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Recent content by swthwdy

  1. swthwdy

    Structural Engineers Getting Slammed

    Thanks again casseopeia. Our structural engineer's opinion is that our house has to come down. This house is only 7 years old and has major differential settlement. Our expansive soil moves with the rains and dry spells here in Texas, which of course can be very unpredictable. Too bad that...
  2. swthwdy

    Structural Engineers Getting Slammed

    Thanks TomBarsh for the Open Letter. I have printed it out and would only hope that more home owners would be enlightened before their purchase. I am well aware of the TRCC and the inadequacies thereof. Many of us are hopeful that HB3404 will pass this year. At least it would be an...
  3. swthwdy

    Structural Engineers Getting Slammed

    Thanks Casseopeia: We have a 2 story, post-tension foundation on expansive soil, in the Houston unincorporated area, that is labeled as: "Extremely non uniform, below typical industry standard", (cables range from approx 1 inch to over 5" in the 4 inch slab, one cable has never been stressed...
  4. swthwdy

    Structural Engineers Getting Slammed

    How can a structural engineer make a decision, or give an opinion, when he or she cannot visually see what the problem is? Our completed home has built in problems and continued developing problems. Destructive investigation cannot be done, therefore our Structural Engineer can only give an...
  5. swthwdy

    Post-Tension Cable placement & site preparation

    Our Post-tension foundation has cables that range from one inch in depth in the 4"slab, to over 5 inches. Some of the cables that are 5 " are not in beams. One cable was never stressed and ranges from less than 2" to over 5". The soil is virgin, expansive, and did not have the required 4...
  6. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    Thank you for all of the suggestions. Another thought is what may happen if trying to level the foundation, to the walls, ceilings and floors that have been built to the original highs and lows of the foundation. We now do have cracking of walls and ceilings, windows that won't open, eaves etc...
  7. swthwdy

    Bearing Soil Conditions

    Our home was built on 'virgin' soil. The area soil tests called for at least a 4" layer of sand, compaction, etc. No site preparation plans can be found. The builder's pre-pour inspection report, by an unlicensed inspector, shows no compacted fill, no quantity of tendons, no Plasticity...
  8. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    And what might a "Cadillac Fix" involve? The County Appraisal District has already devalued the house over 50% and said they would have taken it to 0% except for the fact that we are living in it. The 10 year warranty costs as much or more to place a claim, and prove defects, than a Court case...
  9. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    Thank you Techmaximus for your informative, expert, eloquent and truthful reply. My husband and I have been in litigation in District Court, since 1999, no 10 year warranty involved. We are seniors who always felt the production builder and the PT CO tried hard to knowingly cover up what they...
  10. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    Thank you so much MotorCity for your much needed clarifications. Yes, the 7000 psi is the final stress according to the PT CO written report. Thank you again.
  11. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    No,the house is 6 years old, the concrete was 20 days when the cables were stressed. Should the PT CO have known the elongation of the cables prior to final stress? The PT Co wants to rethread the unstressed and broken cable, however there is no plan that shows exactly where the anchored end is...
  12. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    Our home is built on expansive soil in the Houston, TX area. Our builder 'forgot' to have the post tension cables in our foundation tested for elongation prior to the final stressing. The PT CO just did the final stressing and even overlooked stressing at least one cable. Should the PT CO...
  13. swthwdy

    Elongation of Post Tension Cables

    Our builder 'forgot' to call the Post-Tension CO to test the cables in our foundation for elongation. The PT CO just did a final stressing, even overlooking one cable completely. Should the PT CO have gone ahead, as they did, and done a final stressing without an elongation measurement and...
  14. swthwdy

    Engineered Post Tension Foundation

    Hi pmkPE: The production builder and the Post Tension Supplier states there are no design drawings, no site preparation plans, no inspections in which to find our cables. Our Geotechnical engineer's R meter did not detect the cable that was found 5 inches deep, and can find no other cables than...
  15. swthwdy

    Engineered Post Tension Foundation

    Hi AlohaBob: This is a 6 year old Post Tension foundation that apparently has no signed and sealed plans, site preparation, or inspections. At least the production builder and the Post Tension Supplier have 'lost' the plans, according to Court admissions. Our Geotech, through core samples...
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