Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TowerTalk] Looking for some foundation advice

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Looking for some foundation advice
From: jimlux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 27 May 2020 16:10:06 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 5/27/20 3:51 PM, Tim Duffy wrote:
Hi Don:

I recommend that customers consult with the engineers at the tower company
when they are thinking about making changes to the designed specifications
for the foundations.

There is no room for mistakes or an unsafe installation. Call US Tower and
let them guide you.

Or hire a local engineer to help - they'll know the local soil types, and what works and what doesn't - both from a practical, and a "will I get a permit", standpoint.

Off hand, there's no fundamental problem with a concrete base being below the water table height - concrete in water just keeps getting stronger. Digging and forming is somewhat of a pain, but it's pretty common practice in places with high water table and lots of rain. The concrete going into the hole is a lot more dense than the water, so it displaces the water in the bottom of the hole as you fill it.

But, really, call a local engineer - you may have soil that is squishier (bad) or stiffer (good) than the basic design. You may also have "expanding clay" to worry about.



73
Tim K3LR

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don
Solberg
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 6:45 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Looking for some foundation advice

I was planning on purchasing a used US Tower HDX-572, 72 ft crank up
tower.  It looks like I may have run into a problem with the foundation.  I
had some trenching done today for a new well and discovered that the ground
water level is just slightly lower than 6ft.  US Tower specifications call
from a 7.5 foot deep hole. My soil is mostly sand, so in addition to not
being able to go down 7.5 ft, I probably also want to make the foundation
wider.

Is it practical to put up the 72ft tower with a wider pad, or should I look
at getting a smaller 55ft tower?  Another alternative is find another
location for the tower.  I have about a 10 ft hill on another property that
I own across a gravel road.  This would most likely eliminate the ground
water problem but I would have about a 300 ft cable run and I would have to
trench across the town's gravel road.

I am looking for recommendations.

73,

Don K9AQ
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk


_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>