Compaction Around Foundation

backhoe1

Is it normal for a mason to insist that you don't compact the fill around a concrete block basement? I understand that you'd want the floor on first, but this guy won't let us compact even after the whole house is done.

loneframer

I would definitely NOT compact around the foundation, ever. Your asking for a failure of some sort. Ive seen problems with block walls without compaction. Mostly with 8" block. Most guys around here only do 12" block now.

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dakzaag

Cant think of why you would want to compact next to basement walls, unlikely place for driveway.

Maybe sidewalk and steps, those areas would be best if basement block were grouted with bar in them, but most likely the case anyway.

I would still try to build steps off the basement footer if at all possible, easiest time to do it would be when the mason is there laying up the basement.

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Framer53

Yes it is normal! Don't ever do it unless you want to pay to redo it!

backhoe1

the problem we're having is it keeps settling and ends up low next to house, creating potential water problems. These customers can't even do their landscaping yet and they've been living there for almost a year. what do you do, just wait a couple years until it's done? we compact backfill around poured basements all the time and never have a problem with settling.

3-D Mason

seems odd that after a year its still moving, around here the dirt/gravel settles in around 60 days. at this point I'm wondering where its going lol

JDavis21835

What are you using for compaction? Also, what kind of soil are you dealing with? Around here we dont really deal with block anymore. But I would think if you using a sled compactor or even a jumping jack, you should be fine. Stay 4 inches or so away from the wall you should be ok. Given the proper soil, you could just pour the water to it. Around here we usually use sand for backfill, so we tend to fill it up to within 6 inches of finished grade. Flood the area with water. Come back the next day. It will be as compacted as you can get it. Dress the area out with topsoil or more sand, and your done. I think you need to come up with a solution with the mason though. There is no reason you should have to come back more than six months after your done. You start doing that and a customer has reason enough to hold on to some cash. We know cash flow in excavation is tough as it is.

backhoe1

JDavis-

I worked with the same mason on 2 jobs ina row last summer(most everything is poured around here too) on the first job I told him that I would wait until the floor was on before I backfilled and compacted with a jumping jack. (the dirt was just our regular native clay.)He immediately said oh you can't compact around block ever. so I told the homeowner that I would push the dirt in, leave it high and that I WOULDN"T be back when it settled. He understood but has had to haul about 40 loads of dirt in the back of his Ford Ranger and still needs alot more. I drove past the other one and sure enough it needs a bunch of dirt. this really isn't my problem, it's just aggravating having neighbors see it settling after I backfilled it.

JDavis21835

You could try flood compacting it with water as long as there is footing drain and a sump pump. It will be soft for a few days, but there will be no chance of it settling. I know what you mean about neighbors. They see this guy busting his tail off to fix a problem that they perceive to be something you created. That can be just as bad as stiffing a customer. Its hard enough to find good customers that pay their bills.

CJKarl

That's crazy logic. If you compact the soil it becomes more stable and exerts less pressure on the wall. The REAL problems come when water starts pooling and hydrostatic pressures start bulging the walls. Just finished a seminar on soil types today.
That doesn't mean fill the hole, then slam it down with the bucket of a 90000lb machine. That means getting someone in the trench with a shovel and a compactor and compacting in 12" lifts...I would say 8" but that never happens.

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