We are in the process of renovating an old Kentucky tobacco barn. I am not sure what to do around the existing pole footers. My plan is to pour a concrete floor. I need to excavate about a foot down, then put in six inches of rock and six inches of concrete. The pole feet extend down about as far as I need to excavate. I'm worried about destabilizing the pole footers. There isn't really anything other than dirt holding the footers upright. Worst case scenario is when I remove dirt from around the footers they buckle and the whole barn comes down on my head.
My current plan is to address one pole footer at a time, just in case things go sideways. I am thinking I will dig out a shovel-width around the pole down about a foot, then tamp in six inches or so of gravel by hand and pour in six inches or so of sack-crete, to the level of the eventual finished floor. Inside of a mold made out of 2x6, probably about 2' x 2' in a diamond shape. Maybe I will screw in a scab to the pole that extends down over the foot but not into the new, expanded base. When these extra pole feet are set up I can remove the molds and then excavate the rest of the floor with less worry. Thoughts?
My current plan is to address one pole footer at a time, just in case things go sideways. I am thinking I will dig out a shovel-width around the pole down about a foot, then tamp in six inches or so of gravel by hand and pour in six inches or so of sack-crete, to the level of the eventual finished floor. Inside of a mold made out of 2x6, probably about 2' x 2' in a diamond shape. Maybe I will screw in a scab to the pole that extends down over the foot but not into the new, expanded base. When these extra pole feet are set up I can remove the molds and then excavate the rest of the floor with less worry. Thoughts?