The raised floor system offers many advantages during the construction phase.
Easy Scheduling
Construction of a raised floor helps accommodate the scheduling of trades, and expedites construction. For example, concrete
and masonry work does not have to wait on plumbing installation
and inspection, which is the case with slab-on-grade.
Flexible Design Changes to the floorplan, such as relocation of a toilet
or lavatory, are simple and economical compared to slab systems.
Soil Variations A raised floor can be a cost-effective solution to construction
in poor soil conditions, where movement of expansive clays or
the subsidence of organic soils is a concern.
Reduced Cut and Fill For sloped lots, a raised floor on piers can be more
economical and practical than building a "cut and fill" slab
foundation. Less soil is disturbed, reducing erosion. The piers
eliminate the need for reinforced retaining walls and other
extraordinary measures to provide proper site drainage, and
plumbing connections to city services may be simplified.
Floodplain Fix Flooding is always a concern. Raising a slab with fill
to meet minimum flood-zone elevation can be expensive, time
consuming, and difficult to properly compact. A raised floor
system provides a practical and affordable solution for meeting
code requirements in flood-prone areas (see Reduced
Flood Risk).
