I am in the market for a Ranch type house and I find that builderss seem to prefer slab construction. I would think that and elevated floor would be preferable. So the ? is - Why are most new houses built on a slab? I don't think that it would be a cost saving for the builder as I find mosthouses in the low-cost market are built with a crawl space (e.g. Houses for Humanity).
A nyone with a clue?
TIA

Concrete and rebar is cheaper than all the wood for an elevated floor - less time consuming (labor) as well.

Down side to a slab is energy efficiency. Slabs work well in the southwest due to the milder climate, in the frozen north and east having a raised floor provides a dead air space that acts as an insulator - that and you can put insulation under the floor.

The initial cost is cheaper - but the long term heating cost may eat up that initial savings in the end.

Yes, slab can be cheaper but after the things I have seen in slab homes, I would never have one.

First and I think most important, it you have any problems with utilities that are in or under the slab, you have to cut the concret and dig it uo to make repairs. Home built with at least a craw space you can inspect and make repairs with ease.

One of my customers developed a damp spot on a carpet floor. This was hard to find the source as both their city water and their heating water ran under the floor. They went away for a long weekend and I had them shut off there water main. When they returned, the spot was dry. Dug it up and repaired the water line that was a foot away from the spot. I was lucky it was only a foot as the water can migrate to any spot that it can come up through the floor.

Bugs, our favorie subject. A slab home is like putting out the welcome mat for crewly things to just "Walk on in". The craw space at least gives you a little buffer. Not that it will stop them all but will slow them down and you can use insecticides and keep it out of the living area. I have a friend that hace a BAD ant problem that took years to get rid of the ants that had a condo under his slab.

I have a Ranch that is built on half craw space and half basement. I wish now I would have held out for a full basement but is not bad.

Good luck on your house search.

PS

One thing I forgot to mention. There is nothing like spending all day on a concrete floor. No matter what you cover it with, even wood, it with your feet will know that they have been on concrete.

Wood floors with a wood sub-structure is the easiest on the feet.

I agree with WOW on all points. As a builder who has done slab on grade construction and conventional framing, there is no way I would live in a home that was slab on grade. It just isn't the right way to go in my opinion.

And your feet definitely feel it... badly.

It is significantly cheaper though.

But WOW, that is why they spray heavy pesticides before pouring the slab (pats eyes innocently).

They may now, but how do you know on an older home. They even put down a vapor barrier but I have seen ants get through it.

No slabs for this guy.

Anyone who has seen a slab with vapor barrier poured can tell you that the vapor barrier may have large tears after the slab is poured. It's just a layer of plastic. Not only do the guys walk on the slab with rebar in it (metal which will puncture plastic) as the concrete is poured but if any electrical or plumbing needs to be run in the slab then you have all sorts of people trouncing around on it... it's effective for garage slabs but not if your whole house is on a slab. And if a garage slab leaks then it's just the garage... no harm done.