I’ve got a problem with a spread footing that has heaved during this long northeast winter. The basement foundation is approx. 7 ft. below grade, and was poured in late Sept. 2002. The exterior foundation walls and footings have stayed put, but the spread footings for the load bearing columns have heaved. The main girder is 28 feet with 3 1/2″ conc. filled columns about 7′ o.c. A single strip pad was poured for the three columns. One part of the pad has raised 1 1/2″ and the other end has raised 1 1/8″. The slab that is over the footing has clearly cracked at the outline of the footing. Should I cut the columns to re-level the floor, or should I have the old footing removed and pour a new one after replacing subsoils with compacted stone? Again, the exterior wall footing has not heaved, only the spread footing within the perimeter of the foundation walls. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
PointMan
Replies
or should I have the old footing removed and pour a new one after replacing subsoils with compacted stone?
whether this house is yours or not, it should be treated as if it were. Do what you already know you should.
Gabe
Are these interior columns . If the exterior walls and footings are fine the interior footing should not move. At 7' feet you should not get any frost heave unless you are in the Artic. I think that other forces have caused your problem.
That is the part that puzzles me. I'm in the Northeast, and the weather has been almost arctic, but the exterior walls didn't heave. The basement has been at outdoor temperatures since start date, the frame has yet to be insulated. What else could have caused the footing to lift? There is a jagged crack in the slab that telegraphs the location of the perimiter of the footing, and I know that the beam was set straight back in October.
Is the rest of the house except the collumns sinking? Were the collumns back filled or exposed to the elements?
No, the rest of the house is not sinking. I know this because it is an addition, and the two ends of the beam are in original location, one in pocket in new foundation, one in pocket in 40 year old foundation. I would see large cracks where two foundation walls connect if this were the case. The entire cellar hole has been at more or less ambient air temp. thru the winter.
Point
If the framing has not been done and the whole foundation is open to the weather, I have a couple of thoughts.
One, is it possible that the exterior foundation walls were on the verge of lifting also, but the weight of the concrete or block walls prevented noticeable movement? Not likely but possible.
Two, while you note the depth of the cellar, you don't say how deep below exposed grade the footings extend. Maybe with the thought that the pad footings would be inside the building's perimeter they weren't deep enough. Did you/your foundation sub plan for these footings to be exposed through the winter?
C.
Actually the frame is done, this is the problem. When I said open to weather, I meant, no insulation, windows in openings etc. I've got a double 9" lvl that is bent 1.5" over 7' and I'm concerned about it breaking.
PiontMan
I agree with Gabe. The footings have heaved because of frozen water under them. The exterior walls must be drained well enough or are warmed enough by the mass of soil next to them not to have heaved. Be thankful that they are still intact. I have seen them heave and crack in similar situations. I am in a cold climate too and this is not all that predictable or even preventable if you are building in cold weather. We try to protect the footings when we are building in the winter but it is not easy to close and heat an incomplete frame. Sometimes you just have to suck it up. In your case the cure is not that bad. It just costs money. Good luck.