For how long will a structure settle?
For how long will a structure settle?
(OP)
I presume that this an open ended question but generally speaking, would you think that a building that has been around for 6-7 years has nearly as much as it could?
Thank you.
Thank you.






RE: For how long will a structure settle?
How long did it take to fix the leaning tower of Piza?
Or have they?
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JHG
RE: For how long will a structure settle?
RE: For how long will a structure settle?
For a building built 6 to 7 years ago on a properly prepared pad not located on expansive soils, I wouldn't expect significant movement if the fill was less than 5'. If you use the 1% settlement rule, that's about 5/8". Obviously, if there is a substantial amount of fill and for steep sloped fill sites, settlement will be more dramatic and may take longer to taper off.
If the building was built on a deep excavation (perhaps 25' or more), you may exhibit a rebound of the over-consolidate soils and that could take a very long time to stabilize. I have seen the soil at the bottom of parking garages constructed after removing large quantities of overburden "grow" for many years.
RE: For how long will a structure settle?
RE: For how long will a structure settle?
Consolidation settlement often takes many, many years to reach a tolerable level of continued settlement (often settlement will continue but decline in its rate when primary settlement is complete and secondary settlement takes over).
Look at the geotech report (assuming there is one...if not, get one!) and post a soil profile for us to see (along with your column loads).
RE: For how long will a structure settle?
Parts of Phoenix Arizona have settled over 17 feet in the last 60 years. this has caused drainage courses to reverse direction and created ground fissures. It was caused by overpumping, not by foundation loads.