Morningside Renovation

Our Journey Through The Renovation Process Of Our Future "Forever Home" In Morningside (Atlanta,GA)

Tag Archives: Foundation (engineering)


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Let’s Keep It Going

Our Structural Engineer has been trying to reach our GC for 5 days to find out when they will pour the remainder of the form walls, core the drainage holes, drill (check) the slab for grade beams – still hasn’t been done, and pour the remainder of the slab.  A simple returned call, email or text would be appreciated.

(I did receive my Realtime Landscaping Plus 2012 software today and can’t wait to install it!!  Ok, a little premature in the process but I’m looking forward to trying to design the play area in the back for the boys as well as exploring the possibilities for the front yard.)


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Another Delay, Trying to Have Patience

Our GC informed our Structural Engineer that it will be Monday before they start back on the project – nothing like letting 2 great days of weather pass by without taking advantage of them.  They’re suppose to do the rest of the underpinning on Monday, then move the incorrectly placed plumbing.  He did say that they will be in touch about drilling for the grade beams on Monday – curious as to what they will find. Does anyone want to place a bet?


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Ok, Seems as if We’re Moving Forward

The form walls were poured today and our GC says that they will pour the new carport slab when they re-pour the portions of the basement slab.  I’m not holding my breath but that sounds good to me.


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The Punches Keep Coming

After inspecting our new slab the Structural Engineer we hired feels pretty confident that the slab doesn’t have the necessary grade beams which were in the plans.  How is this missed? My opinion, lack of supervision and possibly cutting corners.  Question, what is to support the fireplace on the above floor?  I think I know the answer, nothing.  Glad that I caught it now instead of 5-10 years from now.  And… the recently RE-POURED walls for the carport, well they’re actually foundation walls and not retaining walls.  Meaning that our Structural Engineer will need to redesign our carport/deck plan – thanks Mr. Architect, great job.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, the walls aren’t deep enough which means that we will need to redesign the plan since our GC has stated that he won’t dig it up.  Totally doesn’t make sense with his stance, he screwed up so wouldn’t one think that he should replace it.  Please make this stop, please!!!


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Footings Poured

The footings which will eventually be part of the foundation wall system to connect the existing house with the expansion were poured today.  Yes!!!!  Our Structural Engineer says they look great, however you would think that after all of the other previous bad pours and mistakes our GC would have been there to at least supervise.  Nope, once again he left it to his subs.  It is no wonder why we have had so many issues. 

At least Max enjoyed seeing the cement truck, he was even able to press a button to extend the boom – what simple things that can make a 3 year olds day.  At least he’s loving all of this and thankfully he’s too unaware of the sh!t storm his mom and I’ve been through with our GC throughout this whole process. 

Being positive, while I’m still highly frustrated, at least we’re finally taking a step forward.  Next up, foundation walls and then the slabs!!


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Backed Up

GC informed us that it will be Friday, at the earliest, when the concrete company will be able to pour.  He says that the concrete sub is a little backed up.  Really?  I hate, absolutely hate that I now doubt almost everything that he says and feel as if I can’t depend on him.


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That Explains Things

Our GC told us that they are supposed to finish the excavating for the footings as well as the grading today and they will pour either tomorrow or Thursday.  We’re still trying to get them to drill for the grade beams, however their reluctance is puzzling.  Our luck they didn’t do it but again, I don’t understand how they could make this mistake since they’re on the plan, but that hasn’t prevented screwups so far.  I did have an interesting conversation with one of the subs today.  I stopped by this morning and asked them about some of the previous mistakes and he told me that the majority of the time our GC leaves the decisions up to the subs and that they very rarely see him at any of their jobs; before, during or after.  Yep, confirms my suspicions of there being a lack of supervision.  15% for sitting on his rump and quarterbacking from his desk – just answers so many questions as to why a lot of the issues/mistakes/screw ups weren’t caught.


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Another Sacrifice

We found out today that we will now only have 1 entrance connecting both basements, I would rather not expand on it but I’m sure you have an idea as to the root of it.

Our Structural Engineer is still concerned that we don’t have the appropriate grade beams laid within the foundation however the concrete sub “thinks” they did it but did admit that he was unsure.  Our GC?  As expected he remained quiet.  He has no idea being that he didn’t visit the site from grading until the day framing was to begin.

Tip to All:  Make sure you have a good Construction Manager as well as GC.  One who will visit the project, takes an interest in it and values his clients.