HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubsoil Study for Foundation Design 05.25.2021t (;l;A ilJþifi'trtrffinriiÍü *' "
An Employcc Owncd Compony
5020 County Road 154
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
phone: (970) 945-7988
fax: (970) 945-8454
email : kaglenwood@kumarusa.com
www.kumarusa,com
Of;ñce Locations: Denver (FtQ), Parker, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, and Summit County, Colorado
iN4ay 25,2021
Gruenefeldt Construction
Attn:Dan Gruenefeldt
P.O. Box 1910
Basalt, Colorado 81621
dan@ gruenefeldtconstruction.com
RECEIVED
AUü íJ i: ?ü2}
GARF¡ELD COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Project No. 2l-7-379
Subject:Subsoil Study for Foundation Design, Proposed Residence, LotBZ, Aspen
Equestrian Estates, 2 Equestrian Way, Garfield County, Colorado
Dear Dan:
As requested, Kumar & Associates, Inc. performed a subsoil study for design of foundations at
the subject site. The study was conducted in accordance with our agreement for geotechnical
engineering services to you dated April 27,2021. The data obtained and our recommendations
based on the proposed construction and subsurface conditions encountered are presented in this
report.
Proposed Construction: The proposed residence will be a one to two story wood frame
structure located on the site in the area of the pits shown on Figure 1. Ground floor will be slab-
on-grade. Cut depths are expected to range between about 2 to 4 feet. Foundation loadings for
this type of construction are assumed to be relatively light and typical of the proposed type of
construction.
If building conditions or foundation loadings are significantly different from those described
above, we should be notified to re-evaluate the recommendations presented in this report.
Site Conditions: The site was vacant at the time of our subsoil study. The building area is
vegetated with grass and weeds with a large spruce tree in the southeast part of the building area.
Smaller spruce trees are located to the west of the building area and cottonwood trees are located
south and east of the building area. There appears to have been minor overlot grading,probably
at the time of subdivision development. The site is relatively flat with a slight slope down to the
south. Blue Creek is located to the south of the lot. An existing on-story wood frame house is
located on Lot 83, to the west of this lot.
Subsurface Conditions: The subsurface conditions at the site were evaluated by excavating
three exploratory pits at the approximate locations shown on Figure l. The logs of the pits are
presented on Figure 2. The subsoils encountered, below about l to l% feet of topsoil, sandy clay
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fill or sandy clay consist of medium dense, slightly silty sand and gravel with cobbles down to
the pit depths of 3 to 4 feet. No free \ryater was observed in the pits at the time of excavation and
the soils were slightly moist to moist.
Subsidence Potential: The site is underlain by PennsylvaniaAge Eagle Valley Evaporite
bedrock. The evaporite contains gypsum deposits. Dissolution of the gypsum under certain
conditions can cause sinkholes to develop and can produce areas of localized subsidence.
Sinkholes were not observed in the immediate area of the subject lot. The pits dug at the site
were shallow, for foundation design only. Based on our present knowledge of the site, it cannot
be said for certain that sinkholes will not develop. In our opinion, the risk of ground subsidence
at Lot B2 is low and similar to other lots in the area but the owner should be aware of the
potential for sinkhole development.
Foundation Recommendations: Considering the subsoil conditions encountered in the
exploratory pits and the nature of the proposed construction, we recommend spread footings
placed on the undisturbed natural gravel soil below the clay and fill soils designed for an
allowable soil bearing pressure of 2,500 psf for support of the proposed residence. Footings
should be a minimum width of 16 inches for continuous walls and 2 feet for columns. Loose and
disturbed soils and existing fill encountered at the foundation bearing level within the excavation
should be removed and the footing bearing level extended down to the undisturbed natural gravel
soils. We should observe the completed foundation excavation for bearing conditions. Exterior
footings should be provided with adequate cover above their bearing elevations for frost
protection. Placement of footings at least 36 inches below the exterior grade is typically used in
this area. Continuous foundation walls should be reinforced top and bottom to span local
anomalies such as by assuming an unsupported length of at least l0 feet. Foundation walls
actingas retaining structures (if any) should be designed to resist alateral earth pressure based
on an equivalent fluid unit weight of at least 50 pcf for the on-site soil as backfïll.
Floor Slabs: The natural on-site gravel soils, exclusive of topsoil, are suitable to support lightly
loaded slab-on-grade construction. To reduce the effects of some differential movement, floor
slabs should be separated from all bearing walls and columns with expansion joints which allow
unrestrained vertical movement. Floor slab control joints should be used to reduce damage due
to shrinkage cracking. The requirements forjoint spacing and slab reinforcement should be
established by the designer based on experience and the intended slab use. A minimum 4 inch
layer offree-draining gravel should be placed beneath slabs-on-grade to act as a break for
Kumar & Associates, lnc. o Project No. 21-7-379
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capillary moisture rise and facilítate drainage. This material should consist of minus 2-inch
aggregate with less than 50% passing the No. 4 sieve and less than2%o passing the No. 200 sieve.
All fill materials for support of floor slabs should be compacted to at least 95%ó of maximum
standard Proctor density at a moisture content near optimum. Required fill can consist of the on-
site gravel soils devoid of vegetation, topsoil and oversized rock.
Underdrain System: An underdrain system is not needed for the proposed slab-on-grade
ground floor construction.
Surface Drainage: The following drainage precautions should be observed during construction
and maintained at all times after the residence has been completed:
l) Inundation ofthe foundation excavations and underslab areas should be avoided
during construction.
2) Exterior backfill should be adjusted to near optimum moisture and compacted to
at least 95%o of the maximum standard Proctor density in pavement and slab areas
and to at least 90/o of the maximum standard Proctor density in landscape areas.
3) The ground surface surrounding the exterior of the building should be sloped to
drain away from the foundation in all directions. We recommend a minimum
slope of 6 inches in the first 10 feet in unpaved areas and a minimum slope of
3 inches in the first 10 feet in pavement and walkway areas.
4) Roof downspouts and drains should discharge well beyond the limits of all
backfill.
Limitations: This study has been conducted in accordance with generally accepted geotechnical
engineering principles and practices in this area at this time. We make no warranty either
express or implied. The conclusions and recommendations submitted in this report are based
upon the data obtained from the exploratory pits excavated at the locations indicated on Figure I
and to the depths shown on Figure 2,the proposed type of construction, and our experience in
the area. Our services do not include determining the presence, prevention or possibilþ 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. Our
findings include interpolation and extrapolation of the subsurface conditions identifred at the
exploratory pits and variations in the subsurface conditions may not become evident until
excavation is performed. If conditions encountered during construction appear different from
those described in this report, we should be notified at once so re-evaluation of the
recommendations may be made.
Kumar & Aseociates, lnc. o Project No. 21-7-379
4
This report has been prepared for the exclusive use by our client for design pu{poses. We are not
responsible for technical interpretations by others of our information. As the project evolves, we
should provide continued consultation and field services during construction to review and
monitor the implementation of our recommendations, and to verifu that the recommendations
have been appropriately interpreted. Significant design changes may require additional analysis
or modifications to the recommendations presented herein. We recommend on-site observation
of excavations and foundation bearing strata and testing of structural fill by a representative of
the geotechnical engineer,
If you have any questions or if we may be of further assistance, please let us know
Respectfrrlly Submitted,
Kumar & Associates, Inc.
Daniel
Rev. by: SLP
DEHlkac
attachments Figure 1 - Location of Exploratory Pits
Figure 2 - Logs of Exploratory Pits
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Kumar & Aeeo€iatcs, lne, ¿'Projeet No. 21'7-379
PIT 1 Pt't 2 PIT 5
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LEGEND
TOPSOIL: ORGANIC SANDY SILTY CLAY, FIRM, SLIGHTLY MOIST, DARK BROWN.
FILL: SANDY CLAY WITH GRAVEL, MEDIUM STIFF, SLIGHTLY MOIST, DARK BROWN.
SAND AND CLAY (SC-CL): SILTY, MOIST, MEDIUM STIFF, BROWN.
SAND AND GRAVEL (GM-cP): wlTH COBBLES, SLIGHTLY SILTY, MEDIUM DENSE, MOIST, BROWN
NOTES
I. THE EXPLORATORY PITS WERE EXCAVATED WITH A CAT 305 MlNl EXCAVATOR ON ¡tlAY 14,2021.
2. THE LOCATIONS OF THE EXPLORATORY PITS WERE MEASURED APPROXIMATELY BY PACING FROM
FEATURES SHOWN ON THE SITE PLAN PROVIDED.
3. THE ELEVATIONS OF THE EXPLORATORY PITS WERE NOT MEASURED AND THE LOGS OF THE
EXPLORATORY PITS ARE PLOTTED TO DEPTH.
1. THE EXPLORATORY PIT LOCATIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ACCURATE ONLY TO THE DEGREE
IMPLIED BY THE METHOD USED.
5. THE LINES BETWEEN MATERIALS SHOWN ON THE EXPLORATORY PIT LOGS REPRESENT THE
APPROXIMATE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN MATERIAL TYPES AND THE TRANSITIONS MAY BE GRADUAL.
6. GROUNDWATER WAS NOT ENCOUNTERED IN THE PITS AT THE TIME OF EXCAVATION. PITS WERE
BACKFILLED SUBSEQUENT TO SAMPLING.
21 -7 -379 Kumar & Associates LOGS OF EXPLORATORY PIÏS lis. 2
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EQUESTRIAN WAY
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APPROXIMATE SCALE-FEET
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PIT I
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PTT 2
LOT B_2
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21 -7 -379 Kumar & Associates LOCATION OF EXPLORATORY PITS Fig. 1