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Modern Hippy
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2009 14:56
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Hi everyone,
I'm looking forward to my fall construction project which will be a 16x28 Alabama cabin used as my permanent residence. I would like to use pier blocks as my choice for the foundation, but I'm concerned that they don't offer enough uplift strength as we occasionally deal with hurricanes and high winds. Frost lines are not an issue in South Alabama and I'm not plagued with building codes. I was hoping someone might tell me if my concerns are valid or suggest a foundation that does not involved $2000 in concrete for a permanent foundation. Thanks!
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soundandfurycabin
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2009 13:27
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What do you mean by pier blocks? Just a concrete block set on a gravel pad? Or a pier set into the ground built out of masonry blocks with the cores filled with rebar and concrete?
You could use pressure-treated wood piers set into the ground as well. Beach-front houses are usually built on tall wood piers so the storm surges can pass underneath.
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Modern Hippy
Member
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2009 16:33
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Thanks for the reply. I'm against using wood piers due the prolific termite problem we have in the south. I also skeptical of any of the pier foundations you mentioned. Most of the building codes I'm aware of require a footer 24" wide and 12" deep then concrete blocks with rebar installed in the center which seems like a very solid foundation. The more I research cabin foundations, it seems like most builders opt for piers with a gravel base or pre-cast piers which seem very inadequate to me. That's only my opinion, which is the reason for my entry. I wonder if I have over analyzed foundations or I'm trying overkill my foundation and should be content with the "lesser foundation".
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 29 Jan 2010 00:09
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Ok, I have a cabin I just built last summer and wnet the complete footing/stemwall. I asked lots of other locals who built and they used post and pier. They all regretted it, saying it wa simpossible to keep varmints out (mice) and the work was more than the footing/stemwall. Concrete use was close to the same too. I built mine with no outside crawlspace, but a trap door on the floor inside the unit.
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Moontreeranch
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# Posted: 29 Jan 2010 14:14
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Big foots are quick cheap and easy
http://www.bigfootsystems.com/
dig hole, install, add some rebar, pour , back fill...the wide bottom distributes load, and provides great up lift resistance...the tube can get you up off the ground to keep the termites out. Post and beam from there.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 23 Feb 2016 10:34
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Another drawback that occurred to me last summer during the fire season on a post system in addition to varmints getting into the insulation easily is fire, sparks blowing under it. The full footer if you can get a cement truck in there is the way to go. I have no regrets, it was actually easier IMHO, a dig out with a small dozer, cement guy set in forms, rebar, inspector signed off, poured, pulled forms, all done waiting for me and my lumber pkg. I have no outside crawlspace door, its inside hatch and have loads of extra storage, its almost 3 feet deep, gravel and vapor barrier, nice and dry under there.
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Moontreeranch
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# Posted: 23 Feb 2016 13:10
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I'm planing on skirting the cabin with galv roofing and extended a crushed stone perimeter out about 10 feet
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