Hi all-
Not strictly a DIY, admittedly, although I am being attentive and interested in the construction process.
We are having an addition built onto the back of our home, replacing an enclosed patio/sunroom. The old sunroom was aluminum and sliders, and has already been removed. The old room was constructed on a square concrete slab, 14'x14'. The new room will be built without removing this old slab, but will be 16'x16'. The new room will be a standard living space, built with studs, drywall, with new vinyl windows, a slider and a fiberglass entry door.
Our contractor says he can construct the room essentially like a deck. He dug 4 holes for what he called footers, but I think are more accurately called piers (correct me if I'm wrong). These holes are deep enough to be below frost, and are just to the outside of the concrete slab. so the room will attach to the house (obviously) and then be built on the beams on top of these piers, as well as supports on the existing slab, as I understand it.
My well-meaning and well-informed Father-in-Law does not think this is acceptable for such a room. He wants me to press the contractor to make an old-fashioned 3-foot continuous footer.
I'm a grown man with kids of my own, but I feel like a kid myself as I try to make sense of 2 different techniques for footings! My township's building inspector will be visiting Monday to inspect the work before the contractor pours concrete, so I guess I'll get at least the town's requirements, but I'd love to get some info from any of you all who are knowledgable. Thanks for anything you can share.
JC
Not strictly a DIY, admittedly, although I am being attentive and interested in the construction process.
We are having an addition built onto the back of our home, replacing an enclosed patio/sunroom. The old sunroom was aluminum and sliders, and has already been removed. The old room was constructed on a square concrete slab, 14'x14'. The new room will be built without removing this old slab, but will be 16'x16'. The new room will be a standard living space, built with studs, drywall, with new vinyl windows, a slider and a fiberglass entry door.
Our contractor says he can construct the room essentially like a deck. He dug 4 holes for what he called footers, but I think are more accurately called piers (correct me if I'm wrong). These holes are deep enough to be below frost, and are just to the outside of the concrete slab. so the room will attach to the house (obviously) and then be built on the beams on top of these piers, as well as supports on the existing slab, as I understand it.
My well-meaning and well-informed Father-in-Law does not think this is acceptable for such a room. He wants me to press the contractor to make an old-fashioned 3-foot continuous footer.
I'm a grown man with kids of my own, but I feel like a kid myself as I try to make sense of 2 different techniques for footings! My township's building inspector will be visiting Monday to inspect the work before the contractor pours concrete, so I guess I'll get at least the town's requirements, but I'd love to get some info from any of you all who are knowledgable. Thanks for anything you can share.
JC