Today I went by a foundation job that was horrible. I live and work in a community of about 1100 and anything that happens, everyone knows about. An out of town contractor came in to pour a foundation for a manufactured home and I went by at 1:00 and they were pouring then came back to see another contractor about some other work at 5:00 and they had forms stripped and were preping to set walls. OK not so bad, must have used calcium and probably wont set walls until tomorrow but thats not the bad part. The footing is noticably not level or square. I take some pics tomorrow and post them. I’m not talking 1″, more like 10-12″ in 60+ feet. We don’t have inspectors here and I’m wondering what someone else would do. Tell the home owner? Any suggestions? It’s not really anyones business but I still hate to see somone get a bad job. That persons house is just as important to them and your house is to you.
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Replies
i don't know what the protocol for you professionals is, but as homeowner, i would want a heads' up, even if anonymous.
walk away, stay out of it. none of your business, if you get stuck in the middle even as hearsay it could hurt your business later. if you are not a super expert in concrete stay away.
When i was in my teens i helped my grandpa (who was a contractor) due a footing for a manufactured home. He was telling the setup guys how perfectly level and straight we had made the footings with a proud smile on his face and chest puffed out in pride.
One of the guys chuckled and said we dont really care, we level the frames set the screw jacks and were done.
Im sure my grandpa was thinking to himself how much more money he could of made if he wasnt such a perfectionist.
sorry back on track
seems how it is a manufactured home i wouldnt give it more than just a chuckle.
If it were a home footing and stemwall i would probably think different.
the ho can't see a 10 or 12" drop themselves?
what are you going to tell them that they don't know already?
I lived in a village of 1100, you know everybody and everybody knows you.
If I saw an out-of-towner messing up a homeboy, didn't say anything, and homie found out that I knew and didn't say anything, the whole town would let me know about it.
And there ain't no secrets.
All that's gotta happen to insure no problems is that the guys setting the home approve of the foundation. They say "yae," then pay . . . the concretemen.
Edit: There are standards; IIRC, the standard for wall elevation is +/- 1/2" overall.
Edited 7/12/2006 12:13 am by SamT