28x30 build

[Maine]

Started my 28x30 garage build yesterday by excavating for the footers.

I have the footer in place and measured diagonally from corner to corner, and I am out 1". Is this a big issue or will it simply correct itself upon the placement of the frost walls? The footer is 16" wide and the frost walls will be 8".

Code here calls for a footer depth of 4', however my lot slops to the right and I am down to 3' of depth on the outside wall, in order to utilize standard forms I kept the trench at the same depth throughout, with 3/4 of the foundation at the 4' depth. I hope this isn't an issue.

 

[Maine]

Also, what is the typical reach for a standard concrete truck? I built a road out of excavated material next to the site that I hope will allow the truck to get in.

 

[Herb]

I would use a stepped footing with another course of 2x's to bring the top up to the same level as the rest of the forms. You'll just have some extra concrete in that area.

 

[Falcon67]

Your 3' footer depth with code calling for 4' will be an issue if inspections are required. Mine turned out to be off more than 1" and it was a real pain to build on, so I'd think about working out that 1" as much as possible.

 

[Maine]

I just spoke with a co-worker who said I should use rigid foam around the shallow footing area to protect from frost, sounds like a valid idea?

 

[Maine]

Well I give up, the footer is out of whack and I just can't seem to get enough time to fix it on my own, very frustrated think I may rip it all out and hire it out.

Problem is I cant get any foundation guys to even call me back around here, which led me to trying this myself.

 

[Maine]

Well I relaxed a bit. I couldn't find a reliable concrete guy so I ended up doing it all myself.

I took out the footer forms and started over, here are some photos:

With rebar pegged to the house foundation on each end:

Here are the forms that I build from 3/4" advantech:

And here it is all stripped and ready for backfill:

I was able to save 75% of the wood I used in the forms and cleaned it all for reuse in the structure.

 

[REPO]

Looks like you did a great job!

 

[Maine]

Thanks! Pretty happy with how it came out, a TON of back breaking work.

Just so others can get an idea of cost for this:
Rental of a mini excavator for a weekend: $210 (got a deal through the company I work for)
18 Yards of 3000 psi concrete at $88 a yard = $1584
1/2" Rebar for the footer and frost walls: $300
Form materials: $1600
42 yards of Sand/fill: $900 (some of this fill was because I had a huge drop off to the right of the garage that I wanted to taper off due to erosion concerns).

Ability to reuse 50% of the lumber used in the forms: $800 credit

Total cost: $4700 +/- if my math is correct.

I am debating on doing the slab myself, will backfill next week and then its go time for the slab.

 

[danho]

Good work and I got $3794.00 with my math.

 

[Maine]

I am going to order the wire mesh and vapor barrier for the slab today or tomorrow.

Do I need to use a product listed as a vapor barrier or can I just use a standard 10 mil plastic?

The product listed as a vapor barrier is here $350 a roll while the standard plastic is $200 a roll.