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Re: [TowerTalk] (Repost) Engineering advice on above ground foundation

To: Rudy Bakalov <r_bakalov@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] (Repost) Engineering advice on above ground foundation
From: Joe - WDØM <wd0m@wd0m.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:36:04 -0600
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi Rudy,

My situation is similar, although different.  I have an above ground 
base but without the water table issues.  My problem was bedrock.  The 
tower has been up for over 5 years without a problem, and has withstood 
90 mph gusts that blew out the windows on my home.

http://www.wd0m.com/

Click on Ham Radio, then Tower Project.  I hope this gives you some 
confidence that it will work!

73,

Joe
WDØM


Rudy Bakalov wrote:
> Looks like first post came out very difficult to read so here it is again.
>
> I have a rather complex situation that certainly can benefit from the 
> collective wisdom and experience of this reflector.
>
> My property has a very high water table and as a result my builder and I 
> decided to build the tower foundation mostly above ground. Specifically, we 
> dug a hole, filled it with compacted gravel that is above the water table, 
> covered the gravel with very thick sheets of plastic, and inserted 2' 
> styrofoam boards around the base. Then we poured the concrete.  As a result, 
> only about 1.5' of the foundation is below ground, 3.5' are above.  The 
> overall dimensions are 10' x 10' x 5'.
>
> Now I wonder what are the additional engineering issues we need to address to 
> make sure the foundation will last and the 90' AN Wireless tower will stay 
> up.  Currently, we have identified the following next steps:
>
> 1) Waterproof the concrete using silica based solutions, such as Penetron, 
> Xypex, etc. as permanent solution against water getting into the foundation
>
> 2) Add extra waterproofing using tar/asphalt-like solutions to make sure we 
> have extra protection should cracks emerge
>
> 3) Add styrofoam boards to prevent against freezing (it gets as cold as -25F 
> in Ontario)
>
> 4) Backfill around the structure to create a mound that takes the rain and 
> melting snow water away from the concrete. I have also proposed we layer more 
> plastic sheets about a foot below the mound surface to make sure no water 
> gets near the foundation
>
> Any further comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Rudy N2WQ
>
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