HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubsoils Reportrcn $jffi[',ffi:lrHit*&*"'
An Employcc Orncd Compony
5020 County Road 154
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
phone: (970) 945-7988
fax: (970) 945-8454
email : kaglenwood@,kumarusa.com
www.kumarusa.com
OffEce Locations: Denver (HQ), Parker, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, and Summit County, Colorado
SUBSOIL STUDY
FOR FOUNDATION DESIGN
PROPOSED GARAGE ADDITION AND FOUNDATION REPAIR
LOT 126, PHASE 1, TRONBRTDGE
196 SILVER MOUNTATIN DRIVE
GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
PROJECT NO.23-7-658
DECEMBERt9,2023
PREPARED FOR:
RICIIARD DOOLEY
P.O. BOX 183
GLENWOOD SPRTNGS, COLORADO 81602
richard.doolev@ gmail.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OT.' S'I'UDY
PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION
SITE CONDITIONS.........
SUBSIDENCE POTENTIAL
FIELD EXPLORATION
SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS
FOUNDATION BEARING CONDITIONS
DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS ................
FLOOR SLABS
UNDERDRAIN SYSTEM
1
I
I
I
2-
-2-
-3-
..................- 3 -
DEEP FOUNDATIONS
FOUNDATION AND RETAINING WALLS
-3-
a-J-
....,.,.,.,.- 4 -
............- 5 -
LIMITATIONS....
FIGURE 1 - LOCATIONS OF EXPLORATORY BORINGS
FIGURE 2 - LOGS OF EXPLORATORY BORINGS
FIGURE 3 . LEGEND AND NOTES
TABLE I- SUMMARY OF LABORATORY TEST RESULTS
........- 5 -
Kumar & Associates, lnc. @ Project No.23-7-658
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF STUDY
This report presents the results of a subsoil study for a proposed garage addition and foundation
repair for an existing residence located on Lot 126, Phase l, Ironbridge,196 Silver Mountain
Drive, Garfield County, Colorado. The project site is shown on Figure 1. The purpose of the
study was to develop recommendations for the foundation design. The study was conducted in
accordance with our agreement for geotechnical engineering services to Richard Dooley dated
November 14,2023.
A field exploration program consisting of exploratory borings was conducted to obtain
information on the subsurface conditions. Samples of the subsoils obtained during the field
exploration were tested in the laboratory to determine their classification and other engineering
characteristics. The results of the field exploration and laboratory testing were analyzed to
develop recommendations for foundation types, depths and allowable pressures for the proposed
building foundation. This report summarizes the data obtained during this study and presents our
conclusions, design recommendations and other geotechnical engineering considerations based
on the proposed construction and the subsurface conditions encountered.
PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION
The existing residence is a two-story wood-frame structure with affached garage. The existing
residence foundation has settled since its construction resulting in distress. The existing
residence is proposed to be underpinned with pilings down to dense gravel. The proposed
addition plan is to extend the garage approximately 8 feet along the existing driveway alignment.
Ground floor will be slab-on-grade. Grading for the addition is assumed to be relatively minor
with cut depths between about 2to 4 feet. We assume relatively light foundation loadings,
typical of the proposed type of construction.
If building loadings, location or grading plans change significantly from those described above,
we should be notified to re-evaluate the recommendations contained in this report.
SITE CONDITIONS
The lot was developed with a two-story wood-frame residence with attached garage at the time
of our field exploration. The ground surface was gently sloping down to the east at a grade of
about 5 percent. Vegetation consists of landscaped grass, bushes and trees. Underpinning
operations for pile installation was in progress at the time of our study.
SUBSIDENCE POTENTIAL
Bedrock of the Pennsylvanian age Eagle Valley Evaporite underlies the Ironbridge development.
These rocks are a sequence of gypsiferous shale, fine-grained sandstone and siltstone with some
Kumar & Associates, lnc. @ Project No.23-7-658
",
massive beds of gypsum and limestone. There is a possibility that massive gypsum deposits
associated with the Eagle Valley Evaporite underlie portions of the lot. Dissolution of the
gypsum under certain conditions can cause sinkholes to develop and can produce areas of
localized subsidence. During previous work in the area, several sinkholes were observed
scattered throughout the Ironbridge development. These sinkholes appear similar to others
assooiated with the Eagle Valley Evaporite in areas of the lower Roaring Fork Valley.
Sinkholes were not observed in the immediate area of the subject lot. No evidence of cavities
was encountered in the subsurface materials; however, the exploratory borings were relatively
shallow, for foundation design only. Based on our present knowledge of the subsurface
conditions at the site, it cannot be said for certain that sinkholes will not develop. The risk of
future ground subsidence on Lot 126, Phase 1 throughout the service life of the proposed
residenceo in our opinion, is low and similar to other lots in the area; however, the owner should
be made aware of the potential for sinkhole development. If further investigation of possible
cavities in the bedrock below the site is desired, we should be contacted.
FIELD EXPLORATION
The field exploration for the project was conducted on December 6, 2023. Two exploratory
borings were drilled at the locations shown on Figure 1 to evaluate the subsurface conditions.
The borings were advanced with 4-inch diameter continuous flight augers powered by a truck-
mounted CME-45B drill rig. The borings were logged by a representative of Kumar &
Associates, Inc.
Samples of the subsoils were taken with l%-inch and Z-inch I.D. spoon samplers. The samplers
were driven into the subsoils at various depths with blows from a 140-pound hammer falling 30
inches. This test is similar to the standard penetration test described by ASTM Method D-I586.
The penetration resistance values are an indication of the relative density or consistency of the
subsoils. Depths at which the samples were taken and the penetration resistance values are
shown on the Logs of Exploratory Borings, Figure 2. The samples were returned to our
laboratory for review by the project engineer and testing.
SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS
Graphic logs of the subsurface conditions encountered at the site are shown on Figure 2. The
subsoils eonsist of a-bout one foot of topsoil or 3 inehcs of aspha-lt overlying medium stiffto stifl
sandy, silty clay to between 14% and2l feet deep where medium dense to dense, silty sandy
gravel with cobbles was encountered to the maximum drilled depth of 26 feet. Drilling in the
coarse granular soils with auger equipment was difficult due to the cobbles and possible boulders
and drilling refusal was encountered in the deposit.
Kumar & Associates, Inc. @ Project No. 23-7-658
-J-
Laboratory testing performed on samples obtained from the borings included natural moisture
content and density. The laboratory testing is summarized in Table l. No free water was
encountered in the borings at the time of drilling and the subsoils were slightly moist to moist.
FOUNDATION BEARING CONDITIONS
The subsoils at the site are variable and include compressible natural soils. The natural soils
possess low bearing capacity and moderate to high sefflement potential. These soils are hydro-
compressive and could seffle under load especially when wetted. In residential areas there are
several sources of subsurface wetting, such as irrigation, surface water runoff and utility line
leaks. Following the recommendations in the "surface Drainage" section of this report will be
critical to the long-term performance of the proposed residence.
Spread footings placed on the natural sand
in distress to the
the piles have the advantage of providing moderate load capacity with a relatively small
settlement potential if properly designed and constructed.
DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
DEEP FOLINDATIONS
Considering the subsoil conditions encountered in the and the nature of the
area.
type is
recommendations.
FOUNDATION AND RETAINING WALLS
Foundation walls and retaining structures which are laterally supported and can be expected to
undergo only a slight amount of deflection should be designed for a lateral earth pressure
computed on the basis of an equivalent fluid unit weight of at least 60 pcf for backfill consisting
of the on-site fine-grained soils. Cantilevered retaining structures which are separate from the
residence and can be expected to deflect sufficiently to mobilize the full active earth pressure
condition should be designed for a lateral earth pressure computed on the basis of an equivalent
fluid unit weight of at least 50 pcf for backfill consisting of the on-site fine-grained soils.
All foundation and retaining structures should be designed for appropriate hydrostatic and
surcharge pressures such as adjacent footings, traffic, construction materials and equipment. The
Kumar & Associates, lnc. @ Project No.23-7-658
-4-
pressures recommended above assume drained conditions behind the walls and a horizontal
backfill surface. The buildup of water behind a wall or an upward sloping backfill surface will
increase the lateral pressure imposed on a foundation wall or retaining structure. An underdrain
should be provided to prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup behind walls.
Backfill should be placed in uniform lifts and compacted to at least 90% of the maximum
standard Proctor density at a moisture content slightly above optimum. Backfill placed in
pavement and walkway areas should be compacted to at least95%o of the maximum standard
Proctor density. Care should be taken not to overcompact the backfill or use large equipment
near the wall, since this could cause excessive lateral pressure on the wall. Some settlement of
deep foundation wall backfill should be expected, even if the material is placed correctly, and
could result in distress to facilities constructed on the backfill.
The lateral resistance of foundation or retaining wall footings will be a combination of the
sliding resistance of the footing on the foundation materials and passive earth pressure against
the side of the footing. Resistance to sliding at the bottoms of the footings can be calculated
based on a coefficient of friction of 0.30. Passive pressure of compacted backfill against the
sides of the footings can be calculated using an equivalent fluid unit weight of 300 pcf. The
coefficient of friction and passive pressure values recommended above assume ultimate soil
strength. Suitable factors of safety should be included in the design to limit the strain which will
occur a.t the ultimate strength, pa-rticularly in the case of passive resistance. Fill placed against
the sides of the footings to resist lateral loads should be compacted to at least 95Yo of the
maximum standard Proctor density at a moisture content near optimum.
FLOOR SLABS
There is a risk of floor slab settlement due to the existing fill and hydro-compressive soils.
Structurally supported floors over crawlspace are recommended for the areas due to the
section structural reinforcement can also be used to reduce the effects
To reduce the effects of some differential movement, non-structural 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
This rnaterial should consist of minus 2-inclt aggregate with
sieve and less than l2%o passing the No. 200 sieve.
Kumar & Associates, hrc. o ProJect No. 23-7-658
5
All fill materials for support of floor slabs should be compacted to at least95%o of maximum
standard Proctor density at a moisture content near optimum. Required fill can consist of the
onsite material or an imported granular material such as CDOT Class 6 aggregate base course.
TINDERDRAIN SYSTEM
Although free water was not encountered during our exploration, it has been our experience in
the area and where clay soils are present that local perched groundwater can develop during
times of heavy precipitation or seasonal runoff. Frozen ground during spring runoff can create a
perched condition. The proposed shallow foundations of the garage addition and existing
crawlspace should not need a perimeter foundation drain, provided that the exterior foundation
wall backfill is well-compacted and good surface drainage, as described below, is maintained
around the house. We recommend below-grade construction (if any), such as retaining walls,
deep crawlspace (greater than about 4 feet) and basement areas, be protected from wetting and
hydrostatic pressure buildup by an underdrain system.
If installed, the drains should consist of rigid perforated PVC drainpipe placed in the bottom of
the wall backfill surrounded above the invert level with free-draining granular material. The
drain should be placed at each level of excavation and at least I foot below lowest adjacent finish
grade and sloped at a minimum%%o to a suitable gravity outlet. Free-draining granular material
used in the underdrain system should contain less than 2%o passing the No. 200 sieve, less than
50olo passing the No. 4 sieve and have a maximum size of 2 inches. The drain gravel backfill
should be at least lYzfeet deep and covered with filter fabric such as Mirafi 140N or 160N. An
impervious membrane such as 20 mil PVC should be placed beneath the drain gravel in a trough
shape and attached to the foundation wall with mastic to prevent wetting of the bearing soils.
SURFACE DRAINAGE
Providing and maintaining proper surface drainage will be critical to the long-term performance
of the proposed construction. The following drainage precautions should be observed during
construction and maintained at all times after the construction 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 95Yo of the maximum standard Proctor density in pavement and slab areas
and to at least 90% 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 12 inches in the first 10 feet in unpaved areas and a minimum slope of
3 inches in the first 10 feet in paved areas.
4) Roof downspouts and drains should discharge well beyond the limits of all
backfill. Drainage swales should have a minimum slope of 3%o.
Kumar & Associates, lnc. @ Project No.23-7-658
-6-
I-andscaping which requires regular heavy irrigation should be located at least
l0 feet from foundation walls. Consideration should be given to the use of
xeriscape to limit potential wetting of soils below the foundation caused by
irrigation.
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
fiom the borings drilled at the locations indicated on Figure 1, the proposed type of
constmction and our experie,nce in the area. Our services do not include determining the
pr€s€noe, prevention orpossibility of mold or other biological contaminants (MOBC) developing
in the future. Ifthe client is concemed about MOBC, then a professional in this special field of
pmactice shouldbe consulted. Our findings include interpolation and exhapolation of the
subsurface conditions identified at the exploratory borings and variations in the subsurface
mnditions may not become evide,nt until excavation is performed. If conditions encountered
during constnrction appear different from those described in this report, we should be notified so
that re.evaluation of the recommendations may be made.
This report ha^s been prepared for the exclusive use by our client for design purposes. We are not
responsible for technical intertrnetations by others of our information. As the project evolves, we
should pmvide continued consultation and field services during construction to review and
monitor the implementation of our recommendations, and to veriry that the recommendations
have ben appropriately intupreted. Significant design changes may require additional analysis
or modifications to the recommendations presented herein. We reiommend on-site observation
of excavations and foundationbearing strata and testing of structural fill by a representative of
the geotechnical engneer.
Respoctftlly Submitted,
Kumar & Associates,
James H. Parsons, P
Reviewedby:
5)
*-/-
Steveir L. Pawlalq P.E.
JHPftac
Kumar & Associates, lnc. e Project No,23-7-658
25 o
APPROXIMATE SCALE-FEET
23-7-658 Kumar & Associates LOCATIONS OF EXPLORATORY BORINGS Fig. 1
E
!l
I
BORING 1 BORING 2
0 (5)0
13/12 18/12
5
10/12 6/ 12
5
10 5/ 12
WC=16.1
DD=95
6/12
WC=17.7
DD= 1 06
10
FLILI
[L
I-F(L
t!o
15
2s/12 5/ 12
WC=20.4
DD= 1 06
15
F
UJ
UJt!
I-F(L
LJo
20 45/7
20
25 1s/12
25
50 30
23-7-658 Kumar & Associates LOGS OF EXPLORATORY BORINGS Fig. 2
!
g
I
LEGEND
TOPSOIL; CLAY, SANDY, ORGANIC, FIRM' MOIST, MEDIUM BROWN
(3)ASPHALT, THICKNESS IN INCHES SHOWN IN PARENTHESES TO LEFT OF THE LOG.
CLAY (CL); SANDY, MEDIUM STIFF TO STIFF, MOIST, MEDIUM BROWN.
GRAVEL (GU-Op); SANDY, SILTY, MEDIUM DENSE TO DENSE.
F
I
DRIVE SAMPLE, 2-INCH I.D. CALIFORNIA LINER SAMPLE.
DRTVE SAMPLE, 1 5/8-INCH l.D. SPLIT SPOON STANDARD PENETRATION TEST
IZTTC DRIVE SAMPLE BLOW COUNT' INDICATES THAT 13 BLOWS OF A 140-POUND HAMMER'"/ '' FALL|NG s0 lNcHEs WERE REeU|RED To DRIVE THE SAMPLER 12 lNcHEs.
f enlcrrclL AUGER REFUsAL.
NOTES
1 THE EXPLORATORY BORINGS WERE DRILLED ON DECEMBER 6, 2023 WITH A 4-INCH-DIAMETER
CONTINUOUS-FLIGHT POWER AUGER.
2. THE LOCATIONS OF THE EXPLORATORY BORINGS WERE MEASURED APPROXIMATELY BY PACING
FROM FEATURES SHOWN ON THE SITE PLAN PROVIDED.
5. THE ELEVATIONS OF THE EXPLORATORY BORINGS WERE NOT MEASURED AND THE LOGS OF
THE EXPLORATORY BORINGS ARE PLOTTED TO DEPTH.
4. THE EXPLORATORY BORING LOCATIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ACCURATE ONLY TO THE
DEGREE IMPLIED BY THE METHOD USED.
5. THE LINES BETWEEN MATERIALS SHOWN ON THE EXPLORATORY BORING LOGS REPRESENT THE
APPROXIMATE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN MATERIAL TYPES AND THE TRANSITIONS MAY BE GRADUAL.
6. GROUNDWATER WAS NOT ENCOUNTERED IN THE BORINGS AT THE TIME OF DRILLING.
7. I.ABORATORY TEST RESULTS:
wc = WATER OONTENT (%) (ASTM D2216):
DD = DRY DENSITY (pcf) (ASTM D2216).
Fig. 3Kumar & Associates LEGEND AND NOTES23-7-658
!
I(+A
:'
lonE & Associsb,lnc."
Geotechnical and Materials Engineers
and Environmental Scientists
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF LABORATORY TEST RESULTS
sailPl I OCAT|OI|GR toil ATI LIHITS
BORING
rft)
DEPTH
r%I
IIATURAL
TOISTURE
CONTEIIT
IIATURAL
DRY
DEt{SITY
tbc0
GRAVEL
(%)
SAND
(%)
PERCENT
PASSTNG l{O.
200 stEvE
t%t
LIQUID TIHIT
r%l
PTASTIC
INDEX
rhrfi
UNCOT{FINEO
cotPREsstvE
STRENGTH SOIL WPE
I 9 l6.l 95 Sandy Silty Clay
2 9 17.7 106 Sandy Silty Clay
t4 20.4 106 Sandy Silty Clay