Concrete: Concrete Footers And Block Questions

bnentrup

Getting ready to start a residential project in central Indiana. CMU is still very poplar around here for foundations, and economical for me to price out the home with. The build will begin in a month and I have decided on block foundation with proper waterproofing.

The questions:
-The footer: Their will be 1-day light side to the foundation/basement that I will build with wood. The footer on this side will obviously be exposed to frost, therefore I need to dig down (about 36" deep). The footer on this side will be used for garage door openings, and will not have much pressure on it at all. I figure that I will simply dig a 36" trench deep per footer specs, and fill the entire cavity with concrete (about 16" wide per code). Ever do this before? I just think it be silly for me to dig the trench, fill the bottom of the trench as a footer, and then have my mason lay a block wall when I will have a concrete truck ready. Should be about the same cost to do it this way instead of block/mortar/mason labor.

-the block wall: the mason suggested using 'dura-wire' reinforcing and says that he does not believe it is necessary to grout the block. I will install vertical rebar along with the durawire every 4' or so (or per local code). I expect that I will go ahead and grout 1/2 of the blocks (hitting the ones with rebar as well). Any thoughts here? Not grouting everything saves me $500... is it worth the savings? The basement will be about 1/2 under ground/grade on the 3 other sides.

concretemasonry

You only grout where there is vertical rebar. Grouting the other cores is not necessary and in some cases can be detrimental. "Dur-O-Wal" is always a good idea.

Drain tile is always a good idea with any type of basement.. If you do it when you are building, it is cheaper than anything you would do later. The most common leakage point is at the juction of the floor slab and the wall (any type of wall) and drain tile (inside or outside the footing or both) will remove any excess water that tries to accumulate around the foundation.

__________________
Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

neolitic

Yes, step down and pour it up.
Then just turn the slab down
to meet it.
I like to set the footings 1 course
below the slab, then run tile
on the footer inside and out.
Weep hole block on the first course
are a good idea too.


Where are you?

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)