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Glueall20 · Jun 5, 2010, 07:17 PM

I noticed after 2 winters, a support pole in my new Morten building rose about 1 inch. I was hoping it would sink again as the weather got warmed, but it has not. Since the pole was near my side entry bi-folding door, the door frame also rose 1 inch from the concrete floor. Now the door nearest the raised pole does not shut without slamming it. How can I lower the support pole so my door and the door frame are aligned again? I believe I've improved the drainage so this problem does not happen again.

21boat · Jun 5, 2010, 07:37 PM

I would be patience and wait longer before I start changing things. Especially since it could happen again. Address the Freeze issue and see if that drainage helps to stop that lifting.

Meanwhile if it does re-settle in time and the drainage gets its next winter test then nothing more needs done. After the "winter" test I would change things If you do it now either way you may be changing things 2 or more times in an up or down direction

On a side note since its basically a new home check builders warranty on the structural end.

ballengerb1 · Jun 5, 2010, 07:43 PM

I don't think drainage caused this. Where all dug holes inspected and all were below your frost line. For a pole to heave frost got below the base and froze the earth. If I am correct this will happen every winter if you hit thet magical temp. We hit 30 below and parts of my plumbing started to freeze for the first time. 21boat's advice is good, be patient. Know anyone with a backhoe or 48" auger on a pto.

Glueall20 · Jun 5, 2010, 07:44 PM

On a side note since its basically a new home check builders warranty on the structural end.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the feedback. I will check with Morten.

Do you think it would help to park my 4000 lb tractor very near the post and area that rose 1 inch?

Glueall20 · Jun 5, 2010, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I don't think drainage caused this. Where all dug holes inspected and all were below your frost line. For a pole to heave frost got below the base and froze the earth. If I am correct this will happen every winter if you hit thet magical temp. We hit 30 below and parts of my plumbing started to freeze for the first time. 21boat's advice is good, be patient. Know anyone with a backhoe or 48" auger on a pto.

I'll contact Morten first for warranty. In case they won't help I do have a neighbor with a backhoe. Once excavated, what would one do?

ballengerb1 · Jun 5, 2010, 07:54 PM

Don't park the tractor near this pole. It will not help and could cause less settling. If you had to excavate you would dig or auger next to the pole and get well below the base. Jack the post into level with other posts and pour concrete under the base of the post but do not fill above the base of the post, that just traps water around the pole

21boat · Jun 5, 2010, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by Glueall20

On a side note since its basically a new home check builders warranty on the structural end.

Thank you for the feedback. I will check with Morten.

Do you think it would help to park my 4000 lb tractor very near the post and area that rose 1 inch?[/QUOTE]

If a tractor was the answer to these job problems I have a lot of leased tractors.

The Freeze is the factor to footer/pylon depth is the real issue and enough moisture to help that lift. . Possibly some one could have added an ext. door location change that would effect the finial grade It only takes a foot os so of dirt to let this happen

ballengerb1 · Jun 6, 2010, 07:59 AM

Key questions that need an answer. What is your frost line? How deep were the holes and were all holes inspected? What was used to back fill the holes?

Glueall20 · Jun 6, 2010, 10:04 AM

I will ask Morten Builders the answers to these questions, and post the answers soon.

Glueall20 · Jun 6, 2010, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by 21boat

Possibly some one could have added an ext. door location change that would effect the finial grade It only takes a foot os so of dirt to let this happen

Are you saying some water runoff this spring could have filled the hole and subsequently lifted the pole as it refreezed and thawed?

ballengerb1 · Jun 6, 2010, 10:39 AM

Sounds like that is a possibility but that would mean the hole was too shallow and not deeper than the frost line. That's why I asked if all holes were inspected by the building inspector. Also cone shaped holes back filled with concrete will lift even if they are deeper than the frost line. It is clearly an installation error somewhere.

21boat · Jun 6, 2010, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Glueall20

Are you saying some water runoff this spring could have filled the hole and subsequently lifted the pole as it refreezed and thawed?

The amount of moisture in the ground freezing creates more expanding. Freeze some very dry dirt in the freezer and very wet dirt and see the diff.

Drainage could have caused this to heave MORE but as bal states its all about the depth. The Freeze in itself should Not be there in the first place.

So in answer to your question Yes the runoff could case this to lift More but the "Lift" equation should not be there. The other scenario is if it didn't freeze and a ton of water got into that hole it would sink not lift.