Adding 2nd Story To Block House

72chevy4x4

I'm looking at a job where the house is an ornamental block single story where a second story is desired. One corner of the block has settled 1-2" as evidenced by the stair-stepping cracks and visually viewing the course line. The age is probably 80 years old and there doesn't appear to be a traditional foudation-maybe it was dug down 2' or so and the block laid.

HOw would you go about adding a 2nd story to this house? Is there anyway (reasonable) way to pour a foundation under the block wall to make it sound enough to raise the walls?

Tom M

Chevy dont know all the factors of block but I have seen pier footings poured under critcal corners and point loads. Then the second story can be bridged accordingly. Ask or mention this notion to an architect.
Good luck

concretemasonry

The description of the crack and apparent amount of settlement does not sound good.

Contact an engineer to find out what is going on. You don't want to put additional load on it.

Dick

ProRenovator

A good foundation company can work this out for you. I agree with the notion of a structural engineer first before the second story. If you are contemplating wood walls ten when you remove the existing roof you need to drop in some rebar fill some cell walls with concrete and install a tie beam.This will help strengthen the whole thing.