Pile Foundation?

[aglad]

Is there anyway to know for sure if there are pilings under the stem wall and pads. Sellers are saying the home has a pile foundation.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by aglad

Is there anyway to know for sure if there are pilings under the stem wall and pads.

Not by just looking. When installed properly, pilings are not visible after the foundation is completed.

Suggest that the seller provide documentation to back-up their claim.

[Emmanuel J. Scanlan]

Originally Posted by aglad

Is there anyway to know for sure if there are pilings under the stem wall and pads. Sellers are saying the home has a pile foundation.

Ground Penetrating Radar: http://www.ldolphin.org/GPRbkgnd.html

Although GPR may not be able to specifically discern a pile from a pier depending on the depth and other factors.

And then there is the old standby of GPE (Ground Penetrating Equipment )

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[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by aglad

Is there anyway to know for sure if there are pilings under the stem wall and pads. Sellers are saying the home has a pile foundation.

If the soil bearing capacity is that poor that the structure needs pilings, there probably should be some engineered documents around for the pilings- type, depth, cross-sectional area, #'s, placement. If the vendors say they don't have any plans, ask who designed the job.....no name, probably no sale or they should come "true" with the info!!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

If this were new construction, if there were piles, there are pilecaps, and if there are pile caps, there are grade beams.

Logic would tell me that in Florida, the pictures would show the grade beam also as the foundation in the crawlspace and not CMU.

Just a thought.

[John McKenna]

What is the moisture content in the foundation materials?

[aglad]

The moisture content of the beams and subfloor was 18-19%

[Barry Adair]

Like others have stated doc. required and then you can only assume they were followed during construction

http://www.raisedfloorliving.com/footings.shtml

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by badair

Like others have stated doc. required and then you can only assume they were followed during construction

http://www.raisedfloorliving.com/footings.shtml

Barry:

Have a look at figure 16......my favourite foundation system!!!!

[Blaine Wiley]

Originally Posted by aglad

Is there anyway to know for sure if there are pilings under the stem wall and pads. Sellers are saying the home has a pile foundation.

In your area of FL I would be very surprised if that home had pilings below the stem wall. I have a thought that your sellers are confuising "piles" with "piers".

[aglad]

Thanks you all for your input.