Replace missing concrete block in stem wall

[Chrysis]

Ok, this is not on a garage, but is stopping me from getting mine built, tangentially. lol That is, until I get it fixed, the wife will not let me start on my shop. Honestly, it is a priority as so far there isn't major water damage, but keeping it wet isn't good.

Anyhow, it appear at some point the previous house owner knocked off the a course of block spanning the entire length of our back deck (30ft) just about the ground level, leaving about a half block remaining below grade. The same thing on the other side of the house under the front porch (20ft) in length. So whenever it rains water just pours into the crawlspace.

I've had a few people who fix foundations out and they say the foundation is sound, and have never seen anyone do anything like it before. It doesn't appear to have a negative structural impact outside of water under the house.

I got a quote from the company that added extra stacks and beams and shimmed the existing ones, but the fact that they said they have never seen anything like this and really didn't know for sure how they would fix it, doesn't inspire confidence.

I've called multiple masons and have yet to hear back from anyone. One said they might be able to talk to me in mid july.

So, has anyone ever seen anything like this? Have any ideas what the best way to go about repairing or replacing a single course of block in a wall?

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about some pictures first of all.

If it's one course, I think I would replace one block at a time, knock it out and replace...repeat.

 

[brownbagg]

clamp a 2x8 on each side of the block and just fill with concrete, its below grade so who cares what it looks like

 

[Chrysis]

I'll try to get some pictures of it. It's pretty dark under the decks so it is hard to get some decent pictures.

 

[Chrysis]

attached are a couple low res pictures I have. I'll try to get better ones this afternoon.

 

[Chrysis]

Hmm missed the attachment last time.

 

[TractorJeff]

UM?
They aren't attached?????
Never mind!
Long day already!

 

[Chrysis]

Lol, you'd think being as how my profession is computers I'd be able to adequately manage to attach a picture the first time......ces't la vie =)

 

[LXCam]

Lol, you'd think being as how my profession is computers I'd be able to adequately manage to attach a picture the first time......ces't la vie =)

Ya, ya'd think









Since based on what you said others said and about said block and it not being a structural component I'd do what was said above and just form it up with some 2X and infill it with concrete and call it done.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I missed the part at ground level, I assumed it was done to the top course. Forming and filling with concrete might be the fastest and easiest. The hardest part will be getting the concrete down under in the crawl space.

 

[Chrysis]

A few additional pictures I took. If I do it it looks like I will need to dig down to expose the remainder of the blocks. Chip what ever is left sub surface, and either set new block or build a form and pour in concrete.

If I do it, i'll have to just set new block in place. I'm not sure how well I could get a decent pour to fill the whole void.

 

[NUTTSGT]

A few additional pictures I took. If I do it it looks like I will need to dig down to expose the remainder of the blocks. Chip what ever is left sub surface, and either set new block or build a form and pour in concrete.

If I do it, i'll have to just set new block in place. I'm not sure how well I could get a decent pour to fill the whole void.

I would dig down beside it and set a form about 8-10 inches away. Try to get some rebar in the block vertically and tie it to horizontally more rebar. Fill the core of the block and I would start in a corner working your way around. I doubt you will do it all in one pour if you do it yourself, so I'd end the form in the middle of a block so it'll help tie it together between pours. Don't forget to put some stone down before you pour the concrete beside the block.

It hasn't moved yet and all you're doing is trying to keep it from doing so. You can do this yourself but some help would be nice. I won't lie and it's going to be easy.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Wow, I just looked at those last pics on the PC. I couldn't really see much on my phone but damn, what was the guy thinking ?



EDIT: something just dawned on me. I hope he didn't know the other side of the block out on the bottom course... if water goes into the crawlspace, he has created a path for the water to drain out ?

 

[Chrysis]

Wow, I just l;ooked at those last pics on teh PC. I couldn't really see much on my phone but damn, what was the guy thinking ?



EDIT: something just dawned on me. I hope he didn't know the other side of the block out on the bottom course... if water goes into the crawlspace, he has created a path for the water to drain out ?

Yeah, these are one one each side. Under the deck on the south side of the house, and under the front porch on the north side of the house. The other problem is the grading on the land is nearly level. Once I get this fixed, I'll be adding a sump pump system under the house, as well as re-grading the property and extending the downspouts.

 

[Fishplate]

A few additional pictures I took.

I don't see a foundation - what holds the house up?

 

[Chrysis]

I don't see a foundation - what holds the house up?

Likely the only because the 2 sections are less than 10% of the overall foundation, the 3 courses of block above distribute any weight across the entire span, and a significant amount of the weight is likely resting on the cmu stacks. Just a guess, I'm by no means a structural engineer.

 

[LXCam]

Holy ****. At first I thought you were only talking about a couple block. Is the foundation fully grouted?? Or is there still open cells that weren't grouted.

 

[cowboy73]

Yeah, that's a problem.....I'd probably go with filling the void with concrete with some forms. To replace those missing, broken blocks would just about require taking down the entire wall....and jacking up that part of the house to hold it up until the block were set.

 

[LXCam]

I'd remove one side of the shell on the top course every 4th block (need to look at pics again) and pump it full of grout. That'll force the infill to cascade down and fill the cells in a pyramid fashion and infill under the bottom course all the way across the footing. I would also dig out areas that are water saturated if thats an option. Look up CMU face she'll replacement if what I said doesn't make sense.

 

[Chrysis]

Holy ****. At first I thought you were only talking about a couple block. Is the foundation fully grouted?? Or is there still open cells that weren't grouted.

If by grouted you mean is there mortar on the blocks, yes. All the blocks are mortared. There appear to be no cracks or stair-stepping on anywhere on any of the existing block.

 

[Chrysis]

I see, grouting is filling the blocks with mortar. I'll have to check to see if they are. I have not really inspected them very close yet.

 

[mbatarga]

Sorry - not my expertise by any means - but I don't understand what is holding up the block wall that is remaining.

 

[PBCampbell]

Oh brother, that's a mess and then some. All that dirt is going to have to be cleaned out and then concrete is probably going to have to pumped in to fill the void. If and only if it's exactly one course of block a good mason might be able to replace with block, but I really don't think that's the best way to go. Expect a fair amount of your shop budget to go to this, but this something that needs to addressed soon.

 

[Chrysis]

The holes are filled and we have a solid foundation again. It cost 5 grand. They dug down to the footers, ground them clean so it was fresh concrete and no dirt, then built back up to the above grade course. I didn't get any pictures as they were doing the work, but the of the company is supposed to get copies sent.

LOL, before it was done, over a couple months we had for July 7.37'' of rain, and August 6.60''. Since the work was completed, at my place at least, there has been next to no rain. So dry my grass didn't grow this week.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

The holes are filled and we have a solid foundation again. It cost 5 grand. They dug down to the footers, ground them clean so it was fresh concrete and no dirt, then built back up to the above grade course. I didn't get any pictures as they were doing the work, but the of the company is supposed to get copies sent.

LOL, before it was done, over a couple months we had for July 7.37'' of rain, and August 6.60''. Since the work was completed, at my place at least, there has been next to no rain. So dry my grass didn't grow this week.

Good to read the job is done, man what a job that was to do...

I agree with Eric, it almost seems the guy knocked the block out to let water OUT of the crawlspace. Must have hated sump pumps I guess...

Did the workers during all this rain, say whether water was running back under the wall in to the crawlspace from the outside or was it coming from inside the crawlspace trying to get out ?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Glad to hear the issue is fixed but ***** it cost so much.

 

[Chrysis]

Looking in the crawlspace it looks like the previous owner might have intended to do a sump pump. There was a channel around the inner perimeter of the foundation but no pit. I really wanted it to rain after the foundation was repaired to see if there was still intrusion.

 

[ssdave]

Good to see someone who asks for advice come back and say he did it right. Now, the interesting thing will be whether you need to put in a sump pump to get rid of water.