Soil database and how to use it to design footings

[John Raabe]

Thanks to diyfrank for posting this USDA soils website. Here is an article I did for our sister site PlanHelp.com on how to use this information for your footing design. Soil character is especially important if you are doing a pier and beam foundation.

http://www.planhelp.com/members/104.cfm

[MountainDon]

It is a great site. Unfortunately for much of the Rocky Mountains area, including northern NM, there is no data. The reason is much of the terrain changes too quickly from one spot to another. However, in many areas of the country it is well documented. I like the ability to look up by lat/long as well as the other options.

[Beavers]

Great tool, even better it's FREE. 

Is the "How to determine loads and size the footers" article on the Plan Help site already, or are you still workiing on it?  I couldn't find it.

[John Raabe]

That's the next one I will do. Then it will turn into a live link. Trying to find the easiest way to give estimated beam sizes for spans and loads that have been followed down through a load trace. Hope to do this next week.

It's now next week.... and serious issues have come up with my 91 year old father. This article will have to wait a bit.

[MountainDon]

Prayers and best wishes for your Dad and everyone else in your family, John.

[glenn kangiser]

Wishing the best possible, John.