Pier and Post in Cold Climate ...Hydro-Bore??

Started by BaldEagleVT, September 05, 2016, 09:34:19 PM

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BaldEagleVT

So in Central VT we need 36" or more pier depth to get below frost line. We have pier frost jacking reports..  So I'm contemplating deep piers in a rocky hillside.. Then I wondered..  Can one Excavate with water instead of a shovel?  If theres room for the post and rebar, do I care if there's some builders mixed in?  Does 'side boulder' elevate frost jacking probability?
Thanks for your thoughts!

Don_P

If I'm reading right, will a rough edged pier frost heave? Oh yeah. Will there be any soil structure left to stabilize the posts laterally, I doubt it. Is there a reason not to call in a backhoe and put in a continuous footing and perimeter wall foundation as per minimum?


BaldEagleVT

Oh, I forgot to mention the pouring in of cement..  But still rough edged, which is the opposite of smooth and covered with plastic..

It's on a rocky hillside above a fire pond.  Not sure how much site work required to clear for continuous footing.  I guess if I can get a small backhoe up there, I could have that dig the pier footings..?


Don_P

If you have a backhoe there I'd put in a proper foundation and be done with it. Piers are an engineer required foundation for good reason, they are typically done poorly and are one of the hardest things to fix once a house is on top of them.