103eB: Foundation Sytstems-Part B

Question 1

PWF?

Answer 1

Permanent Wood Foundation

Question 2

Can I use spruce studs for my PWF?

Answer 2

No. Below ground must be pressure treated

Question 3

I just put up my PWF walls, can I back fill tomorrow?

Answer 3

No. Must pour basement slab + construct floor system to hold walls in place

Question 4

I forgot a sump under my PWF…am I screwed?

Answer 4

Yes. You need a sump. The water draining from the soil and down the wall exteriors MUST go somewhere so the PWF doesn’t rot

Question 5

All I have on site for footing is 2x6…can I use them?

Answer 5

No. Must be 2x10 PT or concrete strip footing

Question 6

Can I leave my isolation joint empty where my PWF meets the slab?

Answer 6

No. You need a PT screed board to keep the concrete off the side of the wall

Question 7

Do I need something in my footings since I put a granular layer under them?

Answer 7

No. You can pour regular footings. You MUST include water pipes for drainage if you’re on undisturbed soil; water needs to be able to move through footing since it can’t go underneath

Question 8

Can I cut and install my studs for my PWF?

Answer 8

Yes but you need to treat the cut end to prevent decay at the exposed wood fibres

Question 9

Can I reuse the same design of window buck in my PWF that I used last week in my concrete?

Answer 9

No. The lateral pressures on the wall below the RO needs reinforcement with hangers with the bottom facing IN to the basement

Question 10

The inspector failed my PWF after I nailed my floor system down…he said I needed to secure it better?

Answer 10

You need additional strapping connecting the wall and floor

Question 11

I want to skip pouring concrete and build my basement floor with wood…can I do it the same as the main floor?

Answer 11

No.
1) sleepers (wood pads) underneath to support joists
2) poly and granular fill underneath
3) floor components MUST be pressure treated

Question 12

2 ways to dampproof PWF

Answer 12

1) caulk and coat
2) caulk and poly

Question 13

Can I order the same backfill material for my PWF as concrete?

Answer 13

No. You need well/draining backfill so the wall doesn’t risk excess water contact and decay

Question 14

4 things before backfilling

Answer 14

1) basement floor
2) main floor
3) strapping
4) dampproofing

Question 15

3 ICF types

Answer 15

1) blocks
2) planks
3 panels

Question 16

Do I need kickers for my ICF?

Answer 16

Nope. A cleat on the exterior side should be used

Question 17

Why’d my boss put little PVC rings around our rebar in the footing?

Answer 17

To line up next piece of rebar inserted from the top

Question 18

I got my first level of ICF forms up but one is a little wonky and tilted…

Answer 18

Shim it up to be level and plumb, and fill the void with expanding foam

Question 19

There’s a little gap under the 2x6 door buck on my ICF…should I spray foam it?

Answer 19

No. That gap needs to stay to account for any compression while settling

Question 20

What are there weird slots in the ties between my ICF?

Answer 20

For accurate rebar placement

Question 21

Can I brace my ICF like a regular wall?

Answer 21

No. You need an additional vertical member to keep the forms from blowing/falling over

Question 22

My concrete wall looks kinda weak…what gives?

Answer 22

The slump may have been too high; increased liquid in concrete weakens the final product

Question 23

There’s some concrete dripping out of my ICF…FUCK!

Answer 23

Patch it up before/while pouring more with a big plywood parch

Question 24

Foam doesn’t decompose, do I still need to coat it before backfilling?

Answer 24

Yes. You need a moisture barrier so exterior moisture doesn’t deep through into the concrete

Question 25

Can I just put my foundation blocks on my footing?

Answer 25

No. You need rebar dowels to set the voids of your blocks on

Question 26

My window buck got stuck in my block wall…can I do it differently next time?

Answer 26

Shim the bottom so it’s easier to pull out

Question 27

What do my beams need to rest on on my block walls?

Answer 27

Pilaster

Question 28

My boss put a bunch of blocks with cavities along the top of our wall, how come?

Answer 28

Fill with concrete to create a bi d beam to attach the anchor bolts and sill plate of the floor system

Question 29

Should I brace my block wall like an ICF?

Answer 29

Yes

Question 30

My boss cut all our beams at an angle for our block wall…I think he fucked up

Answer 30

Nope. Those are fire cuts for the beam to fall out instead of push out on the wall if a fire burns things down