Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 2000 06:01am | #8

   *
   Hi ,I am doing a remodel job on a house built in 1902 , as part of the project,on the front porch I need to straighten the two outside corner 3'x3'5'high I dug down and the footings go down at least 4' Both out side pillars are at least 2" 0ut of plumb in 4' they both lean the same way ,meaning diagonaly I don't know how much lime stone weighs but I guess its like concrete . Each pillar has three round post on the which I will take down after I put up temporary supports I wonder if bellow ground level I can some how wedge it up or get a jig built at the welding shop or maybe something hydraulic , I do have a Case 1845c skidsteer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
   Thanks
   Rick

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 01:52pm | #1

   *Rick,last summer a Concrete leveling company straightened a 3 story chimney that was really leaning away from a house I was working on.Brought it right back to plumb. I recommend them frequently.Good Luck,Stephen

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 02:00pm | #2

   *Limestond can be brittle so be careful. Beyond that, I have no advice.

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   Guest_ | Apr 22, 2000 05:47pm | #3

   *Rick, if you're inclined to sub out this work you might want to try one of these two leads: Both have franchises in our area and seem to find plenty of work and satisfied customers. They are used by both of the structural engineers I've worked with. My experience is that often I can sub out the stuff I don't do best (or lack the knowledge, skills or tools to do), leaving me free for other tasks.Good luck, Steve

1. 
   steve_bell | Apr 23, 2000 12:30am | #4

   *Hey THis is hard work, you must excavate opposing side of pillar,therefor alleviating the pressure that will allow the pillar to be replumbed.If upon excavating and replumbing, you loose elevation of pillars, use a vinyl strap to lift and tamp or shim as neccessary. you may also consider replacing the soil removed from the excavation with a more compactable and permeable type of material such as crushed stone(.75")and good clean bank run gravel.

2. 
   Guest_ | Apr 23, 2000 01:18am | #5

   *Rick,

   Any chance of posting a picture?

   View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 2000 02:18am | #6

   *Hello againThanks for all the imput .I got the worst one straight before I read most of the messages . Sorry no pictures yet . I should get a job camera.I had a small backhoe on rental to dig footings for an addition on the back of the house . so i dug down atleast one foot bellow the bottom of the pillar. I dug out about 2' wide on two sides .so I could dig underneath . the I got a 6" x4' i beam at the welding shop I dug out under the corner enough to catch one block on each side then I used 2 12ton low profile bottle jacks under each end of the i beam . I wrapped a logging chain around the middle of the pillar then another log chain around the next closest pillar with a cumalong in between which I kept taught since I excavated the pillar realy looked like the leaning tower of Pisa . I took my skid steer to the far side of the porch about 40 away and took to web straps one was a 10 ton the other a 30 ton only because that was what was avaailable localy . Then I backed up the skidsteer with the strap wrapped around the top 1' of the pillar hooked to the bucket as best as I could estimate the direction the pillar needed to go.It was only me and a helper we jacked up the bottom pulled with the skid steer and tighened the cumalong .We got it perfect .One thing that helped was the inside of the porch was originaly excavated so ther was no fill on the insed of the pillar.Only snag was one of the limestone blocks split like slate and I didn't see it right away but I jacked up the jacks and it squeezed back together.It will be below ground . I like the gravel idea I was half considering leaving the jacks (I won't ) and pouring concrete around them . I am leaving the I beam .I still need to remove the jacks and straps on monday .Do you think if I put gravel underneath It will stay or should i over compensate its perfect as it sits .Still searching for answers .

4. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 2000 06:00am | #7

   *Rick,Gravel will compress. Do you have enough room to place a concrete footing under the column? If so, leave it about 1/2" - 3/4" shy and then grout (10K, expanding) between the column and footing. If the footing is large enough for the load/soil it won't move.Jerry