Footing (Rat wall)

Specific Inspection Topics Structural Inspections
1

Inspecting a house that was built around 1940. The buyers are getting a USDA rural development loan. The USDA requested from me a couple of things I don’t know.
Number #1 I understand , but #2 not so much what’s a rat wall

#1 Structurally sound does mean that it has to be a permanent foundation with a contiguous footer system and the block doesn’t sit on the ground.

#2 The concrete slab is acceptable as long as it has a rat wall that extends below the frost line. The inspector should be able to determine if it does have the appropriate rat wall.

Thank You In Advance

2

I’m guessing they mean stem wall.

3

It’s a concrete wall that goes around the slab and down through the grade to stop ‘rats’ and vermin from digging their way under the slab.

4

Agreed.

5

Where is this customary? We usually pour the footing monolithically with the slab. I’ve even done it that way when the frost line was 48"

6

What’s the Tennessee frost line? I cannot see how you could verify the wall depth without getting your shovel out…

7

Not sure exactly… I only heard about it from chap in Michigan a couple of years back as I recall. I will see if I can find any info on it.

8

Its a perimeter wall on the exterior of the home below grade.
Skip to about 50 seconds.

9

Better video

10

I doubt if those videos will make the cut into training classrooms…

11

How deep is the wall ?

12

TN frost line is 3", freeze depth is 12", minimum footings of 24" in middle TN.