I am considering different options for a exposed brick foundation (detached garage). Job is in MI, 42″ frost footings. Normal garage footing is 12″w trench. I am thinking of a 8″ stem wall on 16″X8″ spread footing, and using a double 2″x plate canted over the brick. Style will match house, so no lick & stick allowed. I was also contemplating using the 12″ trench and block (probably 3 courses), but it would still require the cantilevered plates, and might be a wash or more expensive. Any other ideas?
Replies
I've seen it done like that in Romeo, MI and the inspectors passed it too.
The walls of the garage sat directly on the brick and I questioned that but they told me that they had it approved. On the main part of the house, they cantilevered the deck out, so the cantilevers actually carried the loading.
I didn't think brick could be load bearing but this builder did it all the time.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Yeah, we've done it like that on houses where you can cant out the deck, ladder the parallel walls. My situation is abit different though with the slab on grade.
I'm not sure I see what your question is. Brick installed like that is load bearing and therefor I wouldn't use the word cantilevered. We build crawl space foundations like that all the time. I would think that you will find it cheaper to go with a block foundation since you have to get the brick layers out there anyway. We always go with a 16" (min) wide footing though.
It goes like this: 16" wide footing. 8" block up to several inches below grade and then 4" block with brick vaneer on the outside. Don't forget the ladder wire.
How flat is the site? If it is fairly flat, you won't have much unbalanced fill so filling the block with grout won't be necessary. How much of the foundation will stick out of the ground?
BTW - never heard the term "lick & stick" - watz zat?
Or maybe you could do a frost protected footing?
Edited 6/24/2008 6:56 am ET by Matt
Technically it isn't cantilevered, your right. The brick would be load bearing, so it wouldn't be a veneer, as panel brick would be (lick and stick). I did some houses about 5 years ago, same detail (load bearing brick and high strength grout). I guess I'm trying to decide between blocking or pouring. Site has just a slight slope side to side, not much. Are you talking about frost protected shallow foundations?