Hello fellow home builders,
I wanted to start installing my fence along the street over the Easter weekend.
The plan is to build a wooden fence with panels measuring 180 x 180 cm (71 x 71 inches) attached to 9 x 9 cm (3.5 x 3.5 inches) wooden posts. I intended to mount the wooden posts on isolated footings using post anchors, which I have already obtained.
At the property boundary, there used to be a small wall with a typical metal mesh fence from the former East German era mounted on top. Most of this was demolished for the new construction, but a few pillars were left standing.
I started digging with a spade and an earth auger, only to find that the old foundation of the wall is still present at about 40 cm (16 inches) depth. Apparently, the demolition contractor only removed the brick wall itself but left the foundation in place.
I stopped work for now and took care of other tasks (spreading soil piles).
Now I am wondering how to proceed moving forward.
From my perspective, the options are:
1) Ignore it — simply pour the isolated footings on top of the old wall foundation, possibly making them a bit wider. There is a risk that the relatively large fence panels could topple together with the foundation during the next storm.
2) Break up the old foundation at specific points.
3) Drill two to three holes into the old foundation, insert reinforcing bars, and then pour concrete around them. This involves moderate effort since the old foundation must be sufficiently exposed. Is this better or does it hardly help if there is no really load-bearing connection?
3b) Properly bond the reinforcing bars with injection mortar or a similar product — creating a load-bearing connection but with increased effort and cost.
4) Excavate the old foundation completely using an excavator — this is the most labor-intensive and costly option, and ideally to be avoided.
I would appreciate any additions to my assessments or suggestions for other options I might not have considered yet...
Thank you and best regards,
Tolentino
I wanted to start installing my fence along the street over the Easter weekend.
The plan is to build a wooden fence with panels measuring 180 x 180 cm (71 x 71 inches) attached to 9 x 9 cm (3.5 x 3.5 inches) wooden posts. I intended to mount the wooden posts on isolated footings using post anchors, which I have already obtained.
At the property boundary, there used to be a small wall with a typical metal mesh fence from the former East German era mounted on top. Most of this was demolished for the new construction, but a few pillars were left standing.
I started digging with a spade and an earth auger, only to find that the old foundation of the wall is still present at about 40 cm (16 inches) depth. Apparently, the demolition contractor only removed the brick wall itself but left the foundation in place.
I stopped work for now and took care of other tasks (spreading soil piles).
Now I am wondering how to proceed moving forward.
From my perspective, the options are:
1) Ignore it — simply pour the isolated footings on top of the old wall foundation, possibly making them a bit wider. There is a risk that the relatively large fence panels could topple together with the foundation during the next storm.
2) Break up the old foundation at specific points.
3) Drill two to three holes into the old foundation, insert reinforcing bars, and then pour concrete around them. This involves moderate effort since the old foundation must be sufficiently exposed. Is this better or does it hardly help if there is no really load-bearing connection?
3b) Properly bond the reinforcing bars with injection mortar or a similar product — creating a load-bearing connection but with increased effort and cost.
4) Excavate the old foundation completely using an excavator — this is the most labor-intensive and costly option, and ideally to be avoided.
I would appreciate any additions to my assessments or suggestions for other options I might not have considered yet...
Thank you and best regards,
Tolentino
KingJulien12 Apr 2023 17:12Attention, these are just initial experiences and impressions!
I consider the risk with option 1) felt to be acceptable, but I would personally prefer to go with option 2), specifically 2c) 😉
Instead of using the extremely expensive injection mortar, simply make the holes a bit larger for the reinforcing bars and fill them with relatively fluid, fine, cement-based concrete.
I have also anchored reinforcing bars in a concrete wedge this way, and it has held very well so far.
Though, these bars aren’t subjected to much load.
I think this offers the best balance between effort and benefit.
I consider the risk with option 1) felt to be acceptable, but I would personally prefer to go with option 2), specifically 2c) 😉
Instead of using the extremely expensive injection mortar, simply make the holes a bit larger for the reinforcing bars and fill them with relatively fluid, fine, cement-based concrete.
I have also anchored reinforcing bars in a concrete wedge this way, and it has held very well so far.
Though, these bars aren’t subjected to much load.
I think this offers the best balance between effort and benefit.
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