How deep is the footer on this outside cement/stucco wall?

[jeromedawg]

Hey all,

Anyone have a best guess or know how deep the footer likely is on this wall?



I was wanting to run PVC under it to redirect runoff water from our backyard into the front yard area that's in front of the wall... I would want the water to approximately exit somewhere in the grassy lawn area pictured. I'm wondering if the footer would be too deep to even provision for this though

[sonofsven]

No idea, but a shovel will reveal all.

[jeromedawg]

No idea, but a shovel will reveal all.

I just realized I should probably just dig down to the existing drain and irrigation line(s) and that should give me a pretty good indication :) The only problem is that there are tough ficus tree roots in random spots, so digging often isn't as straightforward as it should be :(

[JLee]

No idea, but a shovel will reveal all.

I just realized I should probably just dig down to the existing drain and irrigation line(s) and that should give me a pretty good indication :) The only problem is that there are tough ficus tree roots in random spots, so digging often isn't as straightforward as it should be :(

I'd dig right at the edge of the wall on the opposite side of the trees - likely won't hit much for roots until you're below the wall?

[dougstash]

Local conditions and code dictate how deep a footer has to be. Think expansive soil, frost line, soil stability etc. without an as built drawing or digging it up there’s no way to know. Generally a footer must be 1.5x the thickness of a wall (minimum).  Have you considered core drilling through the wall to run the pipe?  That would avoid making a U shaped trap in said PVC where dirt and debris would have the chance to clog it

Most people don’t have equipment to core drill but you can rent one from most big box stores.

[joe189man]

Local conditions and code dictate how deep a footer has to be. Think expansive soil, frost line, soil stability etc. without an as built drawing or digging it up there’s no way to know. Generally a footer must be 1.5x the thickness of a wall (minimum).  Have you considered core drilling through the wall to run the pipe?  That would avoid making a U shaped trap in said PVC where dirt and debris would have the chance to clog it

Most people don’t have equipment to core drill but you can rent one from most big box stores.

This was my first thought, unless the elevation is a lot higher behind the wall, it would be difficult to get water to flow properly if you dug down under the wall. and have any drainage daylight in the grass

[jeromedawg]

Local conditions and code dictate how deep a footer has to be. Think expansive soil, frost line, soil stability etc. without an as built drawing or digging it up there’s no way to know. Generally a footer must be 1.5x the thickness of a wall (minimum).  Have you considered core drilling through the wall to run the pipe?  That would avoid making a U shaped trap in said PVC where dirt and debris would have the chance to clog it

Most people don’t have equipment to core drill but you can rent one from most big box stores.

Yea, that was my next thought but it sounds like a bit of a PITA. What I may end up doing is just leaving things as is and if I want irrigation I may repurpose the irrigation lines that are in place, replacing with drip conversion heads, and connecting the irrigation lines to a rainbarrel (instead of the sprinkler manifold/water main) so I'm still sourcing run-off water for irrigation.

[Tempname23]

I would get a 6 ft 1/4" steel rod, flatten one end until it is about 1/2" wide then file or grind it to a dull point. Get a tool that will measure 45* angle, insert the 6 ft iron rod into your cordless drill. Start 3 ft from the wall and drill down at a 45* angle, if you hit the footer (at about 4'3" of the rod) you know the footer is 3 ft or more, if you miss, go to 2 ft from the wall and do the same at the 45* angle. If you hit the footer, you know it is between 2 ft and 3 ft. If you still miss, drill at 1 ft. If you hit now you know it is, between 1 ft and 2 ft. You can narrow in by drilling at 1-1/2 ft.
   I have a 4ft rod like this, I have located my sewer pipe, I have located a 3/4" pvc electrical pipe that goes out to a shed, and I have located a 1" irrigation pipe. That is why I use a dull point, I want to know I hit the pipe, buy I don't want to pierce it.
 As a second thought and looking at the poor scale of my diagram, I think a 4ft rod will be long enough, Lowes or Home Depot probably have that length.

[index]

Judging by the palm trees. I'm guessing 18 inches. No more than 2 feet!