you house builder types know anything about...
04-03-2006, 12:09 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 3,346
I'm in the process of buying some real estate, and one of the houses had a bad foundation. Built in 03, never lived in, contractor went belly up, forclosure situation. Well anyways the foundation settled on the one half. Its a rather large place on a hill, crawl space underneath which provides acces to the back side of the footers and 3/4 of the underside of the whole house the way its situated on this hill. Brick house and has cracks along some of the morter lines where its settled. Inside only has one spot where its cracked along a window. So I guess my question is, has anyone had any experience with a sagging house and using foundation piers? Tomorrow I call the inspector for a professional opinion but wanted some other views.
04-03-2006, 07:24 AM
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bayou-self Louisiana
Posts: 947
yes.I am in LA...we sink all over!Since they use the undocumented workers they are really all over. This site for my area.Cement cylinders with galvanized cables put under tension. Very little digging, lifetime warrenty and it transfers to new owner!Great for resale. I had this done and most of the holmes around here have stop going to those who pump cement under.
http://www.cablelock-la.com/services.htm
Texas
http://www.cablelocksafeguard.com/
They may have someone who does there patented service near you (authorized service).
http://www.cablelock-la.com/services.htm
Texas
http://www.cablelocksafeguard.com/
They may have someone who does there patented service near you (authorized service).
04-03-2006, 07:57 AM
#6
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Location: My BIG ol TURBO-DIESEL
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04-03-2006, 09:46 AM
#7
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Location: Portland, OR
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The part about a contractor going **** up, a brick exterior, on a hill and settling wrong would scream walk away from this to me.
Not to take away from the expertise of professionals in the business, but there is much to be said about doing it right the first time. When I was running the build on my parents place, the lot sloped only 30 feet from back to front, making it necessary to have some 10 foot foundation walls as well as some fairly high retaining walls. Pier pads 18'-36" in diameter went a minimum of 6' down, well into the hardpan soil.
Sitework is the key imo, scraping off all the soft soil and anchoring into solid earth. 9000 square feet of house and garages, tile roof and brick work and house settled as even as one could hope for.
Not to take away from the expertise of professionals in the business, but there is much to be said about doing it right the first time. When I was running the build on my parents place, the lot sloped only 30 feet from back to front, making it necessary to have some 10 foot foundation walls as well as some fairly high retaining walls. Pier pads 18'-36" in diameter went a minimum of 6' down, well into the hardpan soil.
Sitework is the key imo, scraping off all the soft soil and anchoring into solid earth. 9000 square feet of house and garages, tile roof and brick work and house settled as even as one could hope for.
04-03-2006, 12:26 PM
#9
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 3,346
Its a steal actually, which is why I'm considering it. Great location, great neighborhood, can fit 6 minis and an FD in the garage, ect... But has this foundation problem. I felt a little better yesterday when I drove out there and got under the house and saw there was at least some easy access to get under the foundation. There are already a number of metal support beams on concrete blocks, but no clue as to how deep the concrete is laid. I did a little research on piers and seams like they could do something like that effectively under this place. But I have some contractors and inspectors I need to call to really see.
04-03-2006, 01:01 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,985
Originally Posted by 89 Rag' post='811774' date='Apr 3 2006, 08:46 AM
The part about a contractor going **** up, a brick exterior, on a hill and settling wrong would scream walk away from this to me.
Not to take away from the expertise of professionals in the business, but there is much to be said about doing it right the first time. When I was running the build on my parents place, the lot sloped only 30 feet from back to front, making it necessary to have some 10 foot foundation walls as well as some fairly high retaining walls. Pier pads 18'-36" in diameter went a minimum of 6' down, well into the hardpan soil.
Sitework is the key imo, scraping off all the soft soil and anchoring into solid earth. 9000 square feet of house and garages, tile roof and brick work and house settled as even as one could hope for.