Ed, I don't think a frost heave is relevant here, utilities are only a
foot or two deep. The bell-bottom piers (they put in every 6' are 12'
deep) were the only solution at the time. Our soil itself is such that
it expands and contracts with the amount of rain. What happens is that
the foundations will dry out on the edges while staying wet in the
middle of the house. So the house flex's a bit during a typical yearly
cycle. Some areas of the city have greater difficulties--I seem to.
Some houses actually have the slab develop major cracks which in turn
causes the house itself to fail. This happens to all kinds of buildings.
Earlier homes used a pier and beam type construction. When shifting
occurred, you would crawl under the house with a couple of jacks (the
same kind used in RRing) and raise the house and place shims in place.
With a slab type foundation you either drill around the home and
sometimes inside the home near the internal beams or more recently
tunnel under the home--either way you have a dozen Spanish speaking guys
raising your house.
So foundation companies, sheetrock guys and painters always have steady
work here.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
On 6/13/12 11:49 AM, Ed Kozlowsky wrote:
Bob,
What do you have for a frost line where you live? It's 4' in Maine,
but once the footings are in the shifting is over. I'm not sure I
wouldn't give up after a while.
*Ed Kozlowsky*
*Sanford, Maine*
*www.SScale.org <http://www.SScale.org>*
