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Quick summary – I have a previously summer only house on a lake in upstate NH, it has been converted with much effort to a year round residence, this house sits on a slope on stilts with the front of the house approximately 8 feet elevation and the rear of the house on grade. Foundations are piers poured into the extremely rocky and sand soil. I could not expect to dig more than 8 inches below current grade give the soil conditions. There are many exposed boulders and rocks under the house.
My problem – I want to enclose the underside of the house for two purposes, one to keep the animals out (many try to get into my insulation) and the second is to create some type of enclosed storage for the rough winters, as we have simplified our lives by moving to the quick isolation of the lake, the remnants of my previous life follow us (junk that requires more space than I have). This will be unheated space.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to build a perimeter foundation and wall system to enclose this space. I have no access for any type of equipment and cannot expect to dig deeper than 8 inches without encountering rocks that no able to be moved. I have thought about excavating as much as possible, putting pea gravel down as a base then building a stair stepped foundation around the base with concrete block. I will use a batten type system of boards above the block to reach the underside of the house. One reservation I have is that a stone base might serve as a drywell and collect water that drips off the eaves. Would I be better off with sand as a base under the concrete blocks? In either case, I would bank and grade appropriately against the outside of the concrete blocks. I should add that this perimeter wall would not be structural, but rather would serve to keep out critters and the elements.
Any comments or ideas?
Replies
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You could install a floating slab on the existing grade with a gravel base and concrete. You will only support the walls under the house not the house, it will also serve as a great floor.
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Quick summary - I have a previously summer only house on a lake in upstate NH, it has been converted with much effort to a year round residence, this house sits on a slope on stilts with the front of the house approximately 8 feet elevation and the rear of the house on grade. Foundations are piers poured into the extremely rocky and sand soil. I could not expect to dig more than 8 inches below current grade give the soil conditions. There are many exposed boulders and rocks under the house.
My problem - I want to enclose the underside of the house for two purposes, one to keep the animals out (many try to get into my insulation) and the second is to create some type of enclosed storage for the rough winters, as we have simplified our lives by moving to the quick isolation of the lake, the remnants of my previous life follow us (junk that requires more space than I have). This will be unheated space.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to build a perimeter foundation and wall system to enclose this space. I have no access for any type of equipment and cannot expect to dig deeper than 8 inches without encountering rocks that no able to be moved. I have thought about excavating as much as possible, putting pea gravel down as a base then building a stair stepped foundation around the base with concrete block. I will use a batten type system of boards above the block to reach the underside of the house. One reservation I have is that a stone base might serve as a drywell and collect water that drips off the eaves. Would I be better off with sand as a base under the concrete blocks? In either case, I would bank and grade appropriately against the outside of the concrete blocks. I should add that this perimeter wall would not be structural, but rather would serve to keep out critters and the elements.
Any comments or ideas?