Would you sign off on this detail?

[shacked]

I was contacted by a home owner that built some retaining walls under his existing house, basically deepened the existing crawlspace and turned it into a habitable area. After he went to the city and tried to get a permit, the city engineer said that he wants engineering calculations and details of the new retaining walls.

So, here is my question, Would you sign off on this even though the calculation meets current code?

 

[EireChch]

In terms of geotechincal stability, id have to crunch the numbers on it but it looks like it would be fine.

Now there's some structural detailing thats needed, like ensuring the loads from the house are transferred to the new L wall footing.

How is the old wall and new wall attached? they need to be tied together.

 

[AKSherpa]

I must be missing something but I do not see where the space has been deepened much???
Where is the original footing?

 

[JAE]

Doesn't look like the house vertical loads are taken anywhere to an adequate footing.

The retaining wall (6" thick with rebar in the center of the wall) looks inadequate.

Rain will penetrate the pavers at the top of the wall, get between the walls, and seep into the basement.

Any rotation in the exterior "retaining" wall will push the interior wall inward with a kink at the wood sill plate where a hinge exists, possibly creating an unstable condition (load bearing wall with a kink in it).

So no - wouldn't sign off on it.

 

[shacked]

By the way, this detail was drawn by the homeowner.

I'm surprised that no one picked up on the note that all rebar will be lapped 12inch minimum.

I don't need the work so I think I am going to pass on this one. Just too many small and medium sized items that will be a problem to correct, not to mention everything is already built.

JAE, totally agreed