Best Method to Lift and Relevel Post and Pier, Single Wall, 1,100 SF House

[FndMech]

Hi, I'm a deep foundation contractor and have accepted a project to lift and re-level a 1,100sf house. The house is 24x44, sits on a sloped lot, constructed of single wall, and floor framing consists of 4 ea. 4x6 running 44' long, equally spaced, and 2x6 floor joists @ 16" o.c. running perpendicular.

I need some tips, ideas and methods to lift and relevel this home in a way so that I can build a continuous, stepped, footing around the perimeter. Sitting on the footing at the lower elevation areas will be small CMU walls so that I can level the ground underneath the home and pour a slab to create a new level under the existing. Lastly, I plan to frame the walls using 2x6 and set the house back down on the new walls.

Any ideas or input of any kind would be appreciated.

 

[Ron]

You need to find a local engineer who can look at your structure to help you. A forum is not appropriate for such specific advice without noting all the conditions.

 

[bridgebuster]

I agree with Ron this is too complicated a problem to solve through a forum. If you're going to pick up the house (out of curiosity - how much?) you'll need a series of locking jacks working simultaneously - that could be an expensive set up. Would it be more practical to shore the house and lower the basement?

 

[hokie66]

Where I am, lifting houses such as described by the OP is common practice. It is treated much as a trade, and the contractors who lift the house are often the same ones who cut up houses in sections and move them on trucks to new locations. To my knowledge, engineers are normally not involved in the lifting and moving operations, but only in the reinstatement on new footings and supports. What I have seen is a system where a series of beams is inserted across the house, which in this case would be across the 24' width under the 4 x 6 bearers, and the beams are jacked until at the desired level. Some temporary bracing is then installed, and new footings and columns built to support the house. Obviously, the required documentation and permitting would vary with location.

 

[FndMech]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm leveling the house, not necessarily lifting it. But the home has settled from one side to the other approx. 8 inches. I intend to support the home temporarily using cribbing and beams. How many places should I crib the house? Has anyone has seen any other way of accomplishing this task? I agree this is more a contractor question rather than engineering. If you have suggestions as to another forum I should ask these types of questions, I'm open.

 

[Ron]

hokie66...yes, this is usually common and done by contractors; however, FndMech has interjected a few things that take it out of the "common" realm. What you have described is a moving process. I believe this house would be easier to move than to re-level in place.

The mechanics of the leveling is a contractor's means and method issue. The reason the house settled 8" differentially is another issue and should have an engineer's evaluation. Did the slope erode? Did the soil fail in bearing? Did the toe of the slope creep? Is there a clay or silt lense that exists under one side of the house? Are there buried organics?

As for how much cribbing to use, again, we know nothing about the loads, the slope, the soils or the bearing points available for temporary or permanent support on the house itself. These are issues better handled by a local engineer with his eyes on the site. One with a little gray hair might be able to offer suggestions on some of the mechanics as well.

If FndMech "fixes" the existing problem by adding more weight on the existing soils, will it make the problem worse and he gets sued in a few years?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

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