Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials on the planet, but it can be a pain to work with. If you're getting ready to pour your own slab foundation, or if you're just starting a new project that involves concrete in some way, it's important to know your options for making sure the concrete doesn't crack. One common option is using plastic under concrete—but is this actually helpful?
The short answer is no.
Plastic under concrete is not recommended, as it's not a good material for concrete. In fact, plastic is more likely to cause problems with your project than help it along. If you want a solution that will work well and last for years without needing replacement, consider using metal instead of plastic under your new flooring surfaces or foundation repairs.
Plastic under concrete is sometimes used for waterproofing. This method, sometimes called a "slab on grade," involves placing plastic sheeting or mesh over the subgrade (ground) and then pouring concrete on top of it. This can be helpful if you're building a foundation that needs extra strength or durability, such as one with a crawl space underneath it where water might collect and cause damage to your home's structure.
However, this technique isn't ideal for most projects because it makes it harder for moisture from rainstorms or snow melt to drain away from the house's foundation walls--and instead allows them to seep into cracks between slabs of concrete below ground level where they can collect until springtime thawing causes them to freeze again in winter months when temperatures drop below freezing temperatures outside!
Plastic under concrete can be used to make a slab foundation more durable.
Concrete foundations are often made with plastic sheets underneath them, which helps keep moisture out of the soil and prevents damage to the structure's foundation. This method is also sometimes called "underground waterproofing."
Plastic under concrete has many uses, but it's not the best choice for most projects.
Plastic under concrete is not needed for most projects. If you're building a small shed or setting up a patio, then plastic will probably be fine. However, if you're building a house or large structure that requires more structural integrity and durability than just about anything else in life (except maybe love), plastic under your foundation may not be the best option for your project.
In addition to being less durable than other materials such as stone or brickwork foundations--and therefore requiring more maintenance over time--plastic slabs also tend to crack easily when exposed to freezing temperatures which can cause leaks inside your home or business property during colder months."
If you're working on a project that requires waterproofing, plastic under concrete can be a good choice. It's also used to make slab foundations more durable and stable.
But for most projects, plastic under concrete isn't the best option. If your goal is to protect the top of a slab from cracking or chipping away at its edges over time--or if what you really want is for water to drain through a surface instead of pooling around it--then there are better alternatives available:
What is under the concrete?
Concrete is strong enough to support itself, so it does not matter if plastic is under concrete. Also, there are no laws requiring that you remove any plastic before pouring new concrete (although some states may have specific requirements).
As a general rule, it's not worth it. While concrete is very strong and can support itself, it's also a very good insulator. So there's no need to add extra strength or heat resistance by putting plastic under your concrete slabs.
In fact, if you do this with regular concrete (like in your driveway), then water will pool underneath the plastic sheeting and cause damage over time. So if you want to keep your driveway looking nice for years to come without having any leaks or cracks forming underneath where they shouldn't be--and who doesn't want that?--then just leave out the plastic sheeting altogether!
The quick answer to the question is no. Concrete is strong enough to support itself, and you don't need to put plastic under it.
However, there are some circumstances in which you may want to use plastic under your concrete. For example:
You shouldn't have to worry about putting plastic under your concrete. Concrete is strong enough to support itself and doesn't need to be weighed down. It's not like soil, which can be easily compacted by adding weight on top of it. Concrete supports the weight of whatever building you use it in and will not sink into soft ground like some other materials would do if they were left unsupported.
Plastic under concrete is not a good idea. It can crack the concrete and cause problems when you need to remove it in the future. If you're looking for a way to waterproof your slab foundation or make it more durable, there are better options than using plastic under concrete.