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Swamphunter
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2011 06:51
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Since my cabin's footprint is 20x24, I am planning on using a gravel base for a foundation and setting the structure on skids. I figure that by removing the sod and going down a few inches without disturbing the compacted earth below, I can put 8-12" of compacting stone down, tamp it and build off of that. Is that adequate?
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Swamphunter
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2011 06:54
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Oops.. forgot to mention that thre would be driveway fabric layed down between the earth and the gravel....
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2011 10:13
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Maybe, depends on the local conditions.
My boss has a rental house that was built in the 'teens with no more foundation than a pile of rock on the bare dirt... for 70 years it was fine, then they built the lake. Now *every* house in that neighborhood is "settling" but the USGS claims the lake is not the problem... whatever!
As a general rule, the more work you put into the foundation now the less work you will have to do later to keep the place level. At a minimum I'd recommend you dig your pits at least as deep as the local frost line
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Swamphunter
Member
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2011 10:21
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I dont want a permanent foundation, and our frost line is 4 feet deep. I dont mind some readjustment every couple of years, just want it sturdy overall...
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customrunner
Member
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2011 17:03
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Swamphunter, I am building my cabin on skids its a 16"x20" and its only on packed gravel as well I have it packed so well that I couldnt even pound a steck in the groung so I have no worries of it sinking and if it for some reason it did I have built it so I can esaly relevel.
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2011 18:29
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No concerns about uplift in high winds??
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Swamphunter
Member
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2011 10:22
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Quoting: MtnDon No concerns about uplift in high winds??
No, not at all... I live in a low wind area, and the cabin in well protected with the forested timber around. Many buildings in my area are not held down at all... skids are common for outbuildings
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AYP1909
Member
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2011 15:44
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A few years ago I volunteered on a USFS Passport in Time project in the Colville National Forest in Washington. There was a 90 year old homestead log cabin that needed to have the lowest course of logs replaced. We used house jacks at various locations to raise the remainder of the cabin about 1 inch. We removed the rotted logs and replaced them with freshly cut and peeled logs and then lowered the cabin back onto the gravel foundation. This free-draining material had served its purpose this long and we saw no need to fix something that was not broken.
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