strategery
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- Dec 22, 2011
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I've got some foundation/basement issues that while not immediately threatening my house, will only get worse with time and eventually will need replaced or addressed.
My basement floor is in terrible shape. Replacing it with the proper thickness of a new floor will make it impossible to walk in this basement (going from 2 to 4" thickness). One wall has sunk about an inch and 3 of the walls are bowing in anywhere from 1-1&3/4". Also, the mortar is soft and crumbling everywhere. I've addressed the moisture issues which caused the damage, but the damage is done. Rather than chase each issue one by one throwing good money at a bad foundation, I just started looking at doing a complete foundation replacement including the floor.
The first guy I got a bid from uses insulated concrete forms only. He's got a great reputation and been in business a long time. He's also expensive. I don't know if I'm allowed to say a price on this site but he quoted me just a little north of 50k. It is a lot but it would double the square footage of my livable space by jacking up the house and digging a little deeper when pouring the new foundation. It would involve a house mover to pick up the house while the work is being done and that is expensive. It might also require that the sewer line be redone so the basement's plumbing can flow (or I think I'd have to install a pump). The foam on the inside of the concrete allegedly creates a nice comfortable dry quiet basement and it has places for furring strips to directly hang drywall (no framing needing). This route is more expensive up front but the savings on finishing costs and energy could make up for it. The bid also includes a sump pump drain tiles damp proofing etc.
My other bid is for traditional cmu foundation. It will cost half as much for the same job, but it won't have the insulating foam on the inside and may require stud framing to finish it. It's also cmu blocks which I am not sure are as strong as concrete (but definitely better than what I have now). Bid also includes sump pump drain tiles foam board on the outside and damp proofing.
I forgot to mention that both of these include replacing my wood center beam and posts with a new seamless steel beam with steel jacks. Another nagging issue that will need attention before long.
Anyone ever consider these approaches before? What do you think? Thanks for reading.
My basement floor is in terrible shape. Replacing it with the proper thickness of a new floor will make it impossible to walk in this basement (going from 2 to 4" thickness). One wall has sunk about an inch and 3 of the walls are bowing in anywhere from 1-1&3/4". Also, the mortar is soft and crumbling everywhere. I've addressed the moisture issues which caused the damage, but the damage is done. Rather than chase each issue one by one throwing good money at a bad foundation, I just started looking at doing a complete foundation replacement including the floor.
The first guy I got a bid from uses insulated concrete forms only. He's got a great reputation and been in business a long time. He's also expensive. I don't know if I'm allowed to say a price on this site but he quoted me just a little north of 50k. It is a lot but it would double the square footage of my livable space by jacking up the house and digging a little deeper when pouring the new foundation. It would involve a house mover to pick up the house while the work is being done and that is expensive. It might also require that the sewer line be redone so the basement's plumbing can flow (or I think I'd have to install a pump). The foam on the inside of the concrete allegedly creates a nice comfortable dry quiet basement and it has places for furring strips to directly hang drywall (no framing needing). This route is more expensive up front but the savings on finishing costs and energy could make up for it. The bid also includes a sump pump drain tiles damp proofing etc.
My other bid is for traditional cmu foundation. It will cost half as much for the same job, but it won't have the insulating foam on the inside and may require stud framing to finish it. It's also cmu blocks which I am not sure are as strong as concrete (but definitely better than what I have now). Bid also includes sump pump drain tiles foam board on the outside and damp proofing.
I forgot to mention that both of these include replacing my wood center beam and posts with a new seamless steel beam with steel jacks. Another nagging issue that will need attention before long.
Anyone ever consider these approaches before? What do you think? Thanks for reading.