FASTFOOT® - Perfect for uneven ground

Jeff Struthers, an engineer and retired technology finance executive, formed and poured the footings for his home on Orcas Island, WA. The home's unique location on the rocky eastern cliffs has an 18' grade change from front to back of the building footprint. There were eighteen steps in total with the largest over 7' in height. No problem with Fastfoot®.

Challenging Site

Jeff paid great attention to ensure the building conformed harmoniously to the site, spending many days with his transit, measuring grade changes, to determine the size, shape and location of the structure.

"I believe it is very important to marry the project to the site", said Jeff. "This can't be done sitting in an office."

Jeff designed the home with a central octagon core containing the kitchen and living areas, and two wings - the bedroom in the north, and the utilities in the south. The two-level home contains 1700 square feet on the upper level, with 500 square feet below.

Excavation

Fourteen trees were removed from the building footprint, including an old growth fir which was milled locally for finishing materials inside the home. A backhoe excavator removed the overburden from the rock.

Steps

With Fastfoot®, steps are vertical footings. 2x4s are run vertically from the lower footing screed boards to the upper. And bracing is installed to withstand concrete pressures against the vertical plywood bulkhead.

"You can imagine how much plywood we would have used trying to form up against the rock for these steps. Just consider the weight, and all the oil on the plywood... with Fastfoot®, you leave it in place - no waste", said Jeff.

Steel Reinforcing

#4 rebar was used throughout the footings, with five horizontals spaced 6" on center. Cross members and verts were 12" on center. "I placed over one mile of steel in the footings", said Jeff.

Pouring Concrete

"The concrete pour went wonderfully, including the Fastbags®", said Jeff. "My only regret is that we didn't use Fast-Tube™ to form the columns. We had great difficulty positioning cardboard tubes. With Fast-Tube™, it would have been easy to brace the vertical 2x4s."

47 cubic yards of concrete were placed by Loren Ray and his crew.