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steel deadmen, rebuild, or another idea?

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SLTA

Structural
Aug 11, 2008
1,641
US
I looked at a house foundation, built in the 60s, where the front and side walls are retaining. The CMU is badly displaced: the typical horizontal center crack, but is also horizontally 2-3" out of alignment in a height of 4.5 feet. The corners of the walls are step-cracked and offset, and there are at least two locations of vertical cracking with horizontal displacement within the wall. It's non-reinforced, non-filled CMU.

I've been thinking about steel deadmen, but honestly I think the wall is in too bad of shape for that to be helpful. I've also thought about jacking the house and rebuilding the foundation wall (there's an oil tank that needs to come out, so there would be lots of digging anyway), or about possibly pouring a new concrete wall just inside the CMU and basically using it as a form.

Any thoughts on these ideas? Any other options?

 
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CMU below ground level is always supposed to be at least grouted, if not reinforced. Probably was not required in the 60's or was done by someone without a permit (if it was even required) to replace a post and pier foundation at the perimeter - seen that a few times.

It should really be rebuilt, and properly, in my opinion, from what you describe.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 
I agree with Mike. Rebuild with either of the methods you proposed.
Deadman would not likely be effective for this application.
 
cheers, guys. much appreciated.
 
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