Footer compaction

[tbirkey214]

Building a 10x15 structure in texas clay soil. Dug down to appropriate depth but did not think about compaction and I put up form boards. Is it OK to do by hand, or isnit ok to not compact at all?

 

[mike93lx]

If you are pouring on virgin soil, there is no compacting to do. If you added material, like stone, then yes, compacting should be done.

A few minutes with a hand tamper is better than nothing and a little moisture helps a lot.

 

[tbirkey214]

If you are pouring on virgin soil, there is no compacting to do. If you added material, like stone, then yes, compacting should be done.

A few minutes with a hand tamper is better than nothing and a little moisture helps a lot.

I 80 lb hand tamper I made for an old project, so I figured I'd just use that a little bit and call good

 

[njc41980]

Most footings bear on native soil.

As long as you're down below the organic topsoil layer and there are not signs of something being there earlier, you're usually in pretty good shape.

 

[dougf]

How were the footings dug? If using hydraulics remove the teeth from the bucket for a final scrape to virgin soil.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Undisturbed soil, I wouldn't fret it.

 

[firebirdparts]

Around here, in Tennessee, clay as-is will hold up a battleship. It does move a little bit with extreme changes in weather, so you're hoping the part under your building is drier. We install foundation drains and that works pretty well. You have to be careful about grading and overhangs sure help.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

It's fine. What could you possibly fit inside a 10x15 building that would damage the foundation? Not even big enough to park a car