Gary Lewis Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 The whole project has come to a screeching hault… It looks like I may have to tear down the existing 3 car structure! Here in CT back in the mid 80's the local sand pits and concrete manufactures ran into veins of sand that contained large amounts of a mineral, Pyrrhotite, which over extended periods of time, 10-20 years, breaks down the concrete to powdery chunks, and is visually evident with not your typical vertical "settling" hairline cracks, but numerous horizontal "spider-web" cracking and chunks falling out. Many home owners with 3-400K houses are "walking away" from homes because the house value plummets to under 100K! Insurance companies refuse to cover the 100-150K replacement costs to lift a house and replace the foundation. The State of CT had to pass laws just so insurance companies can not cancel of "fail" to renew policies! There is state aid to homeowners IF the foundation is under you "primary structure" - the home itself. But as a few contractors I have had over to the garage, my structure in not the primary structure, and not help is available..... After we dug the trench for the addition we found the horizontal cracking... I've been given estimates of @25 K to replace the 48" walls and footings, but the building inspector and some contractors say its to my benefit to simply demo the whole thing and start over and build "what you want".... So now I "have to" move forward... cant "fill in the hole" and ignore it, because sooner or later with freezing and thawing, and snow loads, the walls can "blow out" but having $60K for a new one is not in the game plan either. What to do... Thinking of a "Go fund me" page..... Reamer Oh no!!! That's awful! I'm so sorry. That is going to be a hard decision to make, but isn't it going to take a lot more than $25K to replace what you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reamer Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 Oh no!!! That's awful! I'm so sorry. That is going to be a hard decision to make, but isn't it going to take a lot more than $25K to replace what you have? the 25K was just to Shore up the existing garage and demo out the existing foundation (24'x36') pour new foundation and floor and reset structure. Then we could move forward for the addition (@ 10-14 more K) so I'm into it for a minimum of 40K. That's where the contractors are thinking start over for the 35K and make it better. But new three cars are going for 45K and up.... Hmmm.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 the 25K was just to Shore up the existing garage and demo out the existing foundation (24'x36') pour new foundation and floor and reset structure. Then we could move forward for the addition (@ 10-14 more K) so I'm into it for a minimum of 40K. That's where the contractors are thinking start over for the 35K and make it better. But new three cars are going for 45K and up.... Hmmm.. I'm sorry to hear that this has bitten you Ron. As a tradesman I've been aware of the crumbling foundation thing for going on a decade. But I live 'down in the toe' and not in eastern CT where I understand most of the damage is. If I was closer, I'd offer to come and help. If you end up having a barn rasing I may still. Anyway, my thoughts are with you and I hope you find a way clear of this mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve83 Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 the 25K was just to Shore up the existing garage and demo out the existing foundation (24'x36') pour new foundation and floor and reset structure. Then we could move forward for the addition (@ 10-14 more K) so I'm into it for a minimum of 40K. That's where the contractors are thinking start over for the 35K and make it better. But new three cars are going for 45K and up.... Hmmm.. At those prices, I'd be very tempted to try to DIY. I've seen documentaries about cities where mines have cause major subsidence in residential areas, and the entire cities have had to be moved (at the mining companies' expense), and others about moving trees, and more about moving ships that were blown inland by a hurricane (where I grew up). The show about the Millieu Viaduct was also interesting & relevant. So I'd build a structure on the garage floor that would support the weight of the garage, but leave gaps where LARGE beams could be inserted under the walls & above the slab. Then lift it all (either with air bags, screw jacks, or hydraulic jacks), put the beams in, break out the slab, form it, pour it, and drop the building back down (or maybe leave it at the new height and just pour the edge higher). It might destroy your expansion budget, but it would cost less than rebuilding or losing the garage. I did something similar decades ago to re-level a house whose piers had settled, causing lots of problems. I did the whole job alone using the bottle jack from my Bronco, a cheap water level from Lowe's, and some scrap asbestos siding (as permanent shims). I was going to lift the 2nd floor off the first (because it had been built short for some reason) to replace all the wall studs with longer ones, but the owner decided not to. If you succeed & save a lot of money, you might make a lot becoming a consultant to the contractors who gave you the high bids, or licensing your technique to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 At those prices, I'd be very tempted to try to DIY. I've seen documentaries about cities where mines have cause major subsidence in residential areas, and the entire cities have had to be moved (at the mining companies' expense), and others about moving trees, and more about moving ships that were blown inland by a hurricane (where I grew up). The show about the Millieu Viaduct was also interesting & relevant. So I'd build a structure on the garage floor that would support the weight of the garage, but leave gaps where LARGE beams could be inserted under the walls & above the slab. Then lift it all (either with air bags, screw jacks, or hydraulic jacks), put the beams in, break out the slab, form it, pour it, and drop the building back down (or maybe leave it at the new height and just pour the edge higher). It might destroy your expansion budget, but it would cost less than rebuilding or losing the garage. I did something similar decades ago to re-level a house whose piers had settled, causing lots of problems. I did the whole job alone using the bottle jack from my Bronco, a cheap water level from Lowe's, and some scrap asbestos siding (as permanent shims). I was going to lift the 2nd floor off the first (because it had been built short for some reason) to replace all the wall studs with longer ones, but the owner decided not to. If you succeed & save a lot of money, you might make a lot becoming a consultant to the contractors who gave you the high bids, or licensing your technique to them. This concrete thing is a big mess. You need equipment to break it up and move it to a triaxle to get it out. And you can't recycle it back into aggragate. I can lift a building with jacks and cribbing, but then you have to demo and shift all that crap by hand (at least to outside the structure) Or you have to get a tiny machine to feed the one big enough to load it. Then you have to pour and place X-yards under and around that structure, wait, and place it back down plumb & square. You're time and $ ahead to just scrape it and proceed forward with something NEW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Cecil Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 This concrete thing is a big mess. You need equipment to break it up and move it to a triaxle to get it out. And you can't recycle it back into aggragate. I can lift a building with jacks and cribbing, but then you have to demo and shift all that crap by hand (at least to outside the structure) Or you have to get a tiny machine to feed the one big enough to load it. Then you have to pour and place X-yards under and around that structure, wait, and place it back down plumb & square. You're time and $ ahead to just scrape it and proceed forward with something NEW. My barn cost $30,000 new. That was a 40x40 addition with 16' eaves onto an existing 20x40, and re wrapping the existing. Included gravel inside. I built the 2nd floor myself for just a couple thousand bucks. Of course, I dont have ground issues here. We are on solid clay layer overtop a very thick limestone base. No sand, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 My barn cost $30,000 new. That was a 40x40 addition with 16' eaves onto an existing 20x40, and re wrapping the existing. Included gravel inside. I built the 2nd floor myself for just a couple thousand bucks. Of course, I dont have ground issues here. We are on solid clay layer overtop a very thick limestone base. No sand, ever. Ray, I haven't seen any updates on your shop recently. Are you all done? The loft party looked like fun times with great family! Ground (bearing) isn't usually an issue here. Frostlines are, is is wind lift, and other codes. Pole barns aren't really a common thing here, either. Labor and materials are far higher in CT than the rural south. (If my brothers house in NC is any indication) It's the aggregate that went into the concrete slab and footings that is dissolving. People are losing their homes, or unable to sell and walking away. I don't think anyone was aware of the issue when the concrete was poured. (Maybe the mob who run the materials and concrete companies) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Cecil Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Ray, I haven't seen any updates on your shop recently. Are you all done? The loft party looked like fun times with great family! Ground (bearing) isn't usually an issue here. Frostlines are, is is wind lift, and other codes. Pole barns aren't really a common thing here, either. Labor and materials are far higher in CT than the rural south. (If my brothers house in NC is any indication) It's the aggregate that went into the concrete slab and footings that is dissolving. People are losing their homes, or unable to sell and walking away. I don't think anyone was aware of the issue when the concrete was poured. (Maybe the mob who run the materials and concrete companies) Oh! I see now. I misread the earlier posts. I thought it was sand in the soil. Didnt realize the concrete was actually the issue. That SUCKS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 /file/n30145/Garage_Shop.jpg What's the pull strap hitched to? Neighbors John Deere, or your Flareside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 The whole project has come to a screeching hault… What to do... Ron, let me ask you, do you have enough setback to shift the whole garage? Have you or any of your contractors considered pouring a new foundation and stem walls, ( with enough extra for your addition) moving the structure over? Then demo the slab, and build your extension? It would be much easier than trying to get that crap out, placing forms and settng a bunch of concrete under a building perched above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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