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Ike Eliason
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2022 15:27
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I am new to this forum, so please excuse me if I ask for advise that has been previously discussed.
In a nutshell:
Roughly 36’x36’ extended family owned cabin in northwest Ontario
Remote access (boat access only, no road)
Soft ground sloping slightly to a sandy beach bay
Originally post foundation driven 4’ down (no bedrock found) over 40 years ago
About ten years ago, foundation really started winter heaving and then settling on one of the front corners to the point that the cabin seemed to be twisting/shifting forward toward the lake on that side. Further, the beams were starting to slide off of the posts.
The best solution at the time was to take out the posts one at a time and replace with a gravel base, 3/4†thick 2’ square composite pad, concrete block 2 wide, and treated wood for shimming and adjustment. This was done one by one with bottle jacks around each location. We were fully aware that some settling would occur and adjustments would need to be made yearly.
Over the years (some in which we could not travel to Canada due to Covid restrictions), the settling has gotten out of hand on the front side. It didn’t help that we had a 9’+ lake rise that flooded the cabin this past spring. Every time the front settles it tips forward. This in turn pulls the cabin forward. When we jack it up and fix the front, the cabin then remains shifted forward. It is about to pull itself off of the back blocks all together.
My family has a few ideas that may help slow the sliding/settling process in the immediate future, but I do not seem them as a viable long term solution. I wanted to see what ideas anyone might have for a more permanent solution to the foundation. Something is needed that will keep the cabin from settling rapidly and shifting forward.
Please keep in mind that everything must be transported by boat to cabin.
I would appreciate any ideas. Thank you!
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2022 20:51
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Got any pictures? Are the original piers still there?
Prety much anything that should be done is going to be a major job and the fact that it's all got to be shuttled in via boat make things 5x harder.
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KelVarnsen
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2022 21:44 - Edited by: KelVarnsen
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Have you considered helical screw piles? There a some lightweight ones like Pylex, that can be screwed in by hand. There are also more robust ones installed by machine. I’ve seen install videos where holes were cut in a structure floor and installed from the inside for a retrofit.
Here’s a more in-depth video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SQdYbhOVm9Y
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Ike Eliason
Member
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# Posted: 9 Aug 2022 21:15
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I have seen helical screw piles. Cutting holes in the floor doesn’t sound fun, but if necessary that would be doable. Does anyone have a link to a video where they do that procedure?? I am interested on how you get the screw pile straight when coming in from the side of the beam. Also, once you have screwed it down below the beam, how do you come back up for the bracket to go around the beam?
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 10 Aug 2022 07:55
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I wouldnt expect any screw pile that can be put in by hand can actualy hold a 36x36 building unless you put in a whole lot of them.
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KelVarnsen
Member
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# Posted: 10 Aug 2022 08:18
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Techno Metal Post has a northern Ontario dealer. In the first video that I posted it looks like they have some fairly small/portable machines that might be able to get to your location. Here is a brief video about installing under an existing structure. I'm not sure how useful it is.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 10 Aug 2022 22:32
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Is there something fixed/unmovable, either already there or which can be added, behind the cabin that you can affix cables to, and then attach the other ends of the cables to the cabin to keep the cabin from creeping forward? I know this doesn't solve the settling problem, but it'll make it a lot easier to solve that when the only movement is vertical.
Not saying it's the best idea, but it's a brainstorming session here.....
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Ike Eliason
Member
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# Posted: 11 Aug 2022 09:49
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Crazy you should mention that. I am about to go up to the cabin and complete just such a project. The plan for this year is to create a beam (3 - 2x8 nailed together), set it on top of small cribbing, running under all main beams on the bad side. I will then attach a cable to that beam and run it to a large tree some 80 feet behind the cabin. The hope is that the load gets distributed a little better and the cabin will be kept from sliding further forward.
Like you said, I don’t feel like this is a perfect long term decision, but for now it should help maintain the cabin from sliding off any block.
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