Replies

1. 
   Matt | May 06, 2006 03:01am | #1

   So, the porch is to be attached to 24' of the house and the proposal is to build a 24' grade beam 8' out from the house?  When you say,  >. thereby prety much eliminating the possibility of support any where near  the middle of the span. << are you refering to the 24' length or the 8' width as the "span"?  Normally a porch would be supported by piers unless the floor is to be concrete, masonry, etc... or is the porch floor to be framed with a wooden floor on top of the framing, and BTW - if framed are the joists to go parralel to the house or perpendicular?

1. 
   billd60 | May 06, 2006 04:07pm | #2

   Good questions.  The beam would run the 24' span.  Porch floor to be framed perpindicular to the house and wood flooring to finish.  I can atach the connect properly to each corner of the house and the the outside corners will have piers but all utilities run within the 24' span causing my dilemna.

1. 
   Matt | May 06, 2006 07:11pm | #3

   Bill:

   Although in english span can mean the full length or width of something, in building it often is used in reference to the distance between 2 supporting members like posts or beams.  A grade beam to my knowledge is normally referred to as a steel reinforced concrete beam placed at or below grade that is used to support a concrete slab.  The grade beam would often be poured integral to the slab.  A strip footing would be constructed in a very similar manner to a grade beam, however would normally be used to support a foundation wall, but not normally posts.  A strip footing would always be dug below the frost line and to solid ground.  Of course anything is possible and building practices are very regional.

   Anyway, take a look at the attached pic. Edit - pic on next post

   BTW - is this porch to have a roof over it?

   Edited 5/6/2006 12:12 pm ET by Matt

1. 
   Matt | May 06, 2006 07:13pm | #4

   pic attached

2. 
   billd60 | May 06, 2006 09:08pm | #5

   I appreciate your perserverance!  Utility lines are only part of the problem, fresh fill represents the rest of the problem.  This house has received fresh fill nearly 7' deep around this portion of the house; I have been trying to avoid digging to get below this fill for a couple reasons - cave in and, ultimately, time.  Otherwise your sketch would be my clear approach to this.

1. 
   Matt | May 06, 2006 10:27pm | #6

   I reread your posts and have the idea now.   I guess I didn't get it at all initially since the approach is rather non-conventional (IMO).

   Really though, you are gonna need an engineer for that...

   OTOH, an experienced operator with a mini-excavator could dig those piers in an hour.   Especially if only the center ones would need to go 7'.  The holes would probably end up being about 3' square depending on the characteristics of the fill dirt you are digging through.  Don't plan on going in the excavations though.

2. 
   LEMONJELLO | May 06, 2006 10:37pm | #7

   Nice Holes!Brick wall in the hole=Old basement from older house??I hate it when I ask for a 36x36 clean square hole and get a kinda fan shaped abortion of a hole about a foot or two over sized...May sound like a silly comment to some but I'm sure you get it.

3. 
   Matt | May 06, 2006 11:26pm | #8

   Yes, there appears to be an old foundation from a previous house.  And yes, they are nice holes.  That is why I said an expierenced operator. 

   I was playing with a mini excavator a few days ago.  The idea was to dig some holes and drop a large balled and burlaped tree in each one for temporary storage.  My holes looked like total cr@p!  Not my first time either.  Served the purpose though.  Operating heavy equipment - event the small stuff - is a lot harder than it looks.  Sure you can muttle through some basic stuff but nice holes takes lots of practice :-)

4. 
   billd60 | May 07, 2006 01:50am | #9

   Thanks.  Let me approach this differently now.  IF I can get a pier in the middle of the 24' span, leaving 12' spans on each side, what size built up beam would be appropriate?

2. 
   NickNukeEm | May 07, 2006 02:01am | #10

   Another option.

   http://www.technopieuxinc.com/index_tmp.php?site=tmp&page=service

   Never seen them used, though I talked to a rep. at the JLC Live show last month.  It takes a crew with the right equipment (i.e., not a DIY operation) to install the posts.  You would also have to take into consideration the height of your porch roof as a restriction to installation.

    

   "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  Invictus, by Henley.