HomeMy WebLinkAboutB14-0075 Foundation Inspection letterMay 20, 2014
Blueprint Construction
Attn: Mike Rookey
193 Soda Creek Court
Dillon, Colorado 81435
�1
Job No. 114 068A
Subject: Observation of Excavation, Proposed Addition to Kent Johnson Residence,
Lot 5, Bighorn Estates, 4238 Nugget Lane, Vail, Colorado
Gentlemen:
As requested, a representative of Hepworth - Pawlak Geotechnical, Inc. observed the
excavation at the subject site on May 15 and 20, 2014 to evaluate the soils exposed for
foundation support. The findings of our observations and recommendations for the
foundation design are presented in this report. The observations were performed in
addition to and in accordance with our agreement for professional engineering services to
Blueprint Construction, dated March 14, 2014.
The proposed addition will be attached to the south and west sides of the existing
residence. Spread footings placcd on the natural soils and sized for an allowable bearing
pressure of 2,000 psf were assumed by the structural engineer for the building support.
At the time of our initial visit to the site, the addition excavation was mostly complete and
had been cut in 2 levels from 5 to 15 feet below the adjacent ground surface. The
northern part of the addition area had not been excavated. The step in grade was about 3
Feet down at the north end. When observed on May 20, the remaining north part had been
completed except for a large boulder in the north wall line. The soils exposed in the
bottom of the excavation consisted of silty clayey sand with gravel. Samples of the sand
were obtained for standard properties testing with the results presented in Table 1. No
free water was encountered in the excavation and the soils were slightly moist in the north
part and moist in the mid to south part. Footings of the existing residence were exposed
Blueprint Construction
May 20, 2014
Page 2
in the excavation. We are unaware of any foundation related problems with the existing
residence.
Considering the conditions exposed in the excavation and the nature of the proposed
construction, spread footings placed on the undisturbed natural soil designed for an
allowable soil bearing pressure of 2,000 psf should be adequate for support of the
proposed addition. Dowling into the large boulder and eliminating the footing where
needed is acceptable from a geotechnical viewpoint. The bearing soils could tend to
compress when loaded and wetted and result in some post - construction settlement of the
foundation differential across the addition and with respect to the existing building.
Loose disturbed soils in footing areas should be removed down to the undisturbed natural
soils or moistened and compacted. Exterior footings should be provided with adequate
soil cover above their bearing elevations for frost protection. Continuous foundation
walls should be reinforced top and bottom to span local anomalies such as by assuming
an unsupported length of at least 12 feet. Foundation walls acting as retaining structures
should also be designed to resist a lateral earth pressure based on an equivalent fluid unit
weight of at least 55 pcf for on-site soil as backfill. A perimeter foundation drain should
be provided to prevent temporary buildup of hydrostatic pressure behind the basement
walls and prevent wetting of the lower level. Structural fill placed within floor slab areas
can consist of the on -site sand soils compacted to at least 95% of standard Proctor density
at a moisture content near optimum. A minimum 4 -inch thick free draining gravel layer
should be provided below the basement floor slab and connected -to the perimeter
subdrain. Backfill placed around the structure should be compacted and the surface
graded to prevent ponding within at least 10 feet of the building.
The recommendations submitted in this letter are based on our observation of the soils
exposed within the foundation excavation and do not include subsurface exploration to
evaluate the subsurface conditions within the loaded depth of foundation influence. This
study is based on the assumption that soils beneath the footings have equal or better
support than those exposed. The risk of foundation movement may be greater than
indicated in this report because of possible variations in the subsurface conditions. In
order to reveal the nature and extent of variations in the subsurface conditions below the
excavation, drilling would be required. It is possible the data obtained by subsurface
exploration could change the recommendations contained in this letter. Our services do
Job No. 114 068A
GiL-Rech
Blueprint Construction
May 20, 2014
Page 3
not include determining the presence, prevention or possibility of mold or other biological
contaminants (MOBC) developing in the future. If the client is concerned about MOBC,
then a professional in this special field of practice should be consulted.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our office.
Sincerely,
HEPWORTH — PAWLAK GEOTECHNICAL, INC.
Steven L. Pawlak,
Rev. by: DEH
SLP/ksw
Attachment: Table 1— Summary of Laboratory Test Results
cc: Boyle Engineering — Tim Boyle (bo l� eeng_@gwestoffice.net)
Job No. 114 068A
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B14 -0075: Entries for Item:20 - BLDG - Foundation /Steel 14:39 06/05/2014
Action
Comments
By
Date
Unique_
Key
DN
engineering required : cmu walls are hollow,
sgremmer
06/04/2014
A000179
and epoxy connection per plan can not be
798
completed
Gas pipe is running through N. wall excel to
relocate pour at own risk.
All rebar is installed Der Dlans
Total Rows: 1
Page 1
T. Boyle Engineering, Inc.
1650 Fallridge Road, Unit C -2
Vail, Colorado 81657
970/476 -2170
June 4, 2014
TOWN OF VAIL BUILDING DEPT.
75 S. Frontage Road West
Vail, Colorado 81657
Subject: Dowel Connection Revision
Johnson Residence Addition
4238 Nugget Lane
Vail, Colorado
To Whom It May Concern::
This is to confirm that I have approved a modification to the dowel connections between the new foundation walls
and the existing foundation at the above noted residence.
The contractor has discovered that the new foundation walls abut an existing hollow CMU foundation. Therefore,
the epoxy grouting that was originally specified on Sheet S I will be inappropriate for this condition.
I have instructed the contractor to use the same dowel size, length and spacing, but to grout the hollow cells solid
that will receive these dowels. These hollow cells should be filled with grout from the top of the new foundation
walls down to the existing footing.
Please give me a call if you
T. BOYLE ENG
Timothy M oyle, P.E.
President
••
on this matter.