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We thought we had our forms all set and ready for inspection but we had them on fill and that won't pass. We only had to dig several inches for 2 forms to hit rock but 3-4 ft. on the other two and some of the pier spots. In other words do not bring in fill first....make sure you are placing your forms and piers on blue rock or blue rock and then compressed gravel to the correct level for them. Oops...well we are owner builders who never built on lava before and the inspector is really nice and told us what he needs....we just need to follow the plan better!
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You had only corner forms, for cement right? And your piers had to be dug to rock also? So regardless of the depth, the corner forms are filled to grade with cement? And the piers, did they require poured footings from bedrock to grade also ?
Are your corners designed with cement walls or stick built shear walls on top of your footings?
Minor setback, keep smiling at least your there and working!
HADave
Aloha HADave & Mz P
Hawaiian Acres
The best things in life are free.... or have no interest or payments for one full year.
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From the blue rock, we are putting in stuff called base that is mechanically compacted up to 6" below grade for the corner shear wall foundations and the foundations are 12" deep and 6" wide and 4 feet each way. The pier block areas we dug to blue rock and filled with base and compacted level with the grade. All was in our plans but we didn't pay close enough attention. Only about a weeks setback and some pretty hard work but all is well.
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Aloha Nancy and Dave,
Depending on the house design and the site location, there will be different requirements for foundations and footings. However, whatever is written on the plans and stamped by the engineer is what is valid for the specific site. It might change from site to site as well as from design to design.
A hui hou,
Cathy
Hawaii Drafting Service
hotzcatz@yahoo.com
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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Aloha! Cathy, Thanks for a professional point of view. Perhaps you might answer a question some of us have. How do you get a simple pier foundation without having to pour cement footings? What are the circumstances designers look to see?
Thanks for any direction you can provide. I for one am looking to disturb the least amount of ground possible on my lot.
)HADave
Aloha HADave & Mz P
Hawaiian Acres
The best things in life are free.... or have no interest or payments for one full year.
