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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
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    Erwin, TN
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    Default Crawl space dug out

    Inspected house built in 1937 today and had some concerns about the foundation. The crawl space had been dug out to put in a air handler and water heater. What bothered me was how close they had dug out around the footers (within a foot). Is there an comments about this. Thanks

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Connecticut
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    1,828

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    pics are hard to see.Are those dirt walls? Was the block wall never finished. Looks like POS.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
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    Erwin, TN
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    330

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    Quote Originally Posted by wayne soper View Post
    pics are hard to see.Are those dirt walls? Was the block wall never finished. Looks like POS.
    Poured concrete footer, dirt has been dug out below footers. Yes a partially finished wall. This was originally a crawl space, know it a cellar/ basement.

    Last edited by Sam Morris; 08-21-2013 at 05:07 PM. Reason: more info

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
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    4,607

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Morris View Post
    Poured concrete footer, dirt has been dug out below footers. Yes a partially finished wall. This was originally a crawl space, know it a cellar/ basement.
    That dirt wall needs to be stabilized before it all comes down. Maybe shore it up with a new block wall, but poured concrete with lots of rebar would be better.

    It would be a major concerns in my neighborhood, moist with an occassional tremor.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    2,809

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    One foot out from footers is wrong. No reinforce retaining wall is also wrong.
    24inch of undisturbed earth left from digging and a retaining wall is what I would want to see.

    Check your local code requirements.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    25

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    Damn.... Dont want to miss that one!! Is that space supposedly conditioned space now? Any insulation down there?


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Lansdale, PA
    Posts
    876

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Morris View Post
    Inspected house built in 1937 today and had some concerns about the foundation. The crawl space had been dug out to put in a air handler and water heater. What bothered me was how close they had dug out around the footers (within a foot). Is there an comments about this. Thanks
    Rule of thumb in engineering is that you do not excavate below a 45 degree line projecting downward from the bottom corners of the footing.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario
    Posts
    4,982

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    For reference

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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Windsor Ontario
    Posts
    378

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller View Post
    Rule of thumb in engineering is that you do not excavate below a 45 degree line projecting downward from the bottom corners of the footing.
    I have seen similar conditions on a number of older homes.

    Also known as "angle of repose". Ref - Angle of repose - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Angle can vary with material and/or condition.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Lansdale, PA
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    876

    Default Re: Crawl space dug out

    Quote Originally Posted by Claude Lawrenson View Post
    I have seen similar conditions on a number of older homes.

    Also known as "angle of repose". Ref - Angle of repose - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Angle can vary with material and/or condition.
    The loading under a strip footing is more like about a 30 degree angle from vertical, but the 45 degree number is used to be conservative. The angle of repose defines the natural slope of a material, but it is not the same as the stress distribution below a footing.


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