House Foundation ?

vonodie1 · 05/19/2006, 05:04 PM

My husband and I just bought a house. Although, we won't actually be moving into it until next March, I have a question about load bearing on a pier and beam foundation.

We haven't found the crawl space to actually look underneath the house, but were told that it is a pier and beam foundation. (on the outside of the house; it is cement and has no ventilation spots).

I have a 180 that I will be setting up once we get in the house, but wasn't sure if I needed to stick the aquarium in the sun room ( I would call it a second living room with lots of windows that was added on and concrete slab) or if I could/would be able to put it in the front of the house.

Thanks for your input!

BrentH · 05/19/2006, 05:54 PM

i had a 180 on a raised foundation home
with no problems but was always nervous about it
i would reinforce where the tanks going to be

Ursus · 05/19/2006, 06:09 PM

Should be fine but to be safe you can add supports under the beams where the tank will go. Saw one guy use the jacks you put under your car to do the job.

rkelman · 05/20/2006, 04:44 AM

Get a post jack or two from your local Home Depot or similar. (The kind people use in basements) They are cheap and really strong. You may have to have them shortened there are different sizes.

figuerres · 05/20/2006, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vonodie1
My husband and I just bought a house. Although, we won't actually be moving into it until next March, I have a question about load bearing on a pier and beam foundation.

We haven't found the crawl space to actually look underneath the house, but were told that it is a pier and beam foundation. (on the outside of the house; it is cement and has no ventilation spots).

I have a 180 that I will be setting up once we get in the house, but wasn't sure if I needed to stick the aquarium in the sun room ( I would call it a second living room with lots of windows that was added on and concrete slab) or if I could/would be able to put it in the front of the house.

Thanks for your input!

who inspected the house??

ask them how they inspected the foundation and the flooring system.
they should be able to tell you a few things you need to know like:

which direction the beams run.
what kind of piers (size etc...)
where the access to the crawl space is at.
also for your area what about rot, termites etc... in a foundation??

also check with county and prior owners for plans for the house that will show the flooring.

were any chnages made from when it was built that may alter loadbearing walls and floor structure?

then for the room where you want to put the tank you might want to have a good carpenter upgrade that floor.
add some sister beams lay down new subfloor etc...

also you might want to plan ahead and build a nice custom cabinet and run some plumbing etc... at the same time so you never have to go back later and have to "re do" it.

just some ideas / thoughts for you.

05/19/2006, 05:04 PM	#1
vonodie1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OK Posts: 188	House Foundation ? My husband and I just bought a house. Although, we won't actually be moving into it until next March, I have a question about load bearing on a pier and beam foundation. We haven't found the crawl space to actually look underneath the house, but were told that it is a pier and beam foundation. (on the outside of the house; it is cement and has no ventilation spots). I have a 180 that I will be setting up once we get in the house, but wasn't sure if I needed to stick the aquarium in the sun room ( I would call it a second living room with lots of windows that was added on and concrete slab) or if I could/would be able to put it in the front of the house. Thanks for your input! __________________ Stacy Current Tank Info: an empty 180 gallon

05/19/2006, 05:54 PM	#2
BrentH Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: so cal Posts: 1,288	i had a 180 on a raised foundation home with no problems but was always nervous about it i would reinforce where the tanks going to be

05/19/2006, 06:09 PM	#3
Ursus Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 480	Should be fine but to be safe you can add supports under the beams where the tank will go. Saw one guy use the jacks you put under your car to do the job.

05/20/2006, 04:44 AM	#4
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Get a post jack or two from your local Home Depot or similar. (The kind people use in basements) They are cheap and really strong. You may have to have them shortened there are different sizes.