erosion under foundation footings

[Jim Gallant]

What are methods to best correct a problem where soil has eroded away from
underneath foundation footings? It would seem that simply replacing the soil is
inadequate since it's not compacted or undisturbed soil. Would one pump
concrete in the void? Thanks in advance.

-Jim
Seattle

[db...@sprynet.com]

No, you dont pump concrete, but you could get someone to come in and
pump sand.. that what they do alot in my area.. I dont have it as i am
on a natural ridge(there was a canal behind my house and the ridge is on
hard clay mud and much higher than most houses in the general metro
area.. in some areas you need to have pilings under a concrete slab
before you can build.. some low lying area are still going through the
soil subsiding(sp?) where the soil just keeps decaying over a period of
time and it sinks... they pumped in 4 to 10 feet or more of river/sugar
sand and then put down the slab.. years later these same people had to
get a company to come out and use a pump truck to pump sand under their
slabs(kinda like a soup mix of water and sand).. i dont know how long it
last, but it makes the house look nicer, no void under there....
on my house, concrete slab over clay mud, real hard digging( i noticed
that when i built an unattached garage 15 yrs ago about 10 ft. from the
house.. i had to dig for a footing, about 18 inches down all around this
building( 20 x20 and i needed two shovels one to dig with and one to
clear the mud off the shovel... If by footings you mean you have those
concrete blocks holding up a wood frame house off the ground a few feet
and the footing is something like 2 feet by one foot and about 2 to 3
ft. high and the mud is coming away from where the bottom of this
footing is located then you can probably get buy with more concrete...
but check with a shoring company(a company that does house lifting,
foundation repairs.. leveling of houses and see what they tell you as
you might not have a problem, these footings go pretty deep in the gound
and you only see about 1/3 of the entire thing as the rest is under the
mud......

[Thomas G. Baker]

Jim Gallant wrote:

Jim,
I think the first step is to define the problem fully. That would include at least
the kind of soil, the cause of the erosion, the extent of the erosion.

If you are dealing with a slope, the answer may include stabilizing the slope or
directing surface run off, either of which might deal with the area around the
footing.

Tell us more about the site, erosion and the size and construction of the
building.

TB

[Duane Tilden]

"Jim Gallant" <gal...@speakeasy.not> wrote in message
news:u9ic4j8...@corp.supernews.com...

Hi Jim,

Does the building have footing or perimeter drainage?

If not, I would recommend installing such a system to
prevent undercutting of the foundation from recurring.

If so, what materials are used and is it properly draining?

Duane