Building in a flood zone, any inexpensive foundations?

[texasmann]

Anyone know how to build an inexpensive foundation in a flood zone. I need a 60" foundation and the builder wants $15,000

[barn-apart]

I have used pier systems. Drill holes ,pour footers and set sono tubes on top of footers ,fill with rebar and concrete. Could also use treated post if you can get it by the buiilding dept. Least expensive I have used.

[ricky]

6x6 posts every 10 feet and cap it with a box made from 2x6 or 2x8. so you have a 6x6 samitched by the 2x6 or a 2x8 toped with a 2x10 does that make any sense? then lay out your floor joices and box that 3/4 t/g sub floor use some bridging and adheasive. dont know if you have any code but i think you can do it for that much cash

[rambler]

Sounds like a Fema case in the making. Don't know why the let people build in flood plains. Just doesn't make any sense. Why?

I know, I'm not helping. And I don't mean to pick on ya, looks like you are new to this place. Welcome & all, hope you have a good time.

Just some things don't make sense to people on the other side of the fence, is all.

--->Paul

[Stetson Creek]

Please carry flood insurance! I am still stinging mad over the fact that mot of New Orleans was below sea level and didn't carry insurance, so you and I had to bail them out!

[uncle Will in In.]

Put in large treated poles as if building a tall pole barn. Use the lower level for a garage and put the living quarters in the second story. Then get the vehicles to high ground, and tie the boat to the upper deck when any signs of flooding come along. Forget the flood insurance. What was the deepest flood water has ever been in the last hundred years?? You can figure it will get about three feet deeper than that after you get moved in.

[hunter63]

Originally Posted by texasmann

Anyone know how to build an inexpensive foundation in a flood zone. I need a 60" foundation and the builder wants $15,000

Welcome aboard, but the words "inexpensive foundation" and "flood zone" do not belong in the same sentience.
Around here you can't build on one.
Good luck

[VALENT]

texasmann, if you need to go up 60 inches to get out of the flood zone, then I would follow Uncle Will's advice. Instead of looking for inexpensive, look for extra use out of the investment. Mine was about 30 inches and I built a cmu foundation. It cost less than 15K, but was a lot of work. It is hopefully overbuilt.

[Sand Flat Bob]

Originally Posted by texasmann

Anyone know how to build an inexpensive foundation in a flood zone. I need a 60" foundation and the builder wants $15,000

In Texas, by law, there is no such thing as an inexpensive foundation. All foundations or structural slabs must be warranted by the builder for I think 25 years. To meet this, the builders buy insurance, so the insurance companies set the standards on how they are built. They don't care how much it costs, they want to make sure they never have to pay off on the insurance. I have a neighbor who built in a low or flood prone area, filled 6feet of compacted earth above the existing grade. They had to drill piers that went down a min. of 10 feet in undisturbed earth, which meant that they were over all 16 feet deep and each pier was 1 foot in diameter with # 5 rebar shoved in each pier, piers were on 4 ft. centers. My neighbor had a 2400 ft. of living area in a 1 1/2 story house and the slab and piers cost $17,000 and that was 3 years ago, everything is higher now.

Sorry,

Bob

[TxAprilMagic]

Originally Posted by Stetson Creek

Please carry flood insurance! I am still stinging mad over the fact that mot of New Orleans was below sea level and didn't carry insurance, so you and I had to bail them out!

New Orleans has always been under sea level , nine feet, since the first ships landed there. That was never a mystery. New Orleans doesn't have a moat around Lake Pontchartrain, it is a levee. A moat is dug under and a levee is built up. The reason for a levee is to keep the water back since it is higher than the land around it, hence flooding. So New Orleans has always been subject to flooding everyday of it's existence since they first built a levee on ground below sea level.

The 5th ward as they call it that flooded when the levees broke were the original slave quarters back from the 1800. The people who live in the 5th ward are ones who don't work, never have worked, never intended to work a real job ever and leave that place. They are decendents of the slave trade , both white and black and they take full advantage of that. Yes, they traded white slaves on the block too. They live off of welfare, handouts, free, free and more free then cry and moan about what they don't have.They steal, rob, rape and pillage. They wanted to live that way. They liked it. We have always been bailing them out.

They didn't have flood insurance anymore than they have a earned dollar in their pockets. They thrive on the fact that they are poor black, poor white and decendents from slaves and the government and the United States (OUR TAX MONEY) owes them a living for the rest of their life. Most of those houses were made out of tar paper , that those people stole from wherever, and boards proped up for support. Flood insurance comes from the government only. You can't buy flood insurance from a private company. My point is, our tax money supports these people whom have made living on welfare and handouts a way of life and will continue to do so. So as far as them not having flood insurance , doesn't really matter, we , the taxpayers have been footing the bill for the 5th ward since the ships landed. So , it doesn't even make a difference about their insurance since we have always been stuck with the bill. I say that GOD did the world a favor when he cleansed that place. It was so riddled with crime, deplorable living conditions and they just kept having more children on welfare to live a life of give me, give me can you spare. No matter what you did for those people they destroyed it and expected more. Those people made the 5th ward what it was and GOD TOOK IT OUT. Maybe , just maybe most won't go back and make a decent life for themselves away from New Orleans and realize that their is more to life than the way they lived which was a horrible place to begin with.
Before anyone gets their panties in a wad, how I know so much , I grew up in La. , I played a many times on the levee of Lake Pontchartrain. I left La. at 18 and never looked back. I had to leave there in order to get an education. I am sorry to say that the whole state is pretty much like New Orleans and always will be. But please , don't call it a mot (your spelling) which is wrong. It is spelled moat. It is a levee.

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by texasmann

Anyone know how to build an inexpensive foundation in a flood zone. I need a 60" foundation and the builder wants $15,000

60", wow!

Mine is 30" high and cost me $300 (including post concrete). I put it on 4x6 pressure treated posts spaced at about 6 feet. I have 16 posts in all for a 16x16 footprint. I dug the post holes to 42" (36" frost depth, plus 6") and cut them off above ground even at 30". I dug the post holes manually and mixed the concrete in a wheelbarrow, one bag at a time.

If you really need to go to 60" I would use at least 6x6s (railroad ties would be best if they're long enough), and use mobile home anchors to keep your place from blowing over.

Here's my place.

[tamsam]

Just get a good house boat and tie it to the closest tree. Personally I would never build anything in a flood plan as I have seen floods and the damage they can do. Good luck and hope for low water. Sam

[texican]

If 5' is required, I'd go ten or twelve... Why not just build it up on poles... I've seen it done.

I think federal flood insurance should be abolished. If it were, there'd be very few folks building in flood plains or along the coast. If uncle sammy bails folks out every time they get flooded, and get a new home out of the deal, why not build wherever.

15K sounds cheap for the project....

[JGex]

Originally Posted by TxAprilMagic

New Orleans has always been under sea level , nine feet, since the first ships landed there. That was never a mystery. New Orleans doesn't have a moat around Lake Pontchartrain, it is a levee. A moat is dug under and a levee is built up. The reason for a levee is to keep the water back since it is higher than the land around it, hence flooding. So New Orleans has always been subject to flooding everyday of it's existence since they first built a levee on ground below sea level.

The 5th ward as they call it that flooded when the levees broke were the original slave quarters back from the 1800. The people who live in the 5th ward are ones who don't work, never have worked, never intended to work a real job ever and leave that place. They are decendents of the slave trade , both white and black and they take full advantage of that. Yes, they traded white slaves on the block too. They live off of welfare, handouts, free, free and more free then cry and moan about what they don't have.They steal, rob, rape and pillage. They wanted to live that way. They liked it. We have always been bailing them out.

They didn't have flood insurance anymore than they have a earned dollar in their pockets. They thrive on the fact that they are poor black, poor white and decendents from slaves and the government and the United States (OUR TAX MONEY) owes them a living for the rest of their life. Most of those houses were made out of tar paper , that those people stole from wherever, and boards proped up for support. Flood insurance comes from the government only. You can't buy flood insurance from a private company. My point is, our tax money supports these people whom have made living on welfare and handouts a way of life and will continue to do so. So as far as them not having flood insurance , doesn't really matter, we , the taxpayers have been footing the bill for the 5th ward since the ships landed. So , it doesn't even make a difference about their insurance since we have always been stuck with the bill. I say that GOD did the world a favor when he cleansed that place. It was so riddled with crime, deplorable living conditions and they just kept having more children on welfare to live a life of give me, give me can you spare. No matter what you did for those people they destroyed it and expected more. Those people made the 5th ward what it was and GOD TOOK IT OUT. Maybe , just maybe most won't go back and make a decent life for themselves away from New Orleans and realize that their is more to life than the way they lived which was a horrible place to begin with.
Before anyone gets their panties in a wad, how I know so much , I grew up in La. , I played a many times on the levee of Lake Pontchartrain. I left La. at 18 and never looked back. I had to leave there in order to get an education. I am sorry to say that the whole state is pretty much like New Orleans and always will be. But please , don't call it a mot (your spelling) which is wrong. It is spelled moat. It is a levee.

I wish I had enough time to debunk this post.

It wasn't just the 5th ward, it was also the 9th and 7th wards which were primarily homes owned by the residents including people like Fats Domino. The projects are a different story altogether, but many of the homes that were flooded were owned by blue collar working class people.

And while you are on your high horse about "God taking them out," remember it was God who created them as well.

Oh, and Dude wasn't spelling MOAT, he was spelling MOST.

[Toads tool]

In the flood plane over home they won't allow any perminent foundations or if so then the house must be moveable,I.E. mobile home.

If you are going to go 60" then why not just put in a full basement? You could put the whole foundation and first story all in concrete, if there is a flood it would only get the concrete part.

Alot of people along the rivers would drive in telephone poles for the corners and tie into them.

[TxAprilMagic]

[QUOTE=JGex]I wish I had enough time to debunk this post.

It wasn't just the 5th ward, it was also the 9th and 7th wards which were primarily homes owned by the residents including people like Fats Domino. The projects are a different story altogether, but many of the homes that were flooded were owned by blue collar working class people.

And while you are on your high horse about "God taking them out," remember it was God who created them as well.

Oh, and Dude wasn't spelling MOAT, he was spelling MOST.[/QUOTE



No, it was mot (moat). They were talking about the 5th ward. The other sections had insurance and a means to leave or rebuild. All the crime and destruction that went on in the dome were the ones from the 5th ward. All the people on the roof tops shooting at the people trying to rescue them were the 5th ward. There is no high horse here , just a fact. We have always bailed those people out and will continue to do so. I feel very sorry for most of them that the families had stayed over the past 200 years and made that kind of life a way of life. Unless you have ever been to the 5th ward and seen the way they live, have seen how they live and listen to them talk about how everyone owes them a living then you really can't debunk much of anything. I know they are rebuilding for most but the 5th ward needs to be declared a thing of the past or it will wind up just like it was, deplorable. Yes, it was GOD who created them. "The Lord" give and "The Lord" can take away. So debunk all you want. I saw it before it was destroyed by "Katrina" and it was a blessing it is gone. I do though, pray for the lives that were lost and know that they are in a much better place with "GOD" then the 5th ward.

[half-life]

Originally Posted by TxAprilMagic

I say that GOD did the world a favor when he cleansed that place. It was so riddled with crime, deplorable living conditions and they just kept having more children on welfare to live a life of give me, give me can you spare. No matter what you did for those people they destroyed it and expected more. Those people made the 5th ward what it was and GOD TOOK IT OUT. Maybe , just maybe most won't go back and make a decent life for themselves away from New Orleans and realize that their is more to life than the way they lived which was a horrible place to begin with.
Before anyone gets their panties in a wad, how I know so much , I grew up in La. , I played a many times on the levee of Lake Pontchartrain. I left La. at 18 and never looked back. I had to leave there in order to get an education. I am sorry to say that the whole state is pretty much like New Orleans and always will be. But please , don't call it a mot (your spelling) which is wrong. It is spelled moat. It is a levee.

Ok Miss April Magic, you really touched a nerve

You speak the words of a hypocrite, one who gives true Christianity a bad name. A true Christian would have been there helping not complaining about how 'deplorable" the people were that lived there. Christ hung out with thieves and prostitutes and looked down upon those who judged others. He also taught us to live by example, as in, through our actions we can influence the lives of others. Fine example you seem to be, but who am I to be the one to judge. I don't know you, I just know your words which doesn't paint a very Christian like image.

Would you say those things if Christ was standing in front of you? I highly doubt it. How do you know what God does and what he doesn't do when it comes to destroying cities? You need to check yourself and your beliefs because the way you seem to spout of about the poor of the world, you totally missed Christ's message to all of us "Help the lesser among us and love thy neighbor". The one you need to be praying for is yourself.

I follow Christian principles of love an understanding. It really upsets me when people who claim to be Christians act in a total different manner than Christ taught while spewing ignorance in his name.

You'll be in my prayers.

[The Paw]

Originally Posted by half-life

Ok Miss April Magic, you really touched a nerve

You speak the words of a hypocrite, one who gives true Christianity a bad name. A true Christian would have been there helping not complaining about how 'deplorable" the people were that lived there. Christ hung out with thieves and prostitutes and looked down upon those who judged others. He also taught us to live by example, as in, through our actions we can influence the lives of others. Fine example you seem to be, but who am I to be the one to judge. I don't know you, I just know your words which doesn't paint a very Christian like image.

Would you say those things if Christ was standing in front of you? I highly doubt it. How do you know what God does and what he doesn't do when it comes to destroying cities? You need to check yourself and your beliefs because the way you seem to spout of about the poor of the world, you totally missed Christ's message to all of us "Help the lesser among us and love they neighbor". The one you need to be praying for is yourself.

I follow Christian principles of love an understanding. It really upsets me when people who claim to be Christians act in a total different manner than Christ taught while spewing ignorance in his name.

You'll be in my prayers.

Every once in a while, a Christian says something that even a Philistine like me can get behind... props to you....

[EDDIE BUCK]

My advice would be to find another place not in a flood plane. Been there done that lost two houses before I got out. First house was a 48 inch foundation. Water 1 ft deep inside. Second house, 6 and a half ft foundation, water was 5 and a half ft. Inside. If it wasn't for my wife and seeing how bad the floods were on her, I would have stayed there. Even with all that water and everything we went through, I enjoyed living there more than any other place I have lived. Our closest neighbor was a half mile away. That is worth a lot right there lol. Now if you are bound and determind to live there, try to find the oldest person in that area that you can find, and ask them what is the highest the water level they have ever seen? Now go and talk to a foundation contractor about making your foundation the higheth the old person told you, PLUS 4 FEET. Next thing I would do is make a list of everything you have that cannot be replaced. Wedding pictures, childrens pictures, Whatever. Then find someone you can trust, that lives outside the flood plane, and store all your keep sakes with them. I didn't and lost all of them too PS, that old person that I asked, when that last flood come, you could step out of a flat bottom boat on to the top of HIS house . So much for asking an old person, LOL To tell the truth no one knows but God, and like the" Bushes Baked Bean" commercial says "HE AIN"T TALKING" LOL Eddie

[half-life]

Thanks Paw, but I'm not a Christian, I'm a Buddhist. I was raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church and left because of all the hypocracy of people who could not follow in Christ's footsteps but claim to. I still follow Christ's teachings but realized I could never be the Christian Christ wanted me to be. Buddhism is teaching me about myself and through that helping me to understand what true Chrristianity and compassion is all about.

April Magic is claiming to follow Christ and then doing the things he so adamantly spoke out against. A large portion of self proclaiming Christians are not true Christians. Christ said laid down your wealth and follow me and you will be provided for. He spoke of helping others while not asking for anything in return except for knowing you are doing the one thing that can make you more like him, giving of yourself unselfishly.

I could not do that, so instead of being a hypocrite, I left the church to better myself and hopefully someday be more like Christ in my actions. I now work with charity groups to feed those who cannot help themselves. I don't judge the people I help. I just help them and hopefully through my actions make them want to be more compassionate and help others.

I wished more Christians would do the same.