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

[rd_macgregor]

I think Egon's suggestion of a peripheral drain tile is relatively cheap insurance. Years ag, we excavated a trench around our house and installed a drain tile system off down the hill and into a large "dry well" filled with boulders. The downspouts are plumbed into this as well as the basement sump (no pump needed!) and it works pretty well.

 

[rogerius]

Just a quick update after architect and engineer visit couple days ago. They give me two options:
1. create an engineering pad
2. increase the width to 24" and thickness to 20" plus add 2 rows of 15M rebar. Previously the footing was 18" width, 8" thick and no rebar.

I choose option 2, plus I laydown the rebar on the entire footing and not just in that portion. In addition to this, I added a drain trench down the hill as few of you recommended. In the same trench, I added 2 PVC pipes to run the rain water from the gutters and footing drains down the hill. Here is a panoramic view of the layout and the drain trench is on the right side.

We pass the inspection yesterday and we were ready to pour the concrete today. Unfortunately we got hevy rain all nigth, so we cancel it for a few days just to dray out the trenches.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

If you don't mind sharing, I'm curious what the engineer's fees were?

 

[rogerius]

If you don't mind sharing, I'm curious what the engineer's fees were?

I'll send you a PM.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Probably had to spend more money, time, and effort than you hoped for so far on the project. Now the rest of the home and money will be well supported and many likely problems prevented.

 

[Deere Dude]

See, the engineers and architects said the same thing as most TBN members did. Make the footers bigger and stronger and throw in rebar. :thumbsup:

 

[orezok]

See, the engineers and architects said the same thing as most TBN members did. Make the footers bigger and stronger and throw in rebar. :thumbsup:

True, but the engineer and architect have E&O insurance

 

[Streetcar]

The big questions were how much bigger for foundation and was there other soil problems

 

[Deere Dude]

True, but the engineer and architect have E&O insurance

I would find it hard to believe that just because an engineer would look at something and say this will be alright that they would be held liable for damages if it isn't. They would have to charge an exorbitant fee for a policy like that. They would just claim something else caused a failure.

 

[Streetcar]

I would find it hard to believe that just because an engineer would look at something and say this will be alright that they would be held liable for damages if it isn't. They would have to charge an exorbitant fee for a policy like that. They would just claim something else caused a failure.

Why would the engineer be paid, if their design can not be trusted to be acceptable. Engineer is guaranteeing the foundation design will work