a "T" foundation looks like an upside down T. the lower part of the foundation (that rests on the soil) is horizontal. a vertical section extends upwards from the middle of the horizantal part (this is sometimes called the stem wall). It typically has a horizontal #4 bar in the middle of the base of the tee and near the top of the stem wall. These types of foundations have been used for 60 years or more and work quite well in normal (ie-non-expansive clay/sand soils). They are well descriped in any of the UBC books (uniform building codes). You can also go to the alameda county building depart and they have a standard handout on tee footings. Do you have an engineer designing the foundation (or is the contractor using a standard detail)??
Based on your description, the house is in the early part of alameda island and it was likely built circa WWI. These old foundations used lime based cements. They last 50 to 75 years before they begin to deterioriate. The existing foundation likely does not have any reinforcing steel.
25K for a new foundation is about right for the BAy Area. You could shop it around, but would only save a few thousand dollars. |
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