sill and a uncracked garage floor.
As you can see I am no expert at this and need all advice and help I can get.
Thank you so much.

Answer
Hi Sharon,

Your existing slab probably has no rebar or mesh in it. You would be best to raise the garage, pour the new floor with rebar and mesh and then you have a solid foundation again. You can put a course of block or use a pressure treated sill plate.
Thanks,
Michael