Method of constructing an insulated shallow pier foundation building

Abstract

A method of constructing a shallow pier foundation building that includes a) placing a plurality of insulating pier forms along a perimeter of the building; b) placing a plurality of insulating concrete forms between the insulating piers to form a continuous insulating surface to the surrounding soil and a continuous forming surface to provide a slab form; c) placing a concrete composition in the insulating piers and insulating concrete forms and allowing the concrete composition to cure and harden; and d) placing a concrete slab composition in the slab form and allowing the concrete composition to cure and harden.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present nonprovisional patent application is entitled to and claims the right of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61 / 027,532, filed Feb. 11, 2008 and 61 / 074,173, filed Jun. 20, 2008, which are hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is directed to systems, methods and articles for constructing a shallow pier foundation building and in particular, to such systems and methods that utilize wall forming systems and / or insulating concrete walls to construct structures.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]In home and building construction, exterior grade beams, or footings, are often utilized which are formed in ditches, or the like, to support the exterior walls of the building. These concrete grade beams are often poured in conjunction with a continuous slab, which extends in the area betwee...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, problems are encountered in connection with these types of arrangements, especially when the building site contains soil of varying compactness and plasticity.

This, of course, causes differential movements of the foundation and the grade beams and potential problems with regard to cracking, breaking, or the like.

In northern latitudes, such as, for example, in Canada, northern Europe and the northern portions of the United States, soils, and particularly fine grained water saturated soils, are susceptible to the formation of ice lenses and frost heave.

These phenomena can greatly diminish the stability and integrity of structures embedded in such soils.

However, while placing the footing below the depth of frost penetration may protect the footing from the effects of frost action, the pier that transfers the loads from the supported structure to the footing remains above the frost line and therefore remains vulnerable to frost and ice action.

This will diminish the stability of the footing and structure to which it is attached no matter the depth of the footing below the frost line.

Most of the entire length of the pier embedded in frost susceptible soil will be vulnerable to frost action.

However, these concrete piers have several disadvantages.

Thus the pier, although adequate in height for the particular area tested, may be insufficient to adequately support the foundation in other areas having a softer or more plastic soil composition.

Also, the drills used to drill the pier holes do not necessarily clean out the bottom of the holes which causes difficulty in the stability of the beam once it has been poured.

Further, the pier drill may encounter soft rock strata or the like which jams the drill and causes undue delays.

Still further, upheaval forces, i.e., forces in the upward direction often occur due to the changes in the wetness or the dryness of the soil, which causes a poured concrete pier to fail.

Still further, in soils having a large percentage of clay there is a certain practical limit on the height of the pier, which does not necessarily support the foundation adequately in this type of environment.

However, these types of techniques require a great deal of labor and are also subject to fail.

If the piers are not placed and spaced properly with adequate depth, upward forces that can cause heaving are generated during freezing conditions followed by downward forces during thawing conditions.

The resulting heaving and relaxation can lead to cracks and eventual failure of a slab and pier foundation system.

The systems described above and those presently known and in use do not provide adequate resistance to frost heave in general or to vertical and lateral movements of the soil, occurring as a result of mud, frost, thawing, etc. in particular.

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