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Seeking New Construction Footing Advice
3

Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

(OP)
My wife and I are building a new home and we discovered this the other day while on the job site. I'm 99.99% sure these footings need to be redone. Given I'm not a structural engineer, will a few experts validate this work needs to be re-done.

Thanks in advance for your expert advice!

Sincerely,
Kevin & Leighann Stejskal








RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

I'll break the rules a bit and attempt to answer a homeowner question.

I'll also assume you are asking only about the relative location of the piers with respect to the columns and not whether the piers themselves are properly constructed (we don't have enough info to determine that).

First, I would consider the eccentricity of the column load on the pier to be unacceptable. Not that your loads are likely that high, but now the load on the concrete is concentrated near its edge thus the stress level in the concrete will be significantly more than if the column were located in the center of the pier.

Since I don't know your location, loading conditions, code requirements or anything else about your design or construction, I can only comment that I would consider the eccentricity to be unacceptable.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

Ron's comments are useful. However, I'd find out who "designed" the columns and the apparent deck above. If there was not a review by a structural engineer, those 4 x 4's seem rather skimpy for a full load of folks on that deck. Before replacing the concrete "footers", you can cut a core from the opposite side and check the strength. A local construction materials testing lab can do that. Then the structural engineer can comment on the suitability of the current support there. In my view, the whole thing (concrete and the 4 x 4 column over it) is probably OK, but very marginal. It needs professional checking.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

In addition to the good comments from Ron and oldestguy, look at the bottom of that post, the one with the big split. Those posts seem to be laminated members, and I would imagine made in the field. I would be concerned about using that type post. And how does the builder intend to connect the posts to the piers? Really, you need a qualified engineer in your area to intervene before this sloppy work goes too far.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

(OP)
Thank you everyone for your feedback! And for breaking the rules on this one.

Yes, I am asking about the relative position of the colums within the piers. The piers are made out of three joined 2x6's I believe. As for the exact load conditions, I don't know those either. I'm sure we could find out. The structure is a sunroom which protrudes from the home.

We are located in Cedar Rapids, IA.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

seems like a lot of load for just two posts with no bracing. the connection at the bottom is usually a steel anchor. are those posts pressure treated? also, a little confused by the several other concrete footings in the distance that do not appear to be very well lined up. the water needs to be removed which appears to be near the base of the piers.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

Are there footings under the piers?

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

(OP)
Yes, the lumber is pressure treated.

As for the water, it has been removed. The pictures we're taken after a downpour.

The other concrete footings/pads you see in the picture is for an open air deck right off the sunroom.

One other thing to note, the footings are 11' deep into virgin soil.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

Have the structural engineer review the open air deck plans also.

In time someone is going to look at that area under these projections and figure maybe enclosing and some other use, like storage of gear like snow mobiles and boats. Is there some risk of that use affecting the supports of the upper facilities? Should not these posts be anchored down? Drive an ATV into them by accident and bad stuff can happen.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

If the "footings" are 11' deep, perhaps they are not footings at all but friction piles? If they are friction piles, the cylindrical forms should not continue to the bottom but should have been terminated a foot or so below grade. In that way, each cast-in-place pile gets its load carrying capacity from friction between soil and concrete. But I am just guessing. Get an engineer to review your situation.

BA

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

I'll open a new subject and maybe see what comes up. It seems that this site is on a hill side and maybe the caissons or piles have to extend to original ground, by passing a fill zone. Is that fill recent and is it stable? If recent, there may be issues coming up as to it settling or even moving somewhat (or a lot) down hill. If it moves either direction, that may have not so good consequences for this installation. I have experience with some of the soils a little east of this area in Iowa and what I bring up is of importance at least there.

RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

Posts don't look treated to me.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Seeking New Construction Footing Advice

Mike doesn't think anything looks pressure treated bigsmile

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