Portions of a garage floor
slab had settled as much as 8 inches creating a large space below the
garage doors. A family room and laundry room floor slab (located behind
the
garage) had settled as much as 3 inches.
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The soil below the floor
slabs had settled significantly due to improper compaction of the fill.
Footings had also not been placed below a bearing wall or a column. The
settlement caused a joint in a drain pipe to separate and also caused a
break in the main sewer drain pipe.
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The garage floor slab had
settled at the rear of the garage causing significant movement at the
walls between the laundry room, garage, and family room. The door from the
house to the garage could no longer be opened and the settlement had
caused significant sagging at the bedroom floor and front wall above the
garage.
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Before the garage slab could
be removed a new footing was installed to provide support for a new steel
I-beam that was installed to support second floor and roof
loads.
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A new footing was also
installed below a bearing wall located between the laundry room and family
room. There was no footing below this wall. The new footing would provide
support for a column that supports a new Glu-lam beam installed at the top
of the wall. This allowed for removal of the wall while work was
performed.
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The family room floor slab
extended under the rear and right side exterior walls so it was cut off
close to the walls. You can see that the slab dropped after it was cut
because the soil below the slab had settled and was not supporting the
slab.
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Structural renovation
projects require a contractor with the experience and equipment needed
when working in confined spaces.
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Large footings were
constructed to support the column loads. Concrete piers were constructed
to minimize the potential for damage during construction. The footings
needed to extend down to soil with suitable bearing
capacity
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A large amount of uncompacted
fill was removed from the area below the family room and laundry room. A
wood floor system was constructed above a crawl space at this area instead
of placing compacted fill and a new floor slab.
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A new foundation was was
constructed at the rear of the garage and a slab was poured for the crawl
space floor. An opening was cut through the concrete basement foundation
wall to provide access to the crawl space.
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The new wood floor system and
partition wall framing is in place. The new Glu-lam beam and column is
visible at the wall between the laundry room and family room.
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The new crawl space below the
family room, laundry room, and bathroom provides a more comfortable and
warmer floor and created added storage space.
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© Building Consultants, Inc.
2009 |
