*
Has anyone had the experience of building an additon over an old/unused septic field? If so, any tips/recommendations would be appreciated. As far as I know the field hasn’t been used for 5+ years. My next step is to phone the jurisdiction building dept., but would like more info. on this subject. The additon will be on a crawl, with conventional trench footings and conc. block. Generally is a soil compaction test necessary??
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Use these assembly techniques when installing crown risers and molding to minimize visible gaps and nail holes.
Highlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
*
Hi J.R.
You would need to remove all of the weeping bed right down to the native soil and replace it with imported material, free of any organic matter.
The footings would have to be founded on native soil as long as it has sufficient bearing capacity.
The cost of removing the bed and buying imported fill may cause you to consider putting in a full basement instead.
A compaction test goes a long way to give peace of mind and the cost is negligeable. At the same time you will get an opinion from the soil inspector as to the founding of your footings.
Gabe
*Gabe,Thanks for the response.J.R.