Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I have a friend and his house caught on fire. To make a long story short, he is adding on to the house while the house is being redone. I stopped by today and seen a trench about a foot and a half wide with rebar in it. I never seen this done this way before and wanted to know what anyone thinks about these pictures. I can’t see how they will poor the footings plus poor the foundation wall with the trench this narrow. Any help would be welcome.
Originally Posted By: phinsperger This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Kevin I think what he is doing is refered to a “trench pour”. The earth itself become the form for the concrete. So you don’t need to dig extra room for a removeable form and someone to be down there. Very common in the old days.
Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
From your comment, trench pouring can be done but it doesn’t sound like it would not be the best way to pour a foundation. Would you allow this at your house???
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Yes, and possibly. It depends on the soil conditions. At the beach in a wet, sandy soil? No. Inland in a dry, rocky, granite soil? Yes. In the Houston black clays and the San Antonion red clays? Only after an extended drought but prior to the downpour that ends that drought. So, with all the weather and soil variables thrown in, pouring the foundation the good, old fashioned tree-killing way is probably the thing to do. Fewer variables.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I agree with Russel. If the soil is good enough and the wall is wide enough, a combination wall/footing can work (wall width equal to the required footing width) … and the reinforcement is a good thing, and required in higher seismic zones. If you have it, check IRC Section R403, and figure R403.1(1) which shows your situation …
Just my 2-nickles
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
And Patrick’s in San Antonio. That’s where those San Antonio red clays are. We also did trench pours in Kingsville TX where I grew up, even further south than San Antonio.
Patrick, are you San Antonians placing San Antonio in South Texas nowadays? Those of us from South Texas always put San Antonio and Austin in Central Texas. When we went on vacation, we'd always go to the rolling hills of Central Texas--San Antonio, Austin, Kerrville, San Marcos.
Originally Posted By: kmcmahon This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Lived in Houston inspecting footings for a living for 7 years and grade beams were the norm in the gumbo!! But you’re missing 2 #4’s at the bottom of the footing!
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
kmcmahon wrote:
Lived in Houston inspecting footings for a living for 7 years and grade beams were the norm in the gumbo!! But you're missing 2 #4's at the bottom of the footing! 
I can't give away designs for free ...
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
