Building our retirement home

[s219]

If they have all the forms up, they probably don't want to tear them down to start over. And that assumes the footing is wide enough to move the forms outward anyhow.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

If they have all the forms up, they probably don't want to tear them down to start over. And that assumes the footing is wide enough to move the forms outward anyhow.

The footing is wide enough but I really don't want to force such a drastic response.

I've been staring at online diagrams and think I finally understand ... duhhhh. The front and rear basement walls align with the front and rear walls of the house. "IF" they build a ledge into those basement walls for the brick, they have to do the same for the rest of the house to keep everything in line. OK. These basement walls will span about 30 feet.

I may have them pour those walls without the ledge. I can then have them enlarge the rest of the pour for a ledge. I'll have to add a separate footing along the 30 foot basement spans that will line up with the rest. Hey ... It makes sense to me! LOL I guess my meeting tomorrow will be to explain what I need done.

 

[efam3300]

If your plan does not show a brick ledge your foundation contractor would not be responsible for the mistake. If its on the plan and he missed it I think you should make them redo it. If your architect missed the ledge after all your meetings, it should be on his dime.

 

[boggen]

different configurations. might help get something out of your contractors.

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i am a tad confused on basement floor plus footings. i am more use to seeing "monolithic pouring" were basement is dug down to grade, then a mini ex (mini excavator) or like comes in and digs a little trench were footers will go. and then footers and basement floor is all poured at one time.

but from what it looks like, they poured footers, and you are going to need to "fill back in with dirt. or having the concrete floor of basement setting inside the footers. are they going to bring in rock, and compact it inside the footers. and then pour concrete for a floor. so concrete pad rests on edge of the footers?

i am also confused by a footer down the center, and the square box area of a footer.

i am going to assume once basement walls are put in, a french drain will be put in around the house on the out side basement walls. but from pictures i don't see much of any place for a french drain setup to drain to. so i am wondering how you will run some sort of "de-watering" system to help keep the basement dry of water.

and is that why the empty space inside the footers, is for french drain setup, with sump, and pipe work put under the concrete floor of the basement?

 

[Deere Dude]

I have seen a 4" block wall added to the outside of an existing pour for the stone or brick footings, but that would be an added expense.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

If your plan does not show a brick ledge your foundation contractor would not be responsible for the mistake. If its on the plan and he missed it I think you should make them redo it. If your architect missed the ledge after all your meetings, it should be on his dime.

It's on the plans and has been discussed several times during the planning process. The contractor made the error.

Here's the thing ... although a post I made in another thread this evening may bring this into question ... I am really an easy-going kind of guy. Yes, I could stomp my foot and make them tear out the forms and fix it. I'm not going to do that. I'll adjust and move along. That is, assuming I can do what I suggested in the post above. If that proves impossible, well ... I'll cross that bridge later.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

View attachment 434680

different configurations. might help get something out of your contractors.

Thanks for the image. My plan above was the "D" diagram you shared - although I will make that support piece somewhat wider for stability.

To your questions:

Yes, it will be back-filled and the 4" slab rest on the footers.

The center footer is the wall of my media/safe room. The square box area is just a small storage room that sets outside the safe room. The other small area adjacent to the closet will be a bath w/shower. The media room and bath will be fully enclosed in concrete - all sides and roof - with a triple bolt steel door. Hey, if I'm trapped in there I want a place to "go!"

I haven't seen the plan on the water control, so I can't say much ... There will be a drain system in place with a dual sump pump. I'd like to say the contractor knows what he's doing ... LOL. He claims it will be dry.

 

[jk96]

Thanks for the image. My plan above was the "C" diagram you shared - although I will make that support piece somewhat wider for stability.

If I were you I would strongly suggest digging your heals in and making the contractor go with plan "A". There may be some extra expense with wider walls and more concrete but this lets the stone rest on the foundation wall and carries the weight directly onto the footer.

The problem with plan C is soil compaction. The basement is overdug and needs to be backfilled before pouring your extra footer for plan "C". It is going to settle regardless of how well you think you have compacted the dirt.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

If I were you I would strongly suggest digging your heals in ...
The problem with plan C is soil compaction. The basement is overdug and needs to be backfilled before pouring your extra footer for plan "C". It is going to settle regardless of how well you think you have compacted the dirt.

Well "A" was the plan - lol.

I just edited my prior post, having meant to say option "D" but it would also suffer from the settling problem. Option "E" looks like a good compromise. I had considered something like it by attaching angle-iron.

Your image will be really helpful. I printed it out so we can talk about the pros/cons and what responsibility he will take for the outcome. I won't force plan "A" unless things get ugly.

Looking at the bright side ... If I have to add a 4" ledge to the basement walls, the whole house just got bigger! Wheeeeeeeeeee

 

[jk96]

I won't force plan "A" unless things get ugly.

Looking at the bright side ... If I have to add a 4" ledge to the basement walls, the whole house just got bigger! Wheeeeeeeeeee

I would strongly suggest forcing "A". Also - The 4" ledge would only need to be added to where your stone sits, so If you have 8" walls planned, you would now have 12" walls anywhere you have stone. The extra wall width would be outward from the original plan but it shouldn't make your house dimensions any larger. Original footprint of framed walls stay the same, just gives you a ledge for stone to sit on.