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JesseJoseph
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2019 09:23am
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I have searched for and read most everything on this site about building on skids, slopes and clay – THANK YOU all for the extensive info - but because I am still not quite clear, would now like to ask advice for my specific scenario.
I live in a temperate frost-free climate with an annual rainfall of about 18 inches in a seismically stable area, and I am planning to build a 16 X 30 foot single-story wood-frame cabin.
My soil has 6 inches of Loamy Sand and 12 inches of well-compacted Sandy Gravel before it hits at least 3 feet of red Clay Loam [likely much more]. The site has a slope of about 10%.
I also have two Yellowwoods with non-aggressive root systems which will grow to about 20 feet tall that are about 10 feet from the long low edge of the proposed building.
For reasons of view and solar I would prefer to build slightly off contour, such that I would have a difference in elevation at the corners of about 8 inches in the length and 19 inches in the width.
With this scenario and a modest budget would skids work, and if so:
Would it be better to rather build with the contour, even though it would increase to about 21 inches the side to side difference in height?
Would it serve to bring in heavy equipment to reduce the elevation differences?
Would it serve to go onto or even into the clay for at least the high side skid pads, and if so, how much sand should I then put back before the pad gets poured?
If not skids, what?
Any other comments or suggestions?
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2019 11:28am
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Some pics or drawings would help.
I personally would level. Probably bringing in extra soil.
I have clay under loam. In the spring the clay keeps the water up in the loam and it gets very soft. So I've tried 2 methods. Posts (couple different types). Skids.
For the skids (very little slope) I put down landscape fabric to keep the 10" of gravel from sinking into the loam. Then put the 12x20 building on the gravel pad.
Worked pretty good. Had some very minor subsidence in one corner. But not enough I had to relevel the building. Tho I suppose I could.
good luck
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fiftyfifty
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2019 11:56am
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Is there an experienced local builder of outbuildings (sheds etc.) that can tell you what is typically done for slopes like yours around where you live? The size of building you are planning is toward the upper limit of what is build on skids around here, but the temp, soil and precipitation are totally different here.
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2019 09:14pm
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I would level it . Depending on the trees and how their roots go. You could get a lot of work done in one day with an operator that knows how to landscape. And a professional landscaper probably give you some great advice on drainage Then you won’t have to deal with the slope ever again.
And you can use the skids on gravel bed .
But not much to go on . Have fun .
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JesseJoseph
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2019 08:29am
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Thanks for the replies!
Some pics attached.
I was thinking to scrape off the 6" of Loamy Sand to be used in our gardens, as it is very precious here.
Very few people do wood frame here in South Africa, as the relatively cheap labor and expensive wood encourages concrete and brick work, but I am looking  .
I'm pretty familiar with drainage systems, so that one is covered.
Regarding bringing in extra soil to level vs digging in to level, in both cases doesn't having different depths of soil over a clay base affect the stability of the skids?
Specifically, could I put one skid on pads that are on 3 inches of sand directly on or even in the clay, while the other skid is on pads that are on 3 inches of sand that are on 12 inches of sandy gravel which is on clay?
Building Site Layout
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Soil at Site
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2019 09:20am
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LEVEL, LEVEL, LEVEL.
One of my BIG regrets in building my cabin is that I didn't level the land up, and just put it on piers. I will freely admit now that I did a sub-standard job, based on what I know now (and didn't know then) and I fully expect to have to pay large amounts of money to have it corrected somewhere in the long-term future.
It would have cost me maybe $200 to have a guy come in with a bobcat and level it up and lay down a good gravel base. I could kick myself in the ass for not doing that.
Learn from my mistake.
Tim
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socceronly
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2019 04:37pm
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Cowracer.
If you do need to fix it in the future, the metal post guys have a way of doing that to correct/replace buggered piers.
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2019 04:53pm
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Quoting: socceronly If you do need to fix it in the future, the metal post guys have a way of doing that to correct/replace buggered piers.
So far, what I got is doing ok, for what it is. I am just afraid of 10-15 years in the future. I have learned in my life not to borrow trouble, so when that time comes, I will evaluate all options.
I just know that none of them would be anywhere as cheap as doing the bobcat/gravel thing would have been way back in the beginning.
Tim
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2019 06:51pm
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Quoting: Cowracer anywhere as cheap as doing the ... thing would have been way back in the beginning.
words every one of us has spoken at some time or the other.
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