70% to 85% compaction under new home
70% to 85% compaction under new home
(OP)
What is the best way to repair a bad soil compaction already under a structure? It appears the house was constructed without the soil being compacted correctly.
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70% to 85% compaction under new home
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RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
What about High Density Polyurethane or Deep Injection (DI) Process that employs high density expanding polymers?
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
Pin piles are usually 3-inch diameter steel tubing jacked down to refusal with a hydraulic ram reacting against the weight of the structure. They can be installed along the perimeter of the building and fastened to L-brackets that catch the bottom of the slab. They can be installed in the interior through holes cored through the slab and a small capital formed to support the slab. There are a lot of contractors that do only this type of work in Texas and Oklahoma; I'll bet there are plenty in California. The cost should be a lot less than the value of the house. Your situation is worth some study.
I agree that helical piles and small augered piles are potential alternatives.
First you need a good geotech investigation to define the problem and identify a bearing stratum.
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
One other consideration is the configuration of your bearing walls in the house. If only perimeter, then pin piles, helical piles, and other recommended positive support to a bearing stratum are good ideas. If you have interior bearing walls, you might be better with a soil remediation technique to maintain consistent bearing. Several have been mentioned.
How do you know that the near-surface soils are not compacted. I realize you have no test results but that doesn't mean that compaction didn't occur....possibly!
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
Has an elevation survey been done? This can be done quickly with a garden hose and clear tubes on each end and two yard sticks.
Plot up a topog drawing to use as a guide for repairs.
What do you see as to problems? Cracked slabs? Wall cracks?
Chances are in sandy soil the settlement is done with already, unless you plan to add fill against the house, further causing settlement.
If slabs are supporting things, I'd look first at compaction grouting, not mini piles. You might also look at fixing the worst parts and then patch cracks. It's surprising how much uneven floors no one will notice later.
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home
Again, even with cracked concrete, that is not the end of the world. Are the walls tipping in? The question of how uneven it is elevation-wise needs to be found before giving up. Like I said, unless you are concerned that a ball rolls across the tilted floor, many won't notice some of these things, and if they do, maybe the "deal" they got on the place may make up for it.
Are the buried utilities affected? Does the waste water flow in the right direction, etc.?
Block walls can be reinforced from the inside.
Another aspect deals with the construction contract, the "designer's" responsibilities. Who was in charge? There may be some legal recourse also.
RE: 70% to 85% compaction under new home