I will be building a(38'*36')timber framed western or monitor style barn here in upstate NY starting this spring. This barn will be unheated and uninsulated. I orginally planned to set this on a thickened edged slab with a little extra concrete at the post locations. I have well drained soil and no bed rock. This is the most common foundation type for garages and out buildings in this area. Now after doing some research it seems maybe this isnt such a good foundation system for a timber frame with the deep freezing we have here in the northeast. Should I go with a grade beam and piers? Full footer and frostwall seems so excessive and expensive for a barn. Is anyone useing slabs with success for timber frames in the frozen tundra of the Northeast. Thanks for any replies. BB
