Expert: Stephen Major (Owner--Major Design Group) - 4/14/2007

Question
Our contract poured the footings for our new home to the wrong specifications - he poured them for a 38 x 24 cape with a 24 x 24 garage, instead of the 36 x 26 colonial with 24 x 24 garage we purchased.  To fix this he poured the correct footings next to the existing footings.  We are concerned that this will not be as structurally sound to build the house on as a one-piece footing (since the new footings are very obviously not one piece).  Should we have him remove all of this and start over or is this OK to move ahead with?

Answer
Lisa,

That's a tough mistake.  If the same contractor is also doing the rest of the house, let's hope he (she) is a bit more careful.  

You don't say whether your foundation is a full basement or a crawl space, but my answer is pretty much the same for each.  IF the foundation walls are to be reinforced poured concrete, then the pieced footings become much less of an issue.  Properly-designed poured concrete foundation walls act as huge beams able to easily and soundly bridge footing gaps and imperfections.  Foam-form poured walls act similarly, but are not as forgiving as solid 8" or 10" thick walls.

If, however, the foundation walls are to be concrete block, then there is the possibility that a wall crack will develop where the footings are separate.  If this is the case, I would recommend that the contractor use reinforced concrete lintels (normally used to span openings in block walls such as doors and windows) of sufficient length to span well over the pieced footings, in place of the lowermost block course in these areas.  

My recommendations are based on the important assumption that all of the footings are poured on firm undisturbed subsoil, and that the soil bearing conditions of the original (incorrect) footings are the same as the newly poured footings.

If it were my project, I would insist on solid poured reinforced concrete foundation walls.  It seems like removing an re-doing the footings is a last resort.  

Let me know if you have additional questions.  And if you have a chance, feel free to send along some photos of the "double" footings to my e-mail at info@majordesigngroup.com .

--Steve Major