Diamond Pier Foundations by Pin foundations

[boltpost]

Has anyone used the diamond pier foundation system for a small home? http://www.pinfoundations.com/
and a link to the colorful brochure http://www.jgpublish.com/pin/docs/Tri-Fold-Final-2011.pdf  I would be interested in using such a system in a solid that is sandy, along the washington coast.
thanks
dennis

[glenn kangiser]

Hi Dennis, took a quick look.

Doesn't seem like something I would like to use in sand.  Have you heard of such use?

[MountainDon]

You're right there in WA . So are the PIN people. Ask them to give you names, locations of others who have used them in sand.  Personally I seriously doubt that they would work in very sandy soil......

[John Raabe]

I think this system might have been mentioned before. I first ran into it about a year ago. It's an interesting concept and a clever design.

I would think it would be similar in performance to the gravel pad and pier foundation I have for the light weight Little House plans. Both are shallow foundations that spread the weight out over the underlying soil. Neither one would be a good choice in loose sand or slippery clay soils. The Diamond Pier system would have greater anchorage against uplift in hurricane or tornado areas (assuming everything else is tied into the beams and footings).

[boltpost]

Thank you for all the replies.  The diamond pier is used in the lot next door for a bridge.  See image.  This bridge crosses a man made pond, a bit dry now. The folks at diamond pier have just not gotten back to me on my question, and I was eager to hear options from others.  I am considering this type of foundation on my small under 600 square foot cabin.

[Squirl]

By my recollection, I think Poppy was building using a homemade version.  It was a while ago.

Someone recently brought up a topic on building on a sandy coastal property on the east coast.  We found the diagrams FEMA puts out for free on how to design pier foundations for sandy coastal areas.

[boltpost]

Thank you, you are correct....http://www.fema.gov/library/file;jsessionid=AE3EC536BC0A6C3344A06EDB9BB12475.WorkerLibrary?type=publishedFile&file=fema499_3_1.pdf&fileid=57c58850-1fe5-11e0-835b-001cc4568fb6.
available as a pdf file....

[Squirl]

I was thinking:
http://www.fema.gov/library/file?type=publishedFile&file=fema_p550_rev3.pdf&fileid=07d77b40-46ed-11df-b111-001cc4568fb6

It is 63 mb and very detailed.

[flyingvan]

http://www.cmec.wsu.edu/publications/DanTappelreport.pdf

   Good info--not much about sandy soil, but for us formula nerds this is a good study

[boltpost]

Thank you.  Recommended Residential Construction for Coastal Areas looks like a good read...

[rick91351]

Has anyone used the diamond pier foundation system for a small home? http://www.pinfoundations.com/
and a link to the colorful brochure http://www.jgpublish.com/pin/docs/Tri-Fold-Final-2011.pdf  I would be interested in using such a system in a solid that is sandy, along the washington coast.
thanks
dennis

Seems we looked at that about the time Poppy (where ever he is now) joined.  Seems as if Poppy was driving pipe in at an angle such as that then cementing it or something like that.  He had the same idea.  Some one displayed this then.  And sort of was looked at as something most people would not be interested in because of soil conditions and longevity.

Longevity was my main concern.  I have a hard time wrapping my hands around something that just might not last.  A properly done footing and foundation with proper drainage with todays concerete will last well over one hundred years.  Some engineers are even talking two hundred should be the norm.  Provided again properly done with a good virgin base and good drainage.  Way out of my life span but maybe not some of my kinfolk.  I own some property homesteaded by my great grand father.           

[boltpost]

Thank you rick91351.  Good points.  I just found this as well..http://www.cedengineering.com/upload/Constructing%20the%20Building.pdf

[flyingvan]

I agree with Rick----so much of building today is around the 30 year replacement schedule.  It seems a house built in 1982 isn't very old.....I want to build to the 200 year schedule.  No idea how OSB will stand up over time but I know keeping things bone dry has a great effect on longevity.  That said, putting metal in ground basically creates a battery and will eventually oxidize.   

[UK4X4]

That cedengineering link has some good info and if you go to the course information on the same site there are many other building guides that would come in usefull !

[Squirl]

Yeah, I found what I was looking for.

Poppy's home made version.

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=7241.msg95422#msg95422

[Barry Broome]

I remember seeing that when Poppy was constructing... and for the life of me I could not understand what he was doing LOL