Concrete pedestal poured differently

[NewbieStruct]

We were showing a 24"x24" x 2'0 tall concrete pedestal supporting a steel column (gravity) on our plans. The contractor has poured it incorrectly. It is about 12" off. In such cases, is it advisable to tear down the pedestal and construct a new one , or construct a new one by its side (12x24) and attach to the existing using epoxy dowels.

 

[ztengguy]

I would use dowels. To tear it down, to drill in dowels and repour doenst really do anyhthing different than dowel into it and the footing. His problem though, let him decide.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

I would take it out (that is, have the Contractor take it out at his expense) and replace it with the correct pedestal. Assuming that there are anchor bolts in the top of the pedestal, having a vertical joint down the middle is not a good idea. Also, why should the Owner have an oversized, pieced together, out of spec pedestal because of a Contractor's error?

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[hawkaz]

If it will work both ways- and the owner is OK with it, Let the contractor tell you which method he would rather do.

 

[hokie66]

If the pedestal is out of position, what about the footing, or whatever is under the pedestal? Agree with SRE...it is only a small element, build it correctly.

 

[Ron]

I also agree with SRE....take it out and do it again. Contractors sometimes need to be slapped up side the head so they don't keep doing this kind of crap over and over on jobs. If one engineer lets them get away with it, they'll use that on the next job to coerce the engineer into letting them get away with something else.

 

[Zambo]

As a contractor I have to say that the "best" solution should be found without thought of punishing the contractor. Of course if the best solution is to break it out and start again then so be it. Don't forget design engineers also make mistakes and often have to ask a contractor to assist with the rectification.

 

[msquared48]

If there will be a seam down the middle of the column bearing area where stirrups will not be continuous, I would say remove it and replace it correctly.

If not and the owner can live with it, just leave it.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[Teguci]

Make friends with good contractors. If this is the first "mistake," make it work. More concrete and rebar is usually cheaper than a concrete eraser.

Have the contractor check for local plumbing and conduit issues and give him the option between the equally valid repairs. Keep your client in the loop.

 

[Yjoshi]

To me it is unbelievable to read solutions focusing on punishing the contractor (of course, I am a contractor myself). The contractor definitely doesn’t need to be punished, any solution that you will accept will consume time and money (so you can be sure that he is not enjoying his mistake).The solution has to be made based on the project (not based on the contractor). Also remember that a delay on the project will probably cost more to you than to the contractor (on figures, not on percentage of contracts) and even though in this case, the footing will probably only affect your contractors pocket, the principle is the same and at the end, you want a win - win situation. A few years ago, we were constructing a substation and one of the footing was off by 20 cm. We had only pored the footing slab when we discovered the mistake (about 1.5 m3) and the client (a well know Korean company) allowed us to “move” the complete footing, we used some jacks and just moved it. Don’t know how much this could help on your situation

YJO

 

[apsix]

Punishing is perhaps the wrong word, I suggest that the contractor needs educating and making him replace it properly will assist his concentration for the future.

 

[steellion]

What about the anchor rods? They would be badly out of alignment if they were cast-in-place with the pedestal. Yes, it's just a gravity column, but a post-installed anchor is not as good as a cast-in-place anchor. If it can still be re-done, it probably should be.

 

[paddingtongreen]

In my experience, buying off a contractor's mistake can be expensive. It is not easy to see all of the ramifications down the line. Unless you put the oversize pedestal on the drawings, some other discipline will decide to use exactly that space; when their material arrives..."Oh dear....".



Michael.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

 

[hokie66]

Lots of comments from designers and contractors, but Newbie never did answer the question of whether the footing is in the right position. If not, the question of what to do with the pedestal is moot.