Cutting trough wall on drilled piers

[COEngineeer]

I have a project where the client wants to cut trough this interior stem wall that was supporting crawlspace. He is going to excavate all the dirt in the crawlspace in the basement. Luckily, the exterior wall is full HT. Now instead of a small hole on the wall, he wants to have a door. So we have to cut trough this wall. What do you guys do usually? Normally if its on footing I would just cut it, but what if it is supported by piers?

 

[SperlingPE]

If you cut the wall from the bottom edge up to door head, across, and back down, you will probably need to support the door on each side with new foundation. Height of wall, load on wall, reinforcing are all things that will need to be considered.

 

[COEngineeer]

so whats the solution? drill helical pier? remove the whole wall and put a beam all the way accross and maybe put a column on existing pier? Is it easy to install helical pier in the basement? You know.. little ventilation, cant bring a bob cat in, etc.

 

[DRC1]

I assume he is grading so that the foundation wall will be fully exposed on the outside. How far apart are the piers? Can he span from pier to pier with a header beam tied to the wall at the pier locations? then he would just have to support the wall that cantilevers out, or remove and use a double door. If pier spacing is 8 ft or less this may be viable, larger spacing this may get too complicated.

 

[COEngineeer]

It is an interior bearing wall. The wall is proabbly only 6 ft high total. Not sure where the drilled piers are but my main question is, is it easy to install 1 helical pier in the basement of the house? I am planning to tell them to put the door right next to the drilled pier, and then support the other side of the door with a new helical pier. I am not sure if this is the best solution.

 

[DRC1]

Most of the helical pier manufacterers have local contractors who do installation. Talk to Chance and /or Atlas to see who the local installer is. They can tell you what equipment they have and if they can do the job.