Hey all, Buddy of mine had his foundation backwall blowout during the rain lastweek. The Concrete guy is saying,” not my fault I followed the plans” The thing is there were only very basic plans and he suggested the way it was done. Now he claims he is not responcible. To make the situation worse, my buddy is from Poland and his English isnt so hot. Any suggestions comment Jeffysan
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
There's a constant source of clean water for you to use, and all you have to do is collect it.
Featured Video
Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by BrickHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Was it backfilled?
If so. Was it backfilled after the first floor joists and deck was done or before?
Did it blow in or out?
My buddy had one pool up with water and blow out. It was a lower level of a stepped foundation.
It was his fault as it was his house and he was resposible for it.
Your buddy needs to figure out who ultimately is responsible for general site conditions.
If the mason or faoundation guy left the foundation in a state that weather may endanger it, then it was the owner or GC's call to get it back filled or shored up or what ever.
It might just be cheaper to fix it anstead of spending the next three months bickering over whose fault it is.
Eric
It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
Eric,When I first started framing we started a house that had a 40' front and back wall and 28'side walls. We set the center girder and started running the floor joist from front to back and the builder had the back wall backfilled before we started framing and the back had a slight angle to it towards the foundation and there was a lot of rain before we started and as I was walking along the girder I heard cracking sounds and looked towards the back wall and the blocks started shooting into the basement.All of a sudden the center of the foundation blew out and caved in almost the whole 40' and behind all the block blowing into the basement followed tons of mud.Joe Carola
Nice!
Here's another story. Not the one I mentioned in the post.
I was working on a house with a bud of my, his dad was a semi retired builder.
They had an affinity for steep lots as they were cheap and no one wanted them. They had a decent handle on how to deal with this for the most part.
Lot slopes from front to back. Block foundation. Front wall was at least 13 course of 10" block with no butresses inside or out. About halfway towards the rear of the house the foundation stepped down to where it was full framed. Two storys over that.
So I'm out in the back one day taking a leak............look down and notice a few pieces of parging laying in the dirt. I stick my hand up where the ply met the block at the sill, and the framing is like 1/2" off the foundation.
I go get my bud and he turns so friggin white!! Go inside and the front wall had a nice bulge and had pushed the wood framed floor right off the foundation a good 1/2" and more in places.
Took a bit to get it all fixed up. I think it ate a bit of profit too as that was a turning point for me not working there so much.
You gotta be careful with these things!
EricIt's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
I've always kept the foundations well braced on the iside until after the roof was on. It needs weight too. Nice story.
EricIt's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
Joe,
well now, there's a heart starter.
We were greeted by a raised up (floating) concrete septic tank one morning. Luckily, no foundations nor truss collapse's.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
You are severly lacking in details to bring in any accurate responces and comments
Was this a poured concrete foundation or block?
Was steel used to re-inforce it?
Was steel called for in the plan?
Who designed it?
Who is the GC?
Was it backfilled?
if so, was this before or after the floor framing was on?
Was gravel used for backfill or was original caly soil used?
Is there an operating perimeteer drain in place under that backfill?
Was the surface gaded to show water a path away from the foundation?
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!