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I own a lake lot and where I would like to build where part of the footprint would be on undisturbed soil and part would be on fill where an excavation for a boat slip was refilled. If I just put it in the previously excavated area would a spread footing work? Do I need a soil engineer?
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At last a question that I'm qualify to answer:
First what are you building.
also just because the soil in undistrubed does not mean it is compacted enough to hold your loads. Now if you was removing twenty feet of soil to an undistrubed elevation the surcharge would be enough.
And, because the boat ramp elevation is close to water this would justified having a soil engineer to look at the material. Now I am assuming you are building a house, if you are just replacing the boat ramp, go ahead, no weight is there.
*John, I'd suggest obtainin the services of a soil engineer. Whatever structure you build will ultimately be no better than the foundation upon which it rests, so you'll be serving your own interests by assuring you have properly engineered footings. A few hundred bucks invested for footing design will be a lot less than whatever downstream costs you might incur to repair/replace an inadequate bearing for your structure. You may be unable to obtain a permit without a soil analysis, anyway.Do you have any wateline setback issues to address? It sounds like you're gonna be awfully close to the shore.Good luck, Steve
*You're obviously aware that the filled area is likely inadequate for proper bearing, so consult an engineer. As others have mentioned, soil type is crucial as well to the design. Not something that can be determined in a forum like this. Soil test costs me $150.
*So John, What are you building?Pete
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I own a lake lot and where I would like to build where part of the footprint would be on undisturbed soil and part would be on fill where an excavation for a boat slip was refilled. If I just put it in the previously excavated area would a spread footing work? Do I need a soil engineer?