KMAC Engineering
N.Y.S. Licensed Professional Engineer
(K. Alfred Chu, PE)

Foundation:

Soil Bearing Value -

Gravel; sand-gravel mixture.....6000 lbs/sq ft

Gravel,loose;coarse sand.........4000 lbs/sq ft

Sand-gravel,loose....................3000 lbs/sq ft

Fine sand,loose........................2000 lbs/sq ft

Soft clay..................................1000 lbs/sq ft

Footing Depth -

The frost line in the Hudson Valley Region is 48 inches below the ground surface.

8-Inch Foundation Walls -

This may be used to a depth not more than 5 feet below adjacent grade level when of solid masonry units, and to a depth not more than 4 feet below adjacent grade level when of hollow masonry units, provided that the total height of the foundation wall and the wall supported does not exceed 35 feet. The depths of 4 feet and 5 feet may be increased to 6 feet with the approval of the enforcement officer when he is satisfied that soil conditions warrant such increase.

Recipe for a House

Ever wonder just how much stuff it takes to build a typical single-family house? Here's the answer, based on information collected by the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C.

3,100 sq.ft. of roofing material
2,325 sq,ft, of exterior siding material
120 linear feet of ducting
6,212 sq. ft. of sheathing
3,061 sq. ft. of insulation
2,085 sq. ft. of flooring material
2,100 sq. ft. of interior ceiling material
13.97 tons of concrete
13,127 board-feet of framing lumber

Common Structural Defects:

Poor drainage causes foundation settlement.
Insufficient strength of the connector plates causes the rafters to break loose.
The portion of the chimney that extends above the roof is leaning.
Slanted staircase due to insufficient joist support.

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