Need Geotech Engineer in Cashiers, NC

[ClemsonEngr]

I have a vacation house in the mountains of Cashiers, NC. The house sits on a fairly steep slope overlooking a lake. Over the past thirty years the house has settled a bit. I am not sure if it is enough to need to start thinking about doing some repairs to the foundation or not. (Perhaps add some helical piles?)

Does anyone have a recommendation for an Engineer or firm that covers this area that is decent? I am looking for someone to come and evaluate, and make recommendations. Since I live in south florida, and this is out of my field, I have no idea who to call. Perhaps someone would be interested in trading 2 weeks rent for some Engineering services? (The house and small town are beautiful, sleeps 12 comfortably). I can send pictures if someone is interested.

 

[FLBuff PE]

I have a vacation house in the mountains of Cashiers, NC. The house sits on a fairly steep slope overlooking a lake. Over the past thirty years the house has settled a bit. I am not sure if it is enough to need to start thinking about doing some repairs to the foundation or not. (Perhaps add some helical piles?)
Does anyone have a recommendation for an Engineer or firm that covers this area that is decent? I am looking for someone to come and evaluate, and make recommendations. Since I live in south florida, and this is out of my field, I have no idea who to call. Perhaps someone would be interested in trading 2 weeks rent for some Engineering services? (The house and small town are beautiful, sleeps 12 comfortably). I can send pictures if someone is interested.

I work for a geotechnical/environmental firm in Colorado, and get these questions every now and then. If you want the foundation evaluated, I would recommend hiring (or trading rent for) a structural engineer. Any idea what kind of soil the foundations are on? Do you see evidence of settling (cracks on walls, doors and windows have difficulty operating)? Another thing to consider is groundwater. If possible, I would try to get a hold of the plans for the house, and see what the foundation system is, then try to get a hold of the soils and foundation investigation for the house (if it exists). At that point, try to determine if the recommendations were followed. It does not sound as if you are extremely worried, but I must warn you: the investigation to determine the amount, severity and cause of settling could be VERY expensive, not to mention mitigation. I would recommend hiring a structural to evaluate damage to the foundation (if any), then decide what you want to do about it. Hope this gives you some direction! :2cents:

 

[ClemsonEngr]

The house is a wood framed house that sits on piers. The soil could best be desribed as poorly graded with boulders, gravel, and fine silt. Yes, the windows are not opening, that is what got me started. There is only one area that really concerns me. there was a MASSIVE hemlock (which has since died) adjacent to this particular pier, and I am thinking that over the years this pier has settled as the roots rotted away. So (although I am a water guy) perhaps the thing to do is reinforce this peir with some helical piles??

 

[chaosiscash]

None of your Clemson buds still in the area? Cashiers isn't far, you might get somebody to shoot up there and take a look. If you don't have anybody, let me know and I'll call a Civil buddy of mine that used to work in the area and see if he has any recommendations. After all, most folks I know in Clemson will take any excuse to drive to Cashiers just to eat at that BBQ place on the left as you get into town.

 

[ClemsonEngr]

After all, most folks I know in Clemson will take any excuse to drive to Cashiers just to eat at that BBQ place on the left as you get into town.

Chaos,

Yea Carolina BBQ is damn good. It burnt down about 10 years ago, then they rebuilt. I can't respect any BBQ that doesn't burn down every 20 years or so. Most everyone I know moved away. Strange, but almost all of the CE's I know went into construction.

 

[FLBuff PE]

Any idea how deep the piers are? If the hemlock was deep enough, I could see that having an effect on the pier, but the pier should be deep enough to withstand this (notice the use of the word 'should'). Is the settlement in just the one area of the house that you are concerned about?

 

[ClemsonEngr]

^^ yes the settlement is only in one area. The hemlock was a monster of a tree. The pier in question is 4-5' deep.

 

[FLBuff PE]

^^ yes the settlement is only in one area. The hemlock was a monster of a tree. The pier in question is 4-5' deep.

Was the hemlock removed? Regardless, it sounds like the pier was not adequately supported by the surrounding soil. It sounds like you can forgo the structural and go and find yourself a geotech. Sorry to hijack the thread. It sounds to me like the soil could support the house on footing foundations, but that is just my guess. Good luck!

 

[ClemsonEngr]

Was the hemlock removed? Regardless, it sounds like the pier was not adequately supported by the surrounding soil. It sounds like you can forgo the structural and go and find yourself a geotech. Sorry to hijack the thread. It sounds to me like the soil could support the house on footing foundations, but that is just my guess. Good luck!

Hey FL Buff, no the tree died years after the house was built. 5'diameter trunk! We had an arborist come look at the tree when it was dying he said it was just old age..

 

[FLBuff PE]

Any luck with finding a geotech, ClemsonEngr?