Site raising recommendations?

[oceanrover]

We raised a site for house construction 3 years ago. It was raised roughly 1.5m, .5 Rai. I am concerned that it did not rest long enough to settle and we are going to have foundation issues in the near future. I want to plan accordingly for the next build and I am fairly certain that I will want to raise the land again. Some people say two full rainy seasons and other say only one? I would rather have some scientific method to test for stability and some engineering built in to minimize the chance of settling.

 

Recommendations? Experience?

[Edge RIP]

.

As I understand it, the alternative to waiting for the 1.5m to settle, would have been to put the concrete pads and reinforced pillars into the virgin soil and then backfill around them. Then construction can proceed and the only concern is the floor infills. In the case of a raised house such as I built it's just the concrete you drive on or keep the buffalo on.

In the case of a house on ground level I appreciate that you may be concerned about internal floors cracking.

 

Even if you've already backfilled, provided you dig down into the original settled level sufficiently, then I don't see why the building should move.

[oceanrover]

Good point Edge.

 

I can incorporate that into the initial design and put in a steel joists below the main floor to ensure no cracking on the main floor. I would prefer to use wood, but i think not in Thailand as I feed the bugs enough already. The price may go up a little, but it will be stout for sure. Investigation will continue.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

OR

[Edge RIP]

............... put in a steel joists below the main floor to ensure no cracking on the main floor. I would prefer to use wood, but i think not in Thailand as I feed the bugs enough already. ..................

 

Presumably you could just do the main/ground floor the same as they do the upper floors i.e. lay pre-cast reinforced panels and then screed on top. I don't think they're very expensive.

 

I did about 150 sq mt of hardwood floor with skirting board and it was beautiful, but I wouldn't do it again.

I didn't stay long enough to find out if termites (or ants) would cause problems, but the fear of people scratching it was a pain and don't ever let it get wet.

 

[oceanrover]

Nice floor, but I agree with the fear of someone scratching it or it getting wet. Tile will be called for I suspect.

 

Thanks.