Bearing Soil Conditions

[swthwdy]

Our home was built on 'virgin' soil. The area soil tests called for at least a 4" layer of sand, compaction, etc. No site preparation plans can be found.

The builder's pre-pour inspection report, by an unlicensed inspector, shows no compacted fill, no quantity of tendons, no Plasticity Indices indicated, although the P/I was found to be 24 in this area,

The quantity of Post Tension tendons front and side is unknown, one was never stressed, another too deep for an R meter to detect in this 4" slab, no re-bar indicated on the report.


The builder and PT CO are blaming each other for the problems causing the differential settlement we are experiencing.

Is this the usual way of constructing a foundation?
Are there any UBC or IBC codes of 1997 that have been ignored?

 

[JAE]

Homes are not built per IBC or UBC - these are generally for commercial, industrial, educational buildings, etc.

For residential - you would be under the CABO code or the International Residential Code (IRC). Check with your local city building dept. to see what is applicable.

Sounds like you have a contractor who is simply not very good. Document everything (including conversations) and get an attorney to safeguard your rights. He should advise you to get an engineer involved to investigate and report on what has happened.