Hello guys, It’s been a long time, 6-7 years, since we have had Alberta Clippers hang around Maryland this long. Does anybody have an opinion on how cold would it have to get and how long would it have to last to heave a footing on a crawl space addition, 30″ deep with 4 courses of 8’s and 2 x 6 frame one story, truss roof. Framing complete and shingles about to be installed. Let me have all of the horror stories now so I can prepare. My guess is that it would have to be in the teens for a least a week and even then I think I have the weight to hold it down.
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we're in va, how about if the temp is constantly freezing, the ground would freeze about 1" per day, sound about right?
Soil conditions? Is this backfilled? It's dosen't seam as if you are any danger, am I missing something?
If it's open why don't you hay the areas down you are worried about?
I think it would depend on a lot of things. Like snow cover, for instance. Snow can keep the ground from freezing so deep. And how warm the ground was before it turned so cold. And how fast the ground tapers away from the foundation.
I think it would take sub zero cold for quite a while if there's any snow at all.
Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you can sell him fishing equipment.
Coming from the frozen north, I would say it would take a solid month of 5° to 10° F weather to freeze that deep and another two weeks to freeze below that depth and cause a heave. The weight you are talking about would not stop a heave if it were to occur. I've seen a two story addition lift 3" on a DIY foundation. They were wondering why the patio door wouldn't close properly. Of course that was after 2 solid months of sub zero temps and there was a spring running under bedrock near the NE corner of the addition.
( your logo here) Turtleneck
Here the ground freezing to the frost line (36") is considered a ten-year event. (midwest, very cold january's and february's). However, if you've ever dug in the winter bare dirt freezes quick, and dirt under concrete seems like it would never freeze. Under turf, again, a ten-year event. So if you're real concerned, get some mulch and build it up on either side of your block foundation - that's the 8's? - about a foot wide on either side. It will do more than raise your frost line - it will also hold heat in the ground.
remodeler
The mulch is a great idea, cheap to, and for the most part it can be reused, great idea. Thanks