repairing/replacing old footings and foundation walls
I realise that its not cheap to repair the foundation of the house, but to some estimates that I got just to "patch" the bad areas were ranging from 10K to 22K! I had called a man about raising the house, and digging a basement under the house and setting it back down on it. I told him I was just tossing the idea around, and wondered what it might cost. He asked the sq ft of the footprint of the house, and all that. Then told me what similar sized houses that he had done this with ran. Funny thing was, he was only 5 or 6K higher then these other fools.
I realise that its not something to be takin lightly, but you have to start somewhere. I need to atleast slow down the rate of failure. Money is a tight issue right now. So instead of watching it get worse, I want to do something about it.
Whoever said a fool and his money are soon parted could well have been thinking about you when he said it.....
Good thing there are code enforcement officers to stop fools like you from getting permits and killing themselves.
I first thought you were being a little harsh calling him a fool but then realized that he first used the term in reference to legitimate contractors.
Maybe he can do the engineering, get the permits, dig it all out by hand, provide five thousand dollars worth of jacks and cribbing, erect safety fencing, haul the tons of debris to a legal landfill, pay the fees and insurance, rent concrete forms, build the forms up plumb, tie the rebar right, and pour the concrete, backfill and replant the yard, avoid angering the neighbors, and do it all for less than &22,000 and still not call himself a fool. For cryin out loud, give him the benefit of the doubt...
If you then fill them with cement, you create piers upon which you can build new foundation walls. Tie 3 3" by 6" boards together and use 2 sets per pier. Then lay a laminate I-beam across the new 3 by 6 posts.
Set this wall just inside your original foundation wall and then lay the house on the new wall (you can break out old wall once new one is in. Just make sure the overhang is not great).
I'm contemplating doing this, but have friends in construction who will assist me. Suggest you get serious help before you try, but this idea may be cheaper than all others and could possibly be done one wall at a time.
OP, I'm an engineer, mechanical engineer. I hired an engineer to prepare the plan for the repairs on my 1931 craftsman footers.
He cannot develop a plenum for an industrial intake manifold application, I can. I cannot wish myself into thinking that I can construct a footer system to support 30 tons of material on top of it, but he can.
We all work inside our own wheelhouses.
With 30 credit hours under my belt and 10+ years of experience, I'd tackle the job, hell, it would be my job. But it isn't, & it's not worth it.
Get 4 estimates from referred professionals and go with the next to the highest one.
put it on a credit card.
This is stuff one does not youtube.
WHICH type of contractor should be contacted?
Engineer? Structural? Mechanical? General? which one?
I was told by a retired mason - to hire a 3rd yr apprentice mason for advice. Unsure how to find one. Difficulty getting guidance from anyone.
Been going to home shows for years for info. Most basement contractors want to focus on waterproofing, replace the floor, cracks, French drain - everything other than the heart of the issue - my foundation walls which are extremely dry, slowly dropping pinkish sand, tiny pebbles, and wall debris.
I'm afraid the sides of the home will give in one day. A family member suggested I sell or demolish the home.
Not planning on making this a DIY, but would really love a viable and responsible contractor to refer to or advise...
Thanks on advance
This thread being 4 years old, I like to hope the issue is resolved, but still, foundations are no joke and requires a lot of work and precautions. It is not something that can't be done, but it is bbn something that requires a lot of research and planning before undertaking and you have to be honest with yourself about your abilities and the major risks involved.
Appreciate any constructive advice folks are willing to offer.. It is a potentially dangerous job, but we are all big boys.
I did it myself.
It'S tOo DAnGeRouS fOr AnYonE ElsE To DO.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019/10/an-incredible-move-indiana-bell.html%3Fm%3D1&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjrwbvpp8fuAhURSK0KHSXoBfgQFjAAegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw1xo-5gizGzINe7PIbKEP7J
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019/10/an-incredible-move-indiana-bell.html%3Fm%3D1&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjrwbvpp8fuAhURSK0KHSXoBfgQFjAAegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw1xo-5gizGzINe7PIbKEP7J
An Incredible Move: The Indiana Bell Telephone Building
Kaushik Patowary
The relocation of the headquarters building of Indiana Bell Telephone Company in Indianapolis remains one of the most fascinating moves in the history of structure relocation.
The headquarters of Indiana Bell, a subsidiary of AT&T serving the US state of Indiana, was housed inside an 8-story, 11,000-ton building built in 1907. In 1929, the phone company decided they needed a larger building, but they couldn’t just demolish the old building because it was providing an essential service to the city. The building was also inconveniently located on the site where they wanted the larger structure. In the end it was decided that the old building will be moved to the back of the plot to make room for the new building.
Indiana Bell Telephone Building
The Indiana Bell headquarters in the middle of the move. Photo credit: William H. Bass Photo Company
The massive undertaking began on October 1930. Over the next four weeks, the massive steel and brick building was shifted inch by inch 16 meters south, rotated 90 degrees, and then shifted again by 30 meters west. The work was done with such precision that the building continued to operate during the entire duration of the move. All utility cables and pipes serving the building, including thousand of telephone cables, electric cables, gas pipes, sewer and water pipes had to be lengthened and made flexible to provide continuous service during the move. A movable wooden sidewalk allowed employees and the public to enter and leave the building at any time while the move was in progress. The company did not lose a single day of work nor interrupt their service during the entire period.
Incredibly most of the power needed to move the building was provided by hand-operated jacks while a steam engine also some support. Each time the jacks were pumped, the house moved 3/8th of an inch.
The building stood for 33 years at its new location, until it was demolished in order to make room for the expansion of the new headquarters building.