Recent content by subarctic_moose

I will make sure to ask once I actually hear back from someone. Trying to follow up with the geotech but no response after I sent over my info a week ago. The go-to earth works contractor that was recommended to me is booked up, has a full voicemail box and does not return calls or texts...

Thanks for the advice here everybody. Took a step back and talked with my wife some more and came up with some slightly different plans. It’s going to make more sense to go with a stick frame and add in some living space above the shop, so footers/stem will be the way to go. The other good news...

Will do! Might be a bit before he can make it out here. I rush at this point I’m committed to next year and not this one. General question, regardless of what we have to excavate still to hit compaction, is there any harm (I.e cause more work later) by trying to continue leveling and scraping...

Oof. Shots fired. I can barely grow tomatoes in my planters. We have pretty wild temp swings here even in summer, 90+ during the day and high 30s/low 40s at dawn in July. Between that and the damn deer I haven’t harvested a whole lot. As the saying goes “$1000 in supplies and 100 hours in labor...

Thanks for the advice and knowledge everyone! I was actually able to track down our one geotech in town. Very friendly guy, just fired off an email at his request with some photos for a consultation. Hopefully he can do a site visit soon, I’ll share whatever info he comes back with.

Great info. And that is a heck of a root ball!

Oh definitely not wanting to wing it here (and I’m not trying to convey that impression). I’m putting too much money into this to take any sort of chance and the photos you’re looking at are reflective of the first pass at removing trees and obstructions. As stated above I’m going to be pulling...

Our code says “all footings must extend 12” is to undisturbed soil”. Would this not call for a 12” x 16” footing in this case as opposed to 8” or am I reading that wrong?

I don’t think a lot of fill has been placed to level, but hopefully the photos give some idea. Mostly just back-fill in stump holes is what I was worried about. But good point that the dirt being push to the low side might have the same issue. The stump by where my tractor is parked is the...

Correct, at least with my original plan using the frost wall. The footing would actually be 12” by 18”, plus the 18” frost line would I believe would put everything down at 30”. I am “pretty confident” that we didn’t go below this line and also didn’t disturb any significant amount of soil in...

Disclaimer: I take full responsibility for my current situation and the contractor did exactly what I was asking him to do. After a few rough winters here in the Sierras and no garage on the property my wife and I are finally pulling the trigger on a 30x40x12 metal frame shop. It's being built...