Need advice how to fix this mess: soil under the footings is soft

[rogerius]

We had the hole for the house foundation dug couple days ago and was a big surprised to see water coming out in the trenches. I say surprised because the house location is on top of the hill. Looks like there are a few small springs there, but really in top of the hill? The bad think is that the most of the soil which we found is sandy-clay and in contact with the water the lower trenche (walk out basement side) now is a pool of mud. The forecast call for more rain for next days so we are worry now.
We are thinking to clean the trenches by removing another foot of clay/mud and then add the geotextile and a foot of 3/4 compacted stone. Not sure if this is the best option so we are looking for any suggestion/advice. Below are couple picture of the mess...

Thank you.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Man on this kind of stuff I hate to say it but I'd consult with an engineer. Your talking the footing on your house. I wouldn't rely on the information gained here for something so simple. Need a box blade recommendation your at the right place but how to fix boggy soil your building on....nope.

Good luck, what a mess.

Brett

 

[rogerius]

Man on this kind of stuff I hate to say it but I'd consult with an engineer. Your talking the footing on your house. I wouldn't rely on the information gained here for something so simple. Need a box blade recommendation your at the right place but how to fix boggy soil your building on....nope.

Good luck, what a mess.

Brett

I know that "the specialist" is the best advice but I'm hoping for advice from members based on personal experience...

 

[Deere Dude]

We had the hole for the house foundation dug couple days ago and was a big surprised to see water coming out in the trenches. I say surprised because the house location is on top of the hill. Looks like there are a few small springs there, but really in top of the hill? The bad think is that the most of the soil which we found is sandy-clay and in contact with the water the lower trenche (walk out basement side) now is a pool of mud. The forecast call for more rain for next days so we are worry now.
We are thinking to clean the trenches by removing another foot of clay/mud and then add the geotextile and a foot of 3/4 compacted stone. Not sure if this is the best option so we are looking for any suggestion/advice. Below are couple picture of the mess...

Thank you.

I would do what you suggested. Pack good on virgin soil with a foot of crushed stone, thick footers with lots of rebar. You will have to wait for it to dry up though.

My last house was very near a pond, like 25' and the water table was almost to footing level. We just put the footings on virgin soil but no sooner than we did that it started raining a lot to where the footings were underwater by a few inches. We stuck a sump pump in to get the water down at least so the crushed stone gravel floor that was level with the top of the footers could be walked on. It dried out within a few days and we commenced to put blocks up. Never any problems after that in 12 years and don't expect any.

 

[EddieWalker]

You can build a house on just about anything, but at what cost? In some regards you are lucky to have caught it early and become aware that the soil there is not ideal for building a house. You can have an engineer design a foundation that will work, but in my experience, it's probably best to stop everything and rethink your entire plan for building your house there. Another thing to think about is insuring the house. If your insurance company finds out that you built your house over a known spring, will they accept a claim? If you are financing the construction of the house, will your bank allow you to build on that spring? Is it even legal to build on top of a spring there?

 

[Deere Dude]

We had a wet problem with our last house. It was 25' away from a high pond and the water table was at the footings almost. We put the footing in with just enough gravel to get everything level and poured the footing with 3 rebars embedded in the mix.

As soon as we poured the footers and they dried it started raining until the water level was above the top of the footings. I put a sump pump in the corner and got the level down so we could put crushed stone in for the concrete floor, which filled with water a time or two when the pump quit. Once it dried out a little to be able to walk around we commenced with the cement blocks.

We didn't have any problems after that and all was well for 12 years as long as we owned the house.

That is my experience with muddy clay and crappy soil under footings.

But, the safest answer would be to get an expert.

 

[rogerius]

Thanks all for advice. I called the architect couple minutes ago. He'll visit the site Monday morning with an engineer to take a look. He believes that the water which I'm seeing are not springs, they are just water pockets which are now draining after breaking the soil. Definitely I'll need to escavate deeper min. 12" and build a large pad of stoone under the footing to create a support and then beef-up the footing; looks like to build over the clay even if is dry is a no-no...

 

[RickB]

I know that "the specialist" is the best advice but I'm hoping for advice from members based on personal experience...

Nothing like amateur unverified and semi-anonymous advise.
That's what I'd look for when I need help with building my home.

 

[TomSeller]

Thanks all for advice. I called the architect couple minutes ago. He'll visit the site Monday morning with an engineer to take a look. He believes that the water which I'm seeing are not springs, they are just water pockets which are now draining after breaking the soil. Definitely I'll need to escavate deeper min. 12" and build a large pad of stoone under the footing to create a support and then beef-up the footing; looks like to build over the clay even if is dry is a no-no...

I guess you will know if it dries up, but remember this is not the wet season. Springs don't have to be in low areas, it depends on the geology. I walked away from buying a house when I found three sump pumps in the crawlspace. I asked about them I was told they were there because of the spring the house was built on. No thank you. That house sat on the market for years until they dropped the price.

 

[rogerius]

Nothing like amateur unverified and semi-anonymous advise.
That's what I'd look for when I need help with building my home.

Really appreciate if we can stick to the topic of this thread.
Thank you for understanding.

p.s.: Personally, I respect and appreciate any suggestion and advice from this community and not treat them as "amateur unverified and semi-anonymous advise" otherwise I'll not be here.