Post Tension Slab

A post-tension slab is a very desireable foundation for a Tucson home. Post tension slabs have cables running both directions through the concrete and they are in a cover that allows for tension to be put on the cables once the slab is poured and has cured to a certain point. Tensioning the slab keeps it from cracking. It becomes one large slab held together as a single unit.

The picture below was taken after a cable was tensioned. The cable is a spiral and the tensioning is done inside the slab. Once it is tensioned the cable excess is cut off and the whole is sealed with concrete.

Cracks in the slab can invite termites or other things that might invade the home through those cracks. It also means you should never have to worry about your floor suddenly cracking and ruining your floor or cracking any tile laid on the floor.

There are no special concerns when laying tile on a post tension slab. I've laid tile in two homes that were post tension slab.

The one thing you don't want to do is drill large holes that might sever one of the cables or compromise the integrity of the slab tension. If there is a need to do so for remodeling purposes, it is important that the exact location of the cables be determined and plans made accordingly. You never want to break a cable in a post tension slab or drill a large enough hole to cause damage to the foundation which is under preasure.

A post tension slab will usually have a stamp located in the garage either just inside the garage door our just outside the garage door. It looks like the image below.