According to the Fairfax County code footings need to be a minimum of 24″ deep, height of 8″, and 18″ round or 16″ square. The 18″ round or 16″ square part seems over the top to me. Is this normal?
Just cursious-
Kevin
According to the Fairfax County code footings need to be a minimum of 24″ deep, height of 8″, and 18″ round or 16″ square. The 18″ round or 16″ square part seems over the top to me. Is this normal?
Just cursious-
Kevin
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Replies
Not at all.
If you assume your soil has 1,500 psf bearing capacity, you could easily overload a 16" square footer.
If you footers are 8' apart and the beams they support are carrying joists that are 16' long (2' cantilever) that's a total area of 72 SF and a total load of 3,600 lbs. (72*50). For a 16" square footing to be sufficient, the soil must have a bearing capacity of 2,025 psf. Without a soils test, you pretty much have to assume the worst.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA