Shortening cement piers in order to level house

	Shortening cement piers in order to level house

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Author

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Shortening cement piers in order to level house

Will W

10-18-2007

Re: Shortening cement piers in order to level hous...

PeterD

10-18-2007

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Posted by Will W on October 18, 2007, 7:37 am

I'm in northern Maine and am in the process of leveling my house
(hopefully before the winter). It is supported on cement piers. Almost
all are level, except for one corner of the house, which has risen 7".
The piers around that one have also risen, although, not nearly as
much. This is causing the rear of the house to lift and pivot at the
roof, and unfortunately seperate at the sill.

I'm going to jack that corner of the house, shorten the pier in place,
and then lower it back down.

As far as shortening the piers, I was going to try to create a
fracture point by using my hammer drill with a 3/8 bit, and drilling
around the circumference at the 7" mark. Maybe every 10 degrees or so.
The holes would all intersect in the center.
Then to make sure, I was going to score it with a diamond wheel. Then
hopefully a gentle love tap with a hammer will seperate it.

Does this seem like a reasonable idea???

I'm taking preventative measures to make sure the piers no longer move
after this.

Posted by PeterD on October 18, 2007, 8:45 am

wrote:

>I'm in northern Maine and am in the process of leveling my house

>(hopefully before the winter). It is supported on cement piers. Almost

>all are level, except for one corner of the house, which has risen 7".

>The piers around that one have also risen, although, not nearly as

>much. This is causing the rear of the house to lift and pivot at the

>roof, and unfortunately seperate at the sill.

>I'm going to jack that corner of the house, shorten the pier in place,

>and then lower it back down.

>As far as shortening the piers, I was going to try to create a

>fracture point by using my hammer drill with a 3/8 bit, and drilling

>around the circumference at the 7" mark. Maybe every 10 degrees or so.

>The holes would all intersect in the center.

>Then to make sure, I was going to score it with a diamond wheel. Then

>hopefully a gentle love tap with a hammer will seperate it.

>Does this seem like a reasonable idea???

>I'm taking preventative measures to make sure the piers no longer move

>after this.

Have you addressed why these piers have lifted?

What is the diameter or shape of the pier?

I think I'd give serious consideration to having someone come in with
a saw to cut them off. Probably be safer and easier in the long run...

Posted by Will W on October 18, 2007, 11:24 am

> wrote:

> >I'm in northern Maine and am in the process of leveling my house

> >(hopefully before the winter). It is supported on cement piers. Almost

> >all are level, except for one corner of the house, which has risen 7".

> >The piers around that one have also risen, although, not nearly as

> >much. This is causing the rear of the house to lift and pivot at the

> >roof, and unfortunately seperate at the sill.

> >I'm going to jack that corner of the house, shorten the pier in place,

> >and then lower it back down.

> >As far as shortening the piers, I was going to try to create a

> >fracture point by using my hammer drill with a 3/8 bit, and drilling

> >around the circumference at the 7" mark. Maybe every 10 degrees or so.

> >The holes would all intersect in the center.

> >Then to make sure, I was going to score it with a diamond wheel. Then

> >hopefully a gentle love tap with a hammer will seperate it.

> >Does this seem like a reasonable idea???

> >I'm taking preventative measures to make sure the piers no longer move

> >after this.

> Have you addressed why these piers have lifted?

> What is the diameter or shape of the pier?

> I think I'd give serious consideration to having someone come in with

> a saw to cut them off. Probably be safer and easier in the long run...- Hide

quoted text -

> - Show quoted text -

There are 28 piers. They are all 1' in diameter, and they are spaced
approx 10' apart. They are all cylindrical in shape.
The problematic ones have been in a near constant pool/puddle of water
in the weeks leading into the winter season. This has been happening
for about twenty years. Over time the frost keeps pushing the column
up a little each year.

I am taking affirmative action to prevent this in the future.

Posted by Will W on October 18, 2007, 2:49 pm

> > wrote:

> > >I'm in northern Maine and am in the process of leveling my house

> > >(hopefully before the winter). It is supported on cement piers. Almost

> > >all are level, except for one corner of the house, which has risen 7".

> > >The piers around that one have also risen, although, not nearly as

> > >much. This is causing the rear of the house to lift and pivot at the

> > >roof, and unfortunately seperate at the sill.

> > >I'm going to jack that corner of the house, shorten the pier in place,

> > >and then lower it back down.

> > >As far as shortening the piers, I was going to try to create a

> > >fracture point by using my hammer drill with a 3/8 bit, and drilling

> > >around the circumference at the 7" mark. Maybe every 10 degrees or so.

> > >The holes would all intersect in the center.

> > >Then to make sure, I was going to score it with a diamond wheel. Then

> > >hopefully a gentle love tap with a hammer will seperate it.

> > >Does this seem like a reasonable idea???

> > >I'm taking preventative measures to make sure the piers no longer move

> > >after this.

> > Have you addressed why these piers have lifted?

> > What is the diameter or shape of the pier?

> > I think I'd give serious consideration to having someone come in with

> > a saw to cut them off. Probably be safer and easier in the long run...- Hide

quoted text -

> > - Show quoted text -

> There are 28 piers. They are all 1' in diameter, and they are spaced

> approx 10' apart. They are all cylindrical in shape.

> The problematic ones have been in a near constant pool/puddle of water

> in the weeks leading into the winter season. This has been happening

> for about twenty years. Over time the frost keeps pushing the column

> up a little each year.

> I am taking affirmative action to prevent this in the future.- Hide quoted

text -

> - Show quoted text -

The more I think about it, I might try digging down beneath them, and
hopefully lower them a little.

Posted by dpb on October 18, 2007, 2:56 pm

Will W wrote:
...[snip story of impressive case of frost heave]...

> The more I think about it, I might try digging down beneath them, and

> hopefully lower them a little.

If you're going to the trouble of doing anything, my recommendation
would be twofold --

1. Fix the drainage problem so the water doesn't pool at that corner
2. Fix the piers by resetting them at the proper depth for your area to
combat frost heave.

When doing the later, there are newer techniques that tend to minimize
the problem by forms which are slick so there's not a rough surface for
the ground to "grab".

Being in an area which is neither so cold for such long periods nor wet,
isn't nearly the issue here as in ME so don't have much (as in any)
direct experience, but do recall a couple of articles in FHH over the
last year or so. A search they could provide you some useful reading.

In all, I see very little to recommend the piecemeal solution you
propose -- if a stop gap is the intent I'd probably simply take the one
high one out and put in a temporary. For one year, can't be any worse
than what you got (that is, even the surface isn't going to heave 7" in
a year).

--

--

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