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Re: Sinking cottage

To: kennedybc@mediaone.net
Subject: Re: Sinking cottage
From: Donald H Locker <dhl@chelseamsl.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 07:22:58 -0400 (EDT)
Hi, Brian.

Sounds like the soil is not strong enough to support the load.  The
proper solution would be to trench down far enough to reach a strong
enough substrate, pour footings to support the structure, and rebuild
atop those.

Otherwise, treated lumber sill plates will certainly help.  Possibly
trenching around, setting drain pipe and backfilling with a very
permeable fill (pea gravel, crushed stone, clean sand) should help to
keep moisture away from the wood.

HTH,
Donald.
P.S.  did you work in Chelsea, MI for a while, within the last few
years?

> Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 22:31:17 +0100
> From: Brian Kennedy <kennedybc@mediaone.net>
> 
> 
> My neighbor has a cottage on a slab that's been 'sinking' for the last 60
> years or so. The slab is broken and they've used scraps of wood to provide a
> 'level' floor which is now above the sill plates. The slab is now about 6"
> below grade and every thing is pretty well rotted. He can't afford to tear
> is all out and redo it properly. His latest thought is to dig out around the
> outside and just fill it in with cement to stabilize the mess. He's also
> thought about raising the wall a bit and replacing the sill plates with
> treated lumber. 
> 
> Any thoughts on this one?
> 
> Thanks
> Brian

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