Originally Posted By: Steven Brewster This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
First time on the message board. Could you guys give me some feedback on the pic. below. The foundation wall is 12" block and is 8 courses tall and the dug out area extends all side of the room above (approximately 16’ x 10’). There are no settlement cracks in the foundation wall but one of the support columns is leaning. The home is built on a slope (front to rear). I do not know how long this has been this way and the home is 1960 vintage.
Originally Posted By: rfarruggia This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
confiscate the shovel.
"The basement (crawlspace?) floor has been improperly and dangerously modified (removed). The footings supporting the exterior foundation walls and interior masonry columns have been left exposed. This can undermine the stability of the entire structure. This must be corrected immediately by a competent professional. No determination can be made as to the continued ability of this building to remain upright."
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
they just need to contact a foundation specialist. now. most likely pour a slab, but unsure. what happens to a tree that has no roots? don’t let this be shunned away. major savety and structural issues.
Originally Posted By: apfaff This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Oh, thanks for those pics. I think I will add them to my collection of “Inspection Horrors” It’s truly amazing what people will do in their attempts at “Home Improvement”
Originally Posted By: lewens This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ok Todd
In Arizona they build on slab on grade and do not have to worry about frost in the ground etc. so I will go at it from your perspective. Let’s’s put a slab on grade on a small rise and build a home on it. So now we have this nice home sitting on a slab up on this nice little rise, looks real pretty up there. Now you have to stretch your mind a bit and imagine the rainfalls of all rainfalls coming down for two or three days and the ground starts to wash away from around slab on that nice little rise and srarts to undermine the slab around the edges. I am sure you can imagine what would happen if the washing away of the ground went too far. The slab would be unsupported and would most likely collapse bringing down your nice little house. This is what was done to the house in question. The footings supporting the foundation were, for all intents and purposes, taken away buy digging too close to them and taking away any support of the foundation. The inevitable is going to happen here and not if but when and I think the when is sooner than later. I hope this helps.
Originally Posted By: rwand This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Steven,
The columns should be stablized until new pads under the columns can be poured. The stabilization can be achieved by building a retaining wall around the base of the columns to stop anymore dirt from falling out from under the column. The pads under the column appear to be undersized and will not adequately carry the load.
As to the column I believe it can be out of plumb by a 1/3rd of the thickness of the column, anything greater and the column will fail.
As to the foundation wall gravel could be added to bring the floor up and provide drainage a concrete floor could then be poured to stop lateral movement of the bottom of the foundation wall inward, and/or underpinning may be necessary.
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
rwand wrote:
As to the column I believe it can be out of plumb by a 1/3rd of the thickness of the column, anything greater and the column will fail.
Just curios as to your info source? only because if I had a one foot thick column, and it is leaning to one side by 4 inches; if said column is 8 feet high, maybe not a big deal, but if it is only 3 feet tall, 4 inches is a lot more leverage to that side.... 8' column, 4'' lean at top, noted but not a concern.  3' column 4'' lean definitely a concern.
Originally Posted By: rwand This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I think there is more concern with a 8’ column than a 3’ column being 4" out of plumb. There is more leverage on a longer column. But I stand to be corrected.
As to source
- Home Reference Book by Carson Dunlop - Consulting Engineers
- A Training Manual for Home Inspectors - Alfred Alk
Raymond Wand
Alton, ON
-- The value of experience is not in seeing much,
but in seeing wisely. - Sir William Osler 1905
Originally Posted By: rwand This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
In my opinion it is on the edge of failing. I would think that the hole house would be moving or the base would be moving. But I am no engineer. Some material I have read suggest another measurement of 1/4" per 12" as measured from the base.
In the photo above, they should be rebuilt. If these columns support a deck I would be concerned and likely would suggest rebuilding them. I wouldn't have any wild parties on the deck either. 
Raymond Wand
Alton, ON
-- The value of experience is not in seeing much,
but in seeing wisely. - Sir William Osler 1905
Originally Posted By: mcyr This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Raymond; The inclination of an 8 foot pier that is out of plumb by 4" is at 2.39 degrees out of vertical. A 3' high pier that is out of plumb by 4" is at a 6 degree inclination out of plumb.
A 24" pier leaning 4" is at it's maximum inclination and any more could show failure.
A 24 inch pier divided in thirds would allow you 4" out of vertical in either direction, any more would or could show failure.
I guess that both height piers are within the 1/3 parameters of the safety factors, but one is leaning more than the other.
My degrees were taken on a horizontal plane, just turn it vertical if you wish rather than be corrected.
