AboutBill Rodgers Expertise I have years of experience dealing with water infiltration issues associated with windows and doors. I have been a certified EIFS installer and am familiar with all types of stucco and masonry veneers.
I can help you select the best windows and doors for any residence or multifamily building.
Experience I've been a building contractor since 1977. Prior to that time I was the building official for Frederick County Virginia. I'm currently licensed in six states including: Oregon, Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Jersey and Florida. My primary business is solving and correcting water infiltration problems in residential structures.
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, 1972. I am an accredited instructor for the Installation Masters Institute. I regularly teach window and door installers how to be Certified Master Installers of windows and doors. The Installation Masters Institute is currently licensed to and administered by Architectural Testing Inc. for the American Architectural Manufacturer's Association.
Question QUESTION: I am in the process of building my new home. I had the excavator come in and level out the foundation area and dig a drainage trench to the front of the property that is sloped down from the house area. The undisturbed soil is alot of clay and since it is raining alot here in PA I have not had time to build yet and the soil is slick and in some places spongy but mainly free of water. When it is dried it is hard as a rock. Can I simply install the footer 12" deep and 24" wide over the clay soil or should I install compacted stone first and then the forms? Thank You for your time
ANSWER: Hi Martin,
I've built several homes on clay. Oregon's blue clay is some of the worst anywhere!!! I've always excavated an additional four inches and added washed gravel to the footprint plus 4' in every direction.
I strongly recommend the same for your project.
Thanks
Bill Rodgers
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Bill,
Thank you for your response.
If I understand your explanation correctly, after the additional excavation, you added 4 inches of compacted clean gravel the width of the footer plus four feet on all sides. So in my case it would be ten feet wide of four inch compaceted gravel?
And there would also be no problem with any inspections for this type of installed footer?
Thanks again for all of your help
Martin
Answer Hi Martin,
The 4' in every direction was only to facilitate being able to walk around the footing during construction. I chose to cover the whole footprint plus 4'. This included the whole interior of the basement/crawlspace area.
Regarding inspection problems, I've never had an inspector question the four inches of what could be considered fill. I suggest that you speak with your local building department to be sure that wont require testing of the gravel for compaction.
