Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
(OP)
My contractor just completed the foundation for my new home extension and installed french drain w/ 3/4" gravel cover. It's -15 Celsius and I am anxious to backfill but the piles of earth are too frozen for the small dozer to handle it (no room for a bigger one). Should I consider a geotextile membrane over the gravel cover and add a few feet of compact 0" to 3/4" and cover with an insulating blanket, then backfill with the soil in the spring? Also, is there possible damage after 2 weeks of this cold?





RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
If you want to backfill now use 3/4 in stone. Get a price first, because it will be a little pricey.
As for the concrete, as long as you had 2-3 days of +5d C curing, the concrete should be okay. The strength gain will slow or stop in freezing weather, but will resume in warm weather.
Good Luck.
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
A Member of
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RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
Frost heave is not a problem, because you poured before the ground froze, and you already have the walls up, thus having some load on the soils. You can throw double blankets over the footings or loosened straw , until you backfill. Keep us posted on any developments.
A Member of
www.civilvillage.com
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
You should protect the foundations because frost heave is a definite problem.
At a minumum, I would put in 3 to 4 feet of clean sand.
Straw is next to useless if it is cold for a long period of time.
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions
As for the heave issue-in order to get frost heave, there has to be frozen soil that is progressing in depth and little weight to suppress it. Sine you poured your footings in the warmer weather, there was no frost in the soil to begin with. Then you've protected from the element I am assuming and have already had the wall poured giving you gravity loads.
If it is my home, I would use 24" loosened straw over the footings. Also as an independent opinion talk to Residential Superintendents and see what has worked well for them. In the end you'll have to decipher all this info and make your own recommendations.
A Member of
www.civilvillage.com
RE: Backfilling new foundation in frozen conditions