Starting a big project.
- Thread starter Ohiosam
- Start date
I'm no structural engineer so I can't say definitively what's right. Here is what I understand. The main purpose of a footer is to spread the vertical load of the wall over more soil. The footer is a minimum of 8", not sure that extra 8" makes much difference in lateral movement in a wall like this. One thing this wall has that a plain retaining wall doesn't is the weight of the structure on top of it.
Yeah you're correct on the footing being used to distribute the load across a larger surface.
I'm sure it'll be fine, designs are all dictated by code now which are way over designed. The factor of safety when designing for soil pressures is 3 therefore you're designing it to take 3 times the load. The reason to tie the wall into the foundation is to the get that lateral pressure from the soil into the vertical bars then into the footing. Without tying it in you're relying on friction between the block and the conc to get that load out. And yeah the weight of the wall will definitely help increase the friction force too. If you do have cracking/water leaking issues or pray it doesn't but failure later on I'd have them get those bars into the foundation next time. We have a retaining wall at our house that I know doesn't have reinf in it and it's doing fine so far.
Sorry to get all nerdy lol
I love seeing the construction pics tho! I could visit construction sites all day.
I'm sure it'll be fine, designs are all dictated by code now which are way over designed. The factor of safety when designing for soil pressures is 3 therefore you're designing it to take 3 times the load. The reason to tie the wall into the foundation is to the get that lateral pressure from the soil into the vertical bars then into the footing. Without tying it in you're relying on friction between the block and the conc to get that load out. And yeah the weight of the wall will definitely help increase the friction force too. If you do have cracking/water leaking issues or pray it doesn't but failure later on I'd have them get those bars into the foundation next time. We have a retaining wall at our house that I know doesn't have reinf in it and it's doing fine so far.
Sorry to get all nerdy lol
I love seeing the construction pics tho! I could visit construction sites all day.
Haha no misplaced paperwork. No jars of money either:smiley_cry:
The contractor wrapped up his part on tHursday. I have to finish back filling, run the floor out to the wall, and some minor trim work.
The contractor wrapped up his part on tHursday. I have to finish back filling, run the floor out to the wall, and some minor trim work.
The contractor finished Friday, now I've got a bunch to do. We worked on the floor today. Had to replace the first 2 rows of floor joists. They're 4"x10"x16' ash that years ago I had sawn. We used new oak 1x for the bottom layer, top layer will be mostly the old original 2x planks but a few closest to the doors will be pressure treated.
Huckleberry Finn
Senior Member
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Every job needs a foreman.:smiley_bril:
Btw I learned about Ledgelok screws doing this. Supposed to be as strong as 1/2" lag bolts, self drilling, built in washer. They go right in with an impact driver.
Outstanding Sam! Looks great. Glad to see the barn will not deteriorate as a result of the issues it had. Love seeing the old barns!
Huckleberry Finn
Senior Member
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Looks real good.
I think I've used Ledgelok's before...I have an old apron somewhere with a few of everything, seems a few got carried from job to job as I'm sure anyone can attest. I bet they aint as cool as a Passload though!