[TowerTalk] Digging a 5'x5'x7' hole in sandy soil

[Roger (K8RI)]

On 8/13/2013 6:57 PM, jeffhook at comcast.net wrote:
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>
> To all:
>
>
>
> I have a used US towers HDX 555 I'm installing .
>
> US tower sent me new anchor bolts and a print of foundation and it says undisturbed soil and forms can't be left in hole.
>
> I live in a sandy area and wonder how others have dug a 5x5x7 hole, installed reb ar cage, and filled with concrete, without it caving in?
>
>    

Are these showing up. I never see them.


There are times when it is not possible to pour into undisturbed soil. I 
would ask them(US Towers)  specifically what they recommend to use in 
sand.  They may recommend a larger base. but you might have to resort to 
commercial, metal forms.  After the pour cures "enough" the forms are 
"pulled" which of course takes some power and maybe the services of a 
contractor.

Because of the unstable soil, I'd want a larger base and as someone else 
suggested, a base specifically for loose sand would resort to the metal 
forms even if I had to hire a contractor.

Where I'm putting up the LM470, the soil should be firm enough to pour 
against the side of the hole (undisturbed soil) but the concrete will 
need to be poured right away.  Even a light rain could cause it to 
collapse. I only have to go 15 to 20 feet West or north and it becomes 
more of a peat.  When I dug the holes for the 45G guy anchors, I went 
back the next morning and the NW hole had become about 12 feet across 
and 1 foot deep.


73

Roger (K8RI)
>
> Thanks - Jeff
>
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