Question for experienced builders???

Started by Crappie Slayer, June 09, 2011, 11:09:35 AM

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Crappie Slayer

I am having a hard time deciding what time of material to use for my posts in my 16 x 20 small cabin.  Using the most common type of building on here most people anchor either concrete or wood into the ground.  My choices that I have come up with are.

1.  6x6 PT square posts concreted into the ground
2.  6 inch steel pipe     "                   "
3.  8 inch PT round posts         "               "
4.  10 or 12 inch sonotubes


all I think would work, the structure is going to be a 16 x 20 with a barn style roof with a room upstairs, nothing really big, but I want what ever is holding it up to support the weight without it having bounce and be there for a long time, as always thanks for the replies in advance.

I am breaking ground next week, I will have pictures of the property on here after saturday, going down to clean it up, already got some before pics, but I want to get some after pics.

Thanks, Crappie Slayer

John Raabe

Is your site relatively flat? What is the soil like - well drained with gravel and sand or clay? What about frost depth? Is the site such that water can drain away from the building?

These will all make a difference in your best choice. In most cases you will get the longest lifetime from concrete piers but foundation grade PT posts on gravel footings can work for many decades when they can be kept well drained.

See my article here: http://countryplans.com/foundation/index.html
None of us are as smart as all of us.


Redoverfarm

If you put it up for a vote mine would be cast for mason foundation.  Concrete footer and either Sono-tubes or block.  As for the bounce the footing has relatively little to do with that.  That is handled by the subloor and joist placement.  Two thin of material in the subfloor, too narrow joist and/or too wide of a spacing.  As John explained there are a lot of varibles to take into consideration.  I like the saying " When in doubt go stout".

Crappie Slayer

The soil is rich black looking soil,,, dark stuff with a little bit of light looking sand about 3 feet down, frost line here in oklahoma is really shallow, and the soil looks as if it drains very well and I am sure does not hold alot of water when it rains alot.

The land I have purchased I have been told by everyone in the community that it grows a heck of a garden.  But anyways, the soil is not rocky and the digging is relatively easy.  I really appreciate all the imput.

thanks everyone

MountainDon

How much of the pier is planned to be above ground?
How much in the ground?
How many piers?
You are planning on  pouring a concrete footer under each pier? (16 x 16 x 8 inches with steel rebar in the middle of the 8" depth)
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.