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Posted by marson on October 4, 2007, 8:40 pm
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> > > I feel you would only be wasting your money. If this is a mob, and was
> > > installed in a last few years, you go back on the installer for failing to
> > > locate the footings below the frost line (a code requirement). Most allow
> > > you to sue for not complying with a major code item; some have limitations
> > > such as ten years, others shorter and others never expire. You should talk
> > > with your local building department.
>
> > > If your home has a conic foundation you 'could' consider adding a little
> > > heat to raise the under-floor temp on the dirt; during the worst winter
> > > weather (this is only feasible if you have an enclosed foundation, not a
> > > curtain wall or skirting as the heat loss is going to be quite high).
>
> > > As I see it, your only real option is to replace the piers, on-at-a-time
> > > with footings below the frost depth (leave the existing piers in place and
> > > install new piers along side; removing the original piers afterwards.) You
> > > WILL need a Professional Engineer to do this as there are many factors
> > > concerning the soil type, vertical and lateral load paths and existing
> > > structure to be concerned with). This would be a labor-intensive and a very
> > > costly venue; however you will never have a home that will resist frost
> > > heave with your current installation. Sooner or later it will cause serious
> > > structural problems.
>
> > > Again, your local building official could be of immense help to you, please
> > > go there first and forger any easy scheme to fix a very serious problem.
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> > > >I have a house in a region which is prone to deep frost, and is
> > > > supported on cement piers. Some of these piers move up after the
> > > > ground freezes, and then somewhat return after the ground thaws. Some
> > > > of them sink past their original positions and require shimming to
> > > > keep the house plumb. I'm currently applying basic drainage
> > > > principles
> > > > to get the water away before the ground freezes.
>
> > > > Someone suggested I bury styrofoam discs around the surfaces where my
> > > > cement piers meet the ground to help prevent the piers from rising
> > > > and
> > > > shifting due to frost. Any thoughts on this?
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> > Yes, buried foam can be used to prevent frost penetration. Here in
> > Northern Minnesota, it is done all the time, and it does meet code
> > (although an engineer has to sign off on the design). It would be no
> > small matter to retrofit foam, however, on a house on piers. For it
> > to be effective, it must be buried. Also,it'd likely have to be a
> > pretty big "disc"--I have built several houses on shallow frost
> > protected slab on grad foundations, and the typical detail we see
> > (which will vary by climate) is 3" of extruded polystyrene 4 feet out
> > from the house (granted, I practically live in the subarctic). If you
> > really want to do it according to Hoyle, you should talk to an
> > engineer who is familiar with frost protected footings. On the other
> > hand, For a sample of what you are up against, check
outhttp://www.countryplans.com/Downloads/shallowfound.pdf. Good luck--
> > you've got a tough one on your hands.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> That's good info. I too am in subarctic conditions. I've got some
> styrofoam panels on hand to try it out. I was toying with the idea of
> digging down around the piers in the shape of the disc, lining the
> hole with some scrap typar, and filling it like a mold with that
> expanding foam (great stuff). I know, sounds like a lot of unneccesary
> work doesn't it. I was thinking it might adhere/seal to the pier
> better, and I could make it the desired thickness.
Heating your crawlspace would help a great deal--in fact if you keep
it above freezing under there, then you might not even need foam--or
at least only perimeter foam. I'm skeptical of your great stuff idea.
Wouldn't it soak up water? Also, it would take a lot of it. If I was
you, I'd try a 4'x4'x2" square of extruded polystyrene two layers deep
("Dow Blue" or equivalent) centered on each post. Bury it at least a
foot, and bed it on a good layer of clean sand. That's just a seat of
the pants guess.
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