Replies

1. 
   piffin_ | Dec 27, 2001 04:06am | #1

   *
   Please clarify for us, Is he concerned that a footing that size is structurally incapable of supporting the load of the additional story or is there a requiement that any living space be supported by a footing that extends below the frost level which is _____? or some other reason. to refute your local Bulldog we need to know what he's biting into.

1. 
   Rich_Tesoroni | Dec 27, 2001 06:22pm | #2

   *The inspector was looking for 36" (below the frost line). I was in the garage working yesterday, and I'm not sure it's up to having another level over it. The header over the door has some serious sag, and I ran a bubble level and it's off more than 1" side to side. Hate starting in a hole.Since it's only connected by a breezeway, maybe pouring another pad behind the house and moving it is feasible. Build a new garage/ master bedroom attached to the house.Rich

1. 
   piffin_ | Dec 28, 2001 12:09am | #3

   *In other words the inspector saw more problems and just fixated on one to be specific about?You need an expeerienced framer or engineer to look at it and guide you.Sorry

1. 
   Tim_Kline | Dec 28, 2001 02:31am | #4

   *How far are you from the Lehigh Valley ?

1. 
   Schelling_McKinley | Dec 28, 2001 03:27am | #5

   *Rich-You can add a wall right next to the other one. Just dig down next to it, pour a footing, and build your wall beside the existing garage foundation. You may have to do this fairly quickly or you will have to shore under the garage wall but if the soil is stable you may only need speed. If your soil is not stable you may need to build the wall in short sections to support the soil and the garage wall as you go. If you are doing this yourself, this is not a bad idea anyway. It will allow you time to figure it out as you go.

2. 
   piffin_ | Dec 28, 2001 05:11am | #6

   *Actually there are ways to pour the existing footer down under to correct depth but expensive and if other structural problems exist already it is just not worth it. Maybe the inspector was a jerk and maybe he was doing you a favor. I don't really know with out seeing all the details.

3. 
   Chris_Calderone | Dec 28, 2001 08:24am | #7

   *I did a 2 story addition that was built over a rickety single story and it wasnt really built on to it, it was more like hovering over. There was a series of colomns place around the perimiter of the house connected by microlams then the joists were connected to those. The original footings wouldnt support the weight of those columns so under each one was a 4'x4'x2'deep footing poured so the new structure was basically independent of the house. Theres also no frost line in Sacramento.

4. 
   Rich_Tesoroni | Dec 31, 2001 03:50pm | #8

   *Thanks for the replies. My gut feeling was the inspector wasn't being a jerk, but he wasn't impressed with the garage either. I don't think he saw the sagging header since I didn't close the door when we were inside.I'll either leave the garage and tear off the breezeway to make a sitting room to get out back; or since the garage isn't that bad and has a new roof, maybe I can move it back to a new pad.Rich

2. 
   Rich_Tesoroni | Dec 31, 2001 03:50pm | #9

   *
   I had the town building inspector over and he shot down adding a room over my garage due to the 15" deep footing.

   Since there is an 8' breezeway between the house and garage,I could use as a hall/laundry and extend off the back. Can I do that? I'm thinking I can't just dig a hole for 15' next to the garage and build a new wall for the addition since I'll be taking the support away from the garage's footing.

   Any recommendations for a structural engineer in SE PA I could contact to come take a look?

   Thanks,
   Rich