New garage - very dissapointed!!!

[ctgoodman]

[/QUOTE]

what are the vertical pieces sticking up on the other side of the wall here?

 

[CharlestonJoe]

what are the vertical pieces sticking up on the other side of the wall here?

Just from looking at the pics, I's say that those vertical pieces of wood were a completely half-assed attempt to brace a woefully inadequate masonry retaining wall.

It looks like the contractor knew that backfilling the wall was going to be trouble.[/QUOTE]


I agree, he probably had kickers (boards at an angle) running back to the ground keeping pressure against them as well, praying it didn't blow out while he was working on it.

 

[motofool33]

damn, that *****.

subscribed for updates

 

[JakeKohl]

Question for OP:

Based on this picture, it appears that the top course of CMU was used as the formwork for the concrete that was placed for the slab-on-grade.

Is that right? When you stand on the SOG inside the garage, can you see 1 course of CMU? If yes, can you see inside the empty un-grouted cells?

Also, did it rain over-night between day-4 and day-5?

I bet that he at least has a sill plate that covers the cells in the block. The OP hasn't been back on here in a while...which is probably to his benefit (a lawyer would probably advise to not get too public about it as there's no benefit to the OP and only liability with saying too much or complicating matters).

 

[AZ Pete]

Subscribed


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[Tempest 455]

Contractor is coming here in an hour. Also spoke with county office and inspector this AM. Will update after meeting today w/ contractor.

 

[C96]

This foundation and block work sure looks primitive. Unless I’m missing something, the pictures don’t seem to show any materials being used for the job, or equipment for that matter even while the men are working on it, just block. Only thing I see is a wheelbarrow off to the side with some dirt in it, a bucket or two, couple shovels, and what looks to be a torn up bag of mortar mix? No rebar, no sand, no cement, no aggregate, no block saw, no ******** for grouting, not even a cement mixer to mix the frickin mortar properly. What? Are they actually mixing by hand on that slump of concrete that the truck dumped when cleaning out? You’ve got to be kidding me; I haven’t seen people work this primitively since I visited Mexico over 25 years ago. The workers look like day laborers that were told to build a wall with nothing more than a stick and a stone.

This Builder / General Contractor is going to go down in flames for this mess.

Tempest 455, I feel for you man, sorry you have to go through such an ordeal.

I wish you all the luck!

 

[jrsulo]

Im waiting to see how this pans out.....hope it all gets worked out !

 

[C96]

whaaat.you aren't ready to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they used a self-consolidating grout mix? ..

Lol….. Hell, I’m not even giving them the benefit of doubt that their legal citizens in the US!

 

[stage20]

day 5 pic shows it all. if the wall was built accordingly, there shouldnt have to be any braces or kickers. wet concrete weighs more than you know, but if the wall was properly engeineered and erected, we wouldnt be guessing whats going on.

 

[supperfly17]

Well...what happened today

 

[stage20]

he said the guy was comming an hour from 10:57. id bet his blood pressure is too high for the computer right now.

 

[spotco2]

It's really a nice looking garage and a very nice looking location.

I just hate to see these problems with it.

 

[CharlestonJoe]

What happened?

 

[Tempest 455]

I bet that he at least has a sill plate that covers the cells in the block. The OP hasn't been back on here in a while...which is probably to his benefit (a lawyer would probably advise to not get too public about it as there's no benefit to the OP and only liability with saying too much or complicating matters).

This. They have been out and we met. A structural engineer will be out this week. The owner said he will do whatever it takes to make it right. I will update what comes out of this afterwards. Can't comment until then. Sorry to leave you hanging.

Also, as pissed as I am, bashing does not help my cause. I appreciate all the positive comments/recommendations.

 

[hoffman912]

Good job taking high road and being an adult about it (many wouldn't have kept cool). Sounds like you will get results

 

[Yamaguy]

Glad to hear a positive answer from the company owner. Hope things go smoothly for you.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Good luck!! Wish all the best on what I am sure will be an uphill battle!

 

[Eriehunter]

Updates ??

 

[volvo]

...
Any updated information you can share ? Hope things are going well for you.

 

[joes169]

I know there are different construction methods employed through-out the country, but I can never understand why contractors go through the process of installing a foundation and then skip a floor ledge in the top course.

A floor ledge, a few rodded pilasters in each wall with hairpins, and this could have completely avoided...........

 

[Xicaque]

OP,

best of luck and get them where it hurts if you have to go that route. Completely understand going under black ops mode.

Best of luck and let us know the final outcome. Looks like you have some beautiful property there...

 

[KCarGuy]

I wish you the Best of Luck in this matter.
A Friend and Co-worker had a Case that was close to yours.
His Foundation was a Formed and Poured Foundation that failed in the corner.
His yard dipped 4 feet at the back of his Garage.
The Contractor added Metal Plates, large steel cables with threaded bolts, cut and buried under the floor and tightened everything up.
And repaired all the cracks.
It has been years now and it has held up well.
Keep your Head up...There is Hope.

 

[Tempest 455]

Update:

Sorry I can't elaborate much. Engineering discussions and recommendations have been made. The pictures saved my ***!

Will update when we decide what is going to be done.

 

[stage20]

Update:

Sorry I can't elaborate much. Engineering discussions and recommendations have been made. The pictures saved my ***!

Will update when we decide what is going to be done.

very good to hear!

 

[JakeKohl]

Update:

Sorry I can't elaborate much. Engineering discussions and recommendations have been made. The pictures saved my ***!

Will update when we decide what is going to be done.

awesome.

 

[volleyball]

In all that was said, I didn't see notice of the footing being above frost and not in forms. If you pour in a pit that is in frost zone, heaving is much more likely, especially on a hill and a light structure. If the footing isn't correct, the building never will be.
I wouldn't think the soil was in issue. It appears undisturbed except for the fill added to level the pad which is in good shape so would appear well done. Not every area needs soil strength tests, especially for a garage.
I don't get the lack of bond beam or even cap blocks, but if you are going to do everything else wrong, why stop there?

 

[metalhead212121]

update??

 

[Trey T]

It's obvious to me that those walls are not built to retain the weight of the interior material because the foundation is on a slope.

 

[mercman1951]

I have thought to add a 3 car garage in a similar manner to the side of one of our hills. After reading all this, I have second thoughts. Hope it works out for the OP.

 

[volleyball]

Building on a hill is not a problem, it is done every day. Just takes someone who knows what they are doing.
If you have a steep enough slope, using pretensioned concrete floors allow you a workshop/storage space underneath

 

[12ozd]

If you have a steep enough slope, using pretensioned concrete floors allow you a workshop/storage space underneath

I will never understand why people will "fill" perfectly good space.

 

[Lewisthepilgrim]

I will never understand why people will "fill" perfectly good space.

thats the first thing I thought when I looked at that.

 

[Trey T]

No one said it was a problem. If those walls were constructed right to hold the interior material/weight on that slope, he wouldn't have problem. The other big problem was the act of filling the interior of that wall. I don't even know who does that bc it takes a lot of engineering to be involved.

I agree but the OP's floor is not the primary concern, it's the foundation that's beneath the concrete slab.

Building on a hill is not a problem, it is done every day. Just takes someone who knows what they are doing.
If you have a steep enough slope, using pretensioned concrete floors allow you a workshop/storage space underneath

 

[Tempest 455]

Update:

I'm afraid it going to become a legal issue. I'm going to pick words carefully here for obvious reasons. The 1st plan did not work for me. Then it's been silence and excuses for weeks now. I ran into the 3rd party engineer (who sides we me) at a NAPA and he said a little more preparation would have avoided all of this. He said it was going to be very expensive and they had a big job ahead.

I'm in CYA mode, sent a voice mail, now E-mail of a dead line that needs to be met on my end for a plan and time line. Dead line is Monday.

 

[PT Doc]

I am surprised at the design of this. Here in Colorado the wall would be poured in form with rebar. I don't think that much backfill is reasonable. This should be easy to sort out. Pay a structural engineer to review plans, photos and site and get a conclusion.

I'm sorry this happened but from the photos of the project, I'm not surprised.m they could have had an structural concrete floor that would have eliminated the backfill needs. There would have been a crawlspace under this floor. This is done in basements all the time here with some nearing 2500 square feet.

 

[JakeKohl]

Update:

I'm afraid it going to become a legal issue. I'm going to pick words carefully here for obvious reasons. The 1st plan did not work for me. Then it's been silence and excuses for weeks now. I ran into the 3rd party engineer (who sides we me) at a NAPA and he said a little more preparation would have avoided all of this. He said it was going to be very expensive and they had a big job ahead.

I'm in CYA mode, sent a voice mail, now E-mail of a dead line that needs to be met on my end for a plan and time line. Dead line is Monday.

Awwww, hell. That *****. Hopefully when the first legal papers are sent over, they'll realize the pickle they are in and do the right thing.

 

[joes169]

I will never understand why people will "fill" perfectly good space.

Perhaps spending 4-5 times as much on the foundation just to get a 4' un-useable crawlspace doesn't float everyone's boat??

To the OP, I wish you the best of luck. I've seen how some of these issues have gone in the past, usually as one of the contractors that comes in to "clean things up at the end". I can tell you that it is not uncommon for this to take 2-3 years to resolve once the lawyer & insurance companies get involved. I hope you can keep your sanity through the entire process.

 

[Black Frog]

Wow, just noticed this thread and read through the entire saga.
Gives me nightmares, as I'm thinking of building a new shop in the future....

 

[Tempest 455]

I got a response from my ultimatum. I said I needed a written plan and timeline by next week or legal would handle moving forward. They are coming out w/ engineering firm on Tues. Will report back outcome of meeting.