Log Home on stilts

[Staciann]

Hello there,
My husband and I are considering taking the June class. We are looking at purchasing land on a river front and would like to build a cabin. The area is prone to flooding occasionally, so the cabin would have to be raised up. Has anyone accomplished this using Skip's teachings? We are really excited about what we have been reading about the associate, but we were curious if this topic would be covered in class?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[loghousenut]

How tall?



Oh, and welcome to the friendliest little log homebuilding forum on the net, Staciann.

[Staciann]

How tall?



Oh, and welcome to the friendliest little log homebuilding forum on the net, Staciann.

Thank you! We will probably have to raise it 2-3 feet. I am still in the process of researching the requirements based on the flood elevation. I would be curious to understand the difference though if we had to raise it, let's say... 5-6 feet too.

[loghousenut]

Childs play. Take the class.

[Staciann]

Okay, sounds great. I was mostly worried about getting around the building requirement for making it raised up. Just wanted to make sure we could get the info we need. :)

[Blondie]

That is what Engineers are for!

Blondie

[rocklock]

The generic plan is on piers, which are stilts on steroids. To prevent them moving around I would suggest some kind of footing that connects. BOC the exact dimensions should be engineered...

Best of luck

[rreidnauer]

Difference between 2 or 3 feet, vs. 5 or 6 feet, is leverage of wind or seismic loading. Have you ever put a cheater bar on your socket wrench?

[Plumb Level]

I know of some homes in Florida that are built on "almost" traditional foundation with a breakaway flood gate in several areas to allow water to pass on through the structure, rather than push against it. These houses are on the coast and are built this way to deal with potential storm surge from a hurricane.

So I would think there would be a way to do this with a stem wall foundation.

I guess the obvious question would be is there a way to set the home back and up from the flood plain and still get the view you are looking for?

[thoner7]

ive seen homes on the carolina cost a good 10-12 feet in the air.

IMO building one of these log homes on stilts would be a lot easier that building a stick frame on stilts

[RockEngineer]

That is what Engineers are for!

Blondie

You will need an engineer who is licensed to practice in your area. If your local engineer can engineer a pier foundation for your local conditions I can help them understand the peculiar requirements for engineering this type of log home. The Log Home Builders Association is always good for help and ideas.

[LowKey]

I'll be needing to build mine on taller piers as well. My property has a good bit of slope to it, so at the very least the downhill side will have to be on fairly tall piers.
Since I'm also on the border of a "B" and "C" seismic design category area (which isn't so bad) but I like the idea of seriously overbuilding for stability. At the moment I'm thinking of-
1- Digging down to bedrock (probably just a few feet given the shallow average depth of soil on the island).
2- Drilling a few 12 inch deep holes into the bedrock and inserting rebar pins with some epoxy to seriously insure the rebar can't come out.
3- Then pour some short, wide, RC piers.
4- Timber posts of the various heights as needed, connected together post & beam style with ample corner/cross braces.

[2Determined2Quit]

Are screw pilings an option for a Butt and Pass build? I am assuming you would have to modify the support head to incorporate a plate with vertical rebar to accommodate the first course?

[rreidnauer]

I don't think the top junction would be as much of an issue as the bottom bearing area poses. I'd imagine many would be required to handle the weight of a LHBA home.

[2Determined2Quit]

Of course all of this might change after taking the class, but from what we have researched (economically, enviromentally & easy of installation)...our plan for our 1-1/2 story 28x28 home is to use 25 screw pilings, 3.5" tubing with 14" helix, 10' depth into clay soil.


I am guestimating that our home will weigh approx 150,000 lb max....any help on this guess from all the wisdom of this group would be appreciated!!

We, thankfully, don't have to deal with engineers, blueprints, inspections, permits, etc....but of course we want to "overbuild" to make sure everything will be there for years to come, and of course to ensure our safety :)

[LowKey]

2Determined2Quit,
Like you, the only "code" I need to comply with are the laws of physics....
Amy info I get I'll happily share with you!

[rreidnauer]

Amy info I get I'll happily share with you!
If she's cute, I'll take her number.

[LowKey]

If she's cute, I'll take her number.

You might not say that if you knew how many cute Thai ladies would swarm at such an offer......

[donjuedo]

Thai ladies named, "Amy"?

[LowKey]

Thai ladies named, "Amy"?

Yup.
And Ami.
My wife gets inundated with requests from ladies to introduce them to "nice guy's looking to settle down" every time she visits home, as if we had a supply of bachelors in a warehouse ready to be handed out like some bizarre version of Amaz*n. :D

[rckclmbr428]

Seems to be a theme with lhba people and thai/Phillipines women, maybe Rod is next in line?

[allen84]

Yup.
And Ami.
My wife gets inundated with requests from ladies to introduce them to "nice guy's looking to settle down" every time she visits home, as if we had a supply of bachelors in a warehouse ready to be handed out like some bizarre version of Amaz*n. :D

I've heard of mail-order brides... You may be onto something there LowKey. Might make for some difficulty at tax time but if polygamy becomes acceptable, men would probably line up to be selected.

[loghousenut]

Yup.
And Ami.
My wife gets inundated with requests from ladies to introduce them to "nice guy's looking to settle down" every time she visits home, as if we had a supply of bachelors in a warehouse ready to be handed out like some bizarre version of Amaz*n. :D
We have that warehouse!!! It is called Pelican Bay!

[rawson]

Go for it, the USA needs more tax payers.

[LowKey]

We have that warehouse!!! It is called Pelican Bay!

Poor quality of goods there, I can only imaging the number of returns and customer complaints.:rolleyes:

Maybe we could use your place as the warehouse...unfinished buildings are good as storage units.

[JSmith]

Funny. Low blow, but funny:)

[LowKey]

Funny. Low blow, but funny:)

Not meant as a low blow.

[LowKey]

Funny. Low blow, but funny:)

Not meant as a low blow.

[loghousenut]

I thought it was funny.

[loghousenut]

I reread it and thought it was funny again.