AboutRichard Taylor, AIA Expertise Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.
Experience I own a five-person residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture. .
Organizations American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Past Editor of SPLASH (a CAD program), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Boy Scouts of America
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Richard Taylor Architects Looking for great Luxury Home House Plans? Try ours at RTA Plans.
Question I am moving a house that is presently on a basement 2 and a half hours away. I have gone up to measure the basement 3 or 4 times in the past 6 months, and have been confused and hesitant as to the ACTUAL measurements. the measurements we were given were wrong. and the measurements I take make the building not squared. I need to give proper measurements to the guy who is building my basement. my question is, when a basement is built how can I be sure that the measurements I give him will fit the house. is there any lee-way in regards to how exact you have to be for the house to sit on the concrete basement safely? other than re-taking the trip to measure again is there anything I can do? I am located in Saskatoon Saskatchewan,Canada. and the house in question is located between the towns of Marshall, and Lashburn. along hwy 16 towards Lloydminister.
Answer David - thanks for your question!
Foundations are almost never perfectly squared, new or old - your situation is not unique!
You need two sets of measurements to get the foundation located. The first set is the wall lengths which you've probably already measured. The second set is the corner-to-corner dimensions, which will locate the walls relative to each other.
For example, a foundation with four equal-length sides isn't necessarily square - to find out you have to measure the distance across the foundation from one corner to the other. Those measurements would have to match perfectly for the foundation to be square. If not, the angles aren't 90 degrees, and the foundation isn't square. Which is fine, as long as you know where each corner is.
That's harder to do on a more complex foundation shape, or when the house is still on the foundation. If it's impossible to take those measurements you'll need to hire a surveyor to shoot the foundation from the outside. He'll also be able to draw up a measured plan for you to give to your builder. It's cost something, but it's the most accurate way to get it done and get the right information to your builder.
Hope this helps,
Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com
