Home Teardown and Keeping Foundation

1/18/2022 at 10:05:41 AM

The existing foundation relies on the connection to the floor structure for lateral bracing whenever backfill heights exceed 4'. Your idea may be possible with engineering involvement.

Also, your basement floor would not meet current Code as there have been changes with respect to control of soil gas (radon) including granular beneath the slab, a continuous poly barrier, etc. You may require a sump for the weeping tile.

Also, if you have the same problem there as we do in Edmonton you may only have a single coat of foundation damp-proofing whereas the standard referenced in the Code requires two.

1/18/2022 at 11:47:17 AM

So the existing foundation would have to be brought up to code? Or only new additions/foundations that are poured would have to be newly built to code?

1/18/2022 at 12:28:34 PM

The existing foundation would NOT need to be brought up to Code except for any structural aspects (not the floor slab or the damp-proofing if deficient - those were only comments).

Also, if for example you are planning to put a two storey structure over a foundation which had supported only one storey the footing width would need to be verified for adequacy. If the loading of the new structure is different any pad footings would also need to be verified.