Replies

1. 
   Gabe | Aug 19, 2003 12:25am | #1

   Not for amateurs, even with two good books.

   Dig down inside the wall line instead and pour a retaining wall instead and then dig out to your hearts content. You will lose out on the first foot around your foundation but your house will still be up there instead of collapsed on top of you.

   Gabe

2. 
   pino | Aug 19, 2003 12:31am | #2

   Don't know about rubble stone. However, I had to do the same thing to my 1916 bungalow. Sitting on rock hard clay, I trenched around the foundation. Used a pick axe to dig 18" dia. holes every 10 feet under the existing foundation. . Placed concrete tube forms under the existing foundation and filled them with concrete.

   Once these hardened, i pick axed under the existing foundation wall, leaving the foundation sitting atop the concrete piers I previously poured. Set forms under the existing foundation walls wide enough to pour and rising above the existing foundation by about 4". From there we poured the underpinning, water proofed, added drainage tile and back filled.

   The end result was not pretty, a pain in the ### because of the clay, but managed to get me 24" of additional headroom.

1. 
   Gabe | Aug 19, 2003 01:57am | #3

   Don't know about rubble stone. However, I had to do the same thing to my 1916 bungalow. Sitting on rock hard clay, I trenched around the foundation. Used a pick axe to dig 18" dia. holes every 10 feet under the existing foundation. . Placed concrete tube forms under the existing foundation and filled them with concrete.

   Once these hardened, i pick axed under the existing foundation wall, leaving the foundation sitting atop the concrete piers I previously poured. Set forms under the existing foundation walls wide enough to pour and rising above the existing foundation by about 4". From there we poured the underpinning, water proofed, added drainage tile and back filled.

   The end result was not pretty, a pain in the ### because of the clay, but managed to get me 24" of additional headroom.

   What's the point of posting when you don't have a clue about the original question?

   Don't confuse the issue. He asked about growing oranges and you gave the formula for potatoes.

   Gabe

1. 
   pino | Aug 19, 2003 03:54am | #4

   Didn't realize your solution was the onlything of value here. I thought he might gleen something from my experience, albeit a somewhat different scenario.

   Edited 8/18/2003 8:59:00 PM ET by pino

3. 
   skids | Aug 19, 2003 04:08am | #5

   the first thought that comes to mind is shoring the floor framing from the basement so you can remove existing rubble stone w/out losing house, then replace with a new foundation and decorate exterior above grade with rubble. the advantage of this method is digging from the outside of the structure with a small excavator will make it go quick, and you can put in the franch drain while your at it. you may also be able to raise house temporarily to facilitate easier excavation underneath. gabe has a good idea but i would be concerned about the condition of existing foundation, if its ok you can go with gabes plan maybe adding a wall on top of new interior footing for support and shear.

4. 
   BungalowJeff | Aug 19, 2003 07:22am | #6

   A good foundation contractor can do the work and save the existing rubble foundation, if that is important to you. There are a lot of variables, including foundation depth, soil type, and groudwater level. The only info you gave though, a rubble wall, makes the work much more difficult than a masonry or concrete wall. It's not DIY work, but it is done all of the time, particularly in older cities where commercial store fronts have only down to expand.

   ...that's not a mistake, it's rustic

5. 
   TLJ | Aug 19, 2003 01:02pm | #7

   You are describing one of my lest favorite jobs. Nevertheless, it's hard to say "no" to people in need. I've found George Nash's "Renovating Old Houses" useful. Lots of good photos.