HomeMy WebLinkAboutObservation of Excavation 11.02.17H-PVKUMAR
Gaotecùnlcal Englneedng I Engineering Geology
Matedals Tasöng I Envircnmantal
5020 County Road 154
Glenwood Springs, C0 81601
Phone: (970) 94S7988
Fax (970) 94s8454
Email: hpkglenwood@kumarusa.@m
Office Locations: Denver {HQ), Parker, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Summit County, Colorado
November 2,2017
Wood Doctor Construction, Inc.
Attn: Bruce Hasselbring
300 Oak Run Road
Carbondale, Colorado 81623
bruceh@sonris.net Project No. 17-7-788
Subject: Observation of Excavation, Proposed Detached Garage, Lot 45, Panorama
Ranches,0196 Sunlight Drive, Missouri Heights, Garfield County, Colorado
Dear Mr. Hasselbring:
As requested, a representative of H-P/Ifumar observed the excavation at the subject site on
October 30,2017 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
services were performed in accordance with our agreement for professional engineering services
to you, dated October 25,2017.
The proposed detached garage will be a one story wood frame structure with a slab-on-grade
floor. It appears that the north and east sides of the garage will have 3 to 4 foot high retaining
walls. Foundations were designed for an assumed allowable soil bearing pressure of 2,000 psf.
At the time of our visit to the site, the foundation excavation had been cut in three levels from
ZYz to 4Vzfeet below the adjacent ground surface. The soils exposed in the bottom of the
excavation consisted of medium stiff to stiff, sandy silty clay. Results of swell-consolidation
testing performed on a sample taken from the site, shown on Figure l, indicate the soils are
slightly compressible under light loading with a low collapse potential when wetted under light
loading. The sample was moderately to highly compressible under increased loading after
wetting. No free water was encountered in the excavation and the soils were slightly moist to
moist.
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 1,500 psf can be used for support of the proposed garage. The exposed
soils tend to compress when wetted and there could be post-construction settlement of the
foundation if the bearing soils become wet. Footings should be a minimum width of 16 inches
for continuous walls and2fæt for columns. l,oose and disturbed soils in footing areas should be
removed and the bearing level extended down to the undisturbed natural soils. The bearing soils
should be protected against frost and concrete should not be placed on frozen soils. Exterior
footings should be provided with adequate soil cover above their bearing elevations for frost
Wood Doctor Construction, Inc.
November 2,2017
Page2
protection. Continuous foundation walls should be reinforced top and bottom to span local
anomalies such as by assuming an unsupported length of at least 12feet. 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 50 pcf for on-site soil as backfill. A perimeter foundation
drain should be provided to prevent temporary buildup of hydrostatic pressure behind the
foundation retaining walls and prevent wetting of the garage level. An impervious membrane,
such as 20 mil PVC should be provided below the drain gravel in a trough shape and attached to
the foundation wall with mastic to prevent wetting of the bearing soils. Structural fill placed
within floor slab areas can consist of the on-site soils compacted to at least 95Vo of standard
Proctor density at a moisture content near optimum. Backfill placed around the structure should
be compacted and the surface graded to prevent ponding within at least 10 feet of the building.
Landscape that requires regular heavy irrigation, such as sod, and sprinkler heads should not be
located within 10 feet of the foundation.
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 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,
H-P*KUMAR
<.
Daniel E. Hardin,
Rev by: SLP
DEHlkac
attachment Figure I - Swell-Consolidation Test Results
cc: MikeThele,StructuralEngineer(mike@mikethelepe.com)
H.P*KUTVIAR
Project No. 17-7-788
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SAMPLE OF: Sondy Silty Cloy
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17 -7 -788 H-PryKUMAR SWELL_CONSOLIDATION TEST RTSULTS 1Fig.