Leaning Pedestal (Octagonal) Home

[zero1238]

Inspected a pedestal-type home the other day which is octagonal and around 36' in diameter. The base of the house contracts down to a 10' diameter, octagonal poured concrete foundation (google pedestal homes). The issue here is that the entire house leans backward; if you use a laser level from the front to back, the floor drops by 12"+ and almost feels like a fun house when you're walking around. The area around the house is pretty swampy so that should give you an idea on what is going on but has anyone ever tried to level/lift one of these houses? I've lifted more conventional homes but something tells me this shouldn't be lifted and should only be stabalized with maybe some battered support posts connected to helical piles. I'll attach some pictures below for reference. It's a real interesting one just in time for the holiday weekend!

 

[gte447f]

I hesitate to even comment on this, because this building should probably just be a tear down, but I'll take the bait... do you think the slope is the result of settlement or deflection, or a combination of both?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

The base of the house contracts down to a 10' diameter, octagonal poured concrete foundation (google pedestal homes).

I googled it... Sounds like they are mostly just Do It Yourself kits. Mostly intended for sloped sites.

My first thought is: "Gor the love of all that is safe, this is a TERRIBLE idea". The companies selling these things should probably be sued out of existence.

My next thought was: "Are there any stamped construction drawings?" The contractor, engineer (geotech or structural), architect who designed this is probably financially responsible for this fiasco. I certainly would not want to get involved in something like this.... Not without a HUGE design fee that would cover hiring a geotech to review this whole concept and suggest a potential geotechnical solution.

I agree with gte447f in that the most likely scenario would seem to be a total tear down. Then continuing forward with a more conventional design.


FWIW, I'm not saying that there isn't a place for something like this when properly designed and constructed.... Just questioning the idea of a DIY construction project targeted for remote sloped sites like this. It just sounds like a scam... This isn't a small garden shed or patio cover.... It's a whole house!!

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[Ron247]

Is this a hybrid with a pedestal for part of the house and conventional 2-story for the remainder? The 1st pic looks that way. If so, is the conventional portion included in the part with the issue? Is the 12" drop a somewhat consistent slope, or does the slope fluctuate with certain structural styles in the design or with foundation intensities?

I have never seen one of these, so this is interesting. I just read it is a Frank Lloyd Wright concept. Looks like Wright and Buckminster Fuller had a child.

Are the floor joist a radial layout with a center uplift post? If so, you have downward push on the walls combined with an upward lift of the center post.

 

[Ron247]

The settlement may not be as bad as it first appears. I think:

1. Let a 10' diameter center mount foundation sink 3" on one end but not the other, makes the cantilever joist ends go up on the opposite side.
2. The total up/down movement of the joist ends would be the projection of the 30'+ dimensions to the 10' dimension.