toptobottom
Civil/Environmental
- Oct 15, 2006
- 3
I have looked at a New Residential two-story home in PA. It has a CMU foundation with crawlspace and an attached garage w/frost walls to one side.
Details:
The crawlspace is about 5.5' tall with vapor barrier and crushed stone on top which is uneven and sparse (non-compacted).
Facing the house, the exterior grade at foundation varies (due to minor slope) with 36" above base of footing at left side foundation wall and 36" (left corner) to 60" (right corner) at front and rear walls. Garage is on right side.
Soils are clayey loam type.
No visible drainage pipe to daylight
No sump pump/pit in crawl nor was any moisture noted.
PA has adopted the 2003 IRC. 42" frostline footing depth required.
Situation:
Inside the crawlspace, the crushed stone is so sparse in many areas that the bottom edge of the footing is visible. The stone can easily be brushed away from the footing to the bottom edge inside the entire crawlspace.
Questions:
Is this a concern for lateral movement due to hydrostatic pressure or frost heave?
What are proper remedies, if needed, to prevent possible future cracking or inward foundation movement?
I do not believe seismic protection is required since this on the Northeastern state line.
Details:
The crawlspace is about 5.5' tall with vapor barrier and crushed stone on top which is uneven and sparse (non-compacted).
Facing the house, the exterior grade at foundation varies (due to minor slope) with 36" above base of footing at left side foundation wall and 36" (left corner) to 60" (right corner) at front and rear walls. Garage is on right side.
Soils are clayey loam type.
No visible drainage pipe to daylight
No sump pump/pit in crawl nor was any moisture noted.
PA has adopted the 2003 IRC. 42" frostline footing depth required.
Situation:
Inside the crawlspace, the crushed stone is so sparse in many areas that the bottom edge of the footing is visible. The stone can easily be brushed away from the footing to the bottom edge inside the entire crawlspace.
Questions:
Is this a concern for lateral movement due to hydrostatic pressure or frost heave?
What are proper remedies, if needed, to prevent possible future cracking or inward foundation movement?
I do not believe seismic protection is required since this on the Northeastern state line.