Curious what most of you would go with when presented with a foundation that consists of 15 pilings that are 4 feet tall and 1 foot wide. I have heard many different completely opposing opinions, so I would love to extend the information pool to the experience on this site. Fast set/quickrete/strengthened/pro finish??!?!? Cheers.
I've found most people looking for information are really looking for confirmation of something they have already decided to do. What you are describing is an engineered foundation. The quality of materials used in the pier are of no consequence if, for instance, the pier and building tip over. Unqualified opinions are fine light reading but are a poor way to build. When you step outside of prescriptive methods into engineered methods, do it the way the engineer specifies. In my experience it has usually been more cost effective to spend the money to do things prescriptively than to hire an engineer to figure out an alternative.
If I build a solar array and change the way the maunufacturer wants their mount installed I have to hire an engineer.
I can no longer use the pre-engineered drawings and have to hire a draftsmen also sometimes.
I am fortuanate that most of my installations are not on a roof, or where someone could get hurt if it comes tumbling down.
Really hate it when that happens ???
Very good point. Basically the prescriptive code, the IRC, is the pre-engineered way to build. When you step outside of that, then just like your alternative mount, it goes to engineering.
I notice the op hasn't been logged in since a few minutes after their post.