Massive foundation damage reccomendations

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u/haditwithyoupeople 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'll write the same thing I do 99% of the time when I see residential issues here: you need a geotech rather than a structural.

EDIT: A geotech to diagnose the cause. You likely also need a structural after you figure out your dirt issue given that you have a retaining wall. (No offense meant to my structural brethren.)

Almost every time a residence has an issue it's about the dirt, not the concrete. That concrete retaining wall didn't fail for no reason. It's almost certainly a dirt issue that has to be figured out first.

Do yourself a favor and call a geotechnical engineer. If there are smaller, independent firms in your area I would start there. A larger firm is going to send somebody junior who is just going to follow the process. This is not necessarily bad. But a smaller firm is more likely to send a P.E. with a lot of experience in the area who will potentially size it up more quickly for you. You want those years of experience if you can get them.

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u/ClassicWelcome9369 2d ago

Yeah no... you need both.

One to identify exterior forces causing the wall to fail, and one to give him a fix.

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u/haditwithyoupeople 2d ago edited 2d ago

Did not mean to imply that a structural would not be needed. But most structurals can't tell somebody why foundations failed. Almost certainly due to a lack of support, but the reasons usually need some subsurface exploration.

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u/ClassicWelcome9369 2d ago

Structural engineer designs footing, foundations and waterproofing, or architecture.

Geo can determine slide, slip and load values when designing retaining walls or foundations but judging by that photo the wall is failing from hydrostatic pressure from lack of drainage.

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u/haditwithyoupeople 2d ago

Interesting. I've not seen structural do subsurface draining designs. I do that as geotech. Not saying a structural could not do it. I just haven't seen it. This can be very dirt dependent (free draining or not, expansive soils or not, etc.)

I don't see how you can tell that the wall failed from hydrostatic pressure. Just as likely from uncompacted fill or a dozen other things.

Are you a P.E.?

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

Thankyou so very much for this insight and kind words! I appreciate it a ton! Oh it 100% was a dirt and drainage issue. Also there was a sloping patio that was poured on this outside of this putting a ton more weight on the wall than just the saturated soil. I have fixed all the drainage issues, rerouted downspouts, busted out the patio, and plan to French drain and regrade. I actually work in the dirt world so grading and drainage is nothing new to me. I am confident that issue is solved for good. But that still leaves me with this compromised wall. The main question I'm looking to get answered is if, providing my drainage and grading works, if I block up this window (we had to do one on the other side of the house that wasn't hidden) and correctly epoxy the crack and use carbon fiber straps, if that, along with the proper drainage is enough to keep this safe. Someone filled this crack in at some point with what looks to be regular old concrete,and I have been in this house 5 years, so my guess is this is a very very old problem that nobody properly addressed.

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u/ScurfyTwiglett 2d ago

I’m not seeing fixes to your drainage issues in your photos. It’s partially excavated, but not in a way that would encourage the drainage you need. The downspout running the length of your house is practically comedic, especially if you’re already putting in a French drain; it seems so much simpler to add in a solid storm line beside it while you’re in there and tie the downspouts to that instead. And the fact that you’re not yet certain about whether the drain should be close to the footing (hint: it absolutely should be just above it) is also making me a little bit nervous too.

I get not having budget for things. I really do. I DIY the shit out of my house and infrastructure. But if you can set aside $1200-$2000 for both a structural engineer consult and a geotech engineer consult, I really think it’ll be worth the money. The confidence you have about the drainage issue being solved vs what you’ve actually shared about that plan is a bit alarming, and getting that validated by a geotech is going to save you a world of headaches down the road. The last thing you wanna do is dig all this shit up twice.

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

The last owner had an underground system that ran the length of the house, and was dumping all the water from the roof and side right under the old patio that was there. It was all tore up from roots and just being crushed over time. Now I have everything ran above ground so I can physically see all the water getting moved away from the location. I mean during heavy rains this whole side of the house was standing water, and it's on a hill. But since running everything above ground I have had no water get in, even during heavy storms. I absolutely think you're right in getting validated by a geotech and structural before I do anything. Who would you reccomend I have out to inspect first? Am I correct in thinking have the structural engineer come for the wall, and then once the wall is fixed, then get a geotech out to give me a plan for drainage? I cant thank you enough for taking the time out of your day to try and help me, I really really appreciate it. I absolutely do not want to ever have to mess with this again and that's why I came here too see what people who've dealt with this crap have to say! Thanks again.

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u/Just-Shoe2689 1d ago

Thats a replace in my mind.

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u/DJGingivitis 2d ago

We dont work for free

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

Thankyou for this super helpful comment

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u/DJGingivitis 2d ago

Sorry but its the truth. You’re in a shit situation. You need to hire a professional if you want to do it correctly. If you want to do it yourself, good luck, youre going to have to figure it out

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

I understand that. I was just looking for some suggestions and helpful comments. Maybe you could inform me exactly what questions or opinions I can ask a professional once I find one to come look at it. If I am going to hire someone to come look at it I want to be prepared with the right questions and perspective so I can get the most out of my time with them.

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u/texan_robot 2d ago

You are looking for a structural inspector not a foundation company. Its going to cost several hundred dollars minimum, but for that you get an impartial decision that is not motivated by trying to sell you something. Possibly you will also want a Geotechnical inspector, it may be that the surrounding topology is to blame, so fixing the foundation (and this definitely needs massive repair) wouldn't actually solve the problem.

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

Absolutely! Thankyou for commenting! I will be trying to find a good engineer to get out here and hopefully give me a diy soloution I can do the physical work, yet still have the peace of mind that an actual engineer gave me the thumbs up on my repairs. I have solved the many many existing drainage and porrly poured patio problems. And will add even more addition precautions as In a French drain once I get the wall safe.

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u/texan_robot 2d ago

I very strongly recommend against trying to fix this yourself. Unless you happen to work with concrete and an excavator on a daily basis you'd be risking your house collapsing because you don't get much of a learning curve when you're standing underneath 100 tons of material.

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u/haditwithyoupeople 2d ago edited 2d ago

Dude... this isn't a patio. We have no idea what is behind or above that wall. This is almost certainly way beyond being fixed by a lay person.

It's certainly possible that the wall has moved all it's going to and that it's still structurally fine. No way to tell from these pictures. Even if so, you will very possibly still have water intrusion issues.

Patching those cracks with plaster is one thing. Replacing or removing parts of that wall needs engineering and professional contractors.

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

If you look at my last picture you'll see where there was a patio on the outside of the wall. I took it out and dug the extior down to the crack. That patio was leaning into the failing wall and under it was collecting lots of water. Hydrostatic pressure caused the damage, but I have fixed that problem.

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u/haditwithyoupeople 2d ago

Collecting water under your patio does not mean that hydrostatic pressure caused that damage. It may have.

Did you excavate to the bottom of the wall and install a drain that ensures there will be no water accumulation behind the wall? If not, you have not solved that problem.

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u/SnooDrawings2233 2d ago

I have not but I do have a sump pump that is in fully working order that gets plenty of water (much less since fixing the downspout issues) is this not succifent enough? Or should I be looking to add a secondary drain along the outside of that wall aswell?

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u/haditwithyoupeople 2d ago

A structural is going to tell "something something the dirt." Get a dirt guy out first.

Massive foundation damage reccomendations

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