Author Topic: Foundation comprised of field stone and concrete  (Read 2281 times)

ctmustache

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Foundation comprised of field stone and concrete
« on: November 03, 2013, 12:49:13 PM »
Just looked at a 1950s cape in CT which had an interesting foundation. The first 50% above basement floor level was field stone, then the remainder was concrete. I've seen fieldstone foundations capped with concrete before, but not where the concrete started approximately half way up the foundation wall.

There was no evidence of any mortar in the fieldstone. Anyone seen something like this before?

The house was also held up by around 16 lolly jacks which is interesting too!

paddedhat

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Re: Foundation comprised of field stone and concrete
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2013, 05:49:16 AM »
Any evidence that the home was built on a recycled foundation?  As for the 16 columns, it can be pretty amazing to see what local "farmer-builder types" and DIYers would do back in the day. Back when you could pretty much do whatever you wanted, and not answer to any bank or code official, things were pretty entertaining. I once did some rehab to a small home that was built by a carpenter who was a city employee. All the rafters were bright white, with black lettering carefully routed into each. They said, "POLICE LINE-DO NOT CROSS". They were the all cross bars for crowd control wooden horses.
 I have worked on places wired with used wire, framed with recycled wood including old porch posts, used beams, massive rough sawn stuff that was cut on-site, and  other odd junk. I have found everything from old bed rails to narrow gauge railroad track used to reinforce homemade concrete and found plumbing that seemed to defy basic laws of physics.
In your case the answer to your question probably lies in an older local. Once you hear an old timer say, "Yea, ole' farmer Johnson built that place for his daughter, just after the war" you heard all you need to. Good luck.

ctmustache

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Re: Foundation comprised of field stone and concrete
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2013, 11:45:33 AM »
Haha, what you're saying rings true as there is also a much older barn on the property. I was wondering if the 1950s cape was built on the footprint and foundation of an older building. If so, they must have removed some of the old stone foundation, and poured concrete. 

What I didn't mention was that the house also features a DIY dormer with significant water infiltration. The eave on the side with the dormer is up and down like a yoyo. Interestingly, there is a brand new, forced air furnace in the basement with new duct work throughout the building. Also a new well was just dug. I don't understand the thought process. The property is offered at a low price, but I've got to think remedying the structural problems alone (before replacing windows, siding, insulating, electrical, plumbing, wall configuration) makes this a horrible money pit.