VERT / GREEN
Document soil, drainage, heated/unheated use and existing depth.
Frost-protected shallow foundation
Understand how insulation, drainage, soil, heating and climate affect frost depth before using a shallower footing.
Important: this tool helps decide what to verify; it does not replace calculations, permits or professional design where required.
JAUNE / YELLOW
Horizontal/vertical insulation can protect a shallow foundation but design depends on climate and soil.
ROUGE / RED
New shallow foundation, frost-susceptible soil or uncertain drainage: professional design to local code.
Indicative triage
Useful tools and data
- Climate/frost-depth data
- Soil/geotechnical information
- Insulation/drainage detail
What the professional checks
- Establish frost conditions
- Design insulation and footings
- Coordinate drainage and heating
Official sources
Sources checked / sources vérifiées: 2026-08-22
Related path
Continue with the right tools
These links connect this page to the next useful checks and decisions without repeating the full content.
Plan a complete construction projectConnect feasibility, design, permits, concealed work, commissioning and closeout.Open →Check permit triggersPrepare the questions and documents to confirm with the local authority.Open →Check a contractorDocument licence, insurance, scope, payments, changes and warranties.Open →Update a construction costEscalate a historical cost using comparable index values.Open →Prepare pre-delivery reviewRecord documents, enclosure, systems, finishes and deficiencies before closeout.Open →
Tools related to this issue
Explore: Systems to check before closing the work
Systems to check before closing the work
This section connects envelope, air, fire, structure, water and code instead of treating each project in isolation.
Explore: Advanced diagnostics to cross-check
Advanced diagnostics to cross-check
This section connects water, soil, climate, safety, materials and seasonal use to existing projects.
Explore: Specialized systems to cross-check
Specialized systems to cross-check
This section completes gas, soil, water, fire, climate and structural interfaces.
Explore: Specialized diagnostics to verify
Specialized diagnostics to verify
This section connects systems that become costly or regulated when a primary project triggers them.
Explore: Edge systems to integrate into the project
Edge systems to integrate into the project
This section covers interfaces that become important when multiple home systems interact.
Explore: Hidden details to verify before repair or enclosure
Hidden details to verify before repair or enclosure
These diagnostics separate simple maintenance from measurement-first and conditions where structure, fire or services require professional review.
Explore: Project risks and overlooked interfaces
Project risks and overlooked interfaces
This section connects payment, water, envelope, ventilation and jobsite details that often create costly surprises.
Explore: Finish and service details to verify
Finish and service details to verify
This section connects small details that become costly once finishes are closed.
Explore: Invisible constraints before work
Invisible constraints before work
This section checks electrical, legal, environmental and climate constraints that can block a project before demolition starts.
Explore: Use, excavation and construction constraints
Use, excavation and construction constraints
This section connects use permits, soil, excavation, neighbouring structures and public-space logistics before hard-to-reverse work.