House pad question for those in the know...

[Quackerbox]

LCRA just made me tear down the exiting slab (and the entire house!) and raise my new slab 5' above current grade. I don't know the exact cost but in the grand scheme of things, my contractor said it was "minimal". Dirt is cheap. I'm sure someone will be along to give a more accurate dollar figure.

Please tell us how that happened in another thread or something?

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[Twist]

Please tell us how that happened in another thread or something?

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Probably put into another flood zone after FEMA map updates, and after a catastrophic flood basically totaled the house.

You should see what League City is requiring these days after the map updates from 2019. Short story, they basically change requirements from one lot to the next, and then contradict themselves.

[bklem]

Please tell us how that happened in another thread or something?

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It is on Lake LBJ. Bought small house (1100 sq ft) on the water in 2018. 6 months later the big flood happened. BTW that is the only time since it was impounded that the lake came up over 13". Our house did not even come close to flooding. Had 6' to spare. Fast forward to this year and we retire and plan to just add on/remodel the original 1100 sq foot house to a 4/3-about 2400 sq ft. Permits get pulled then a week before we are to begin, LCRA declares that they need current flood elevation certificate done. We do it and they say we must be 3' over new flood elevation (established from the 2018 flood) which required us to elevate the aforementioned 5'. We could have kept the same elevation but would only have been able to double the original footprint. So, we demolished it and sticks are going in the air as of today. Makes no sense but we had no choice. To be fair, my contractor encouraged me from the beginning to demolish and start over but I am hard headed.

[bklem]

Probably put into another flood zone after FEMA map updates, and after a catastrophic flood basically totaled the house.

You should see what League City is requiring these days after the map updates from 2019. Short story, they basically change requirements from one lot to the next, and then contradict themselves.

You are very correct except our house did not flood in 2018. If our house ever floods, Austin will be under water!!! FEMA and LCRA are a bad combination.

[Twist]

You are very correct except our house did not flood in 2018. If our house ever floods, Austin will be under water!!! FEMA and LCRA are a bad combination.

I can believe that. Sad thing, neither did a lot of areas in League City. A lot of this was re-zoned by FEMA, regardless.

Hell, they’re even making people jump through ridiculous hoops for properties still located in just plain old Zone X. Trust me, we deal with this several times a week.

Doesn’t even really take a flood, just one close call by insurance interpretations.

[Strummer]

I would dig a pond and use that material for the pad .

[Txhunter3000]

Do a split level with garage/shop on the lower level.
Dig out to make it level and add a retaining wall.
Build into the hill and take advantage of the thermal qualities.

There are lots of ways to do this, pictures would help. The guy you have ( had) definitely isn't very experienced

[jbhlsu]

I would dig a pond and use that material for the pad .

This here Bobby. Clay everywhere around your place.

[mjhaverkamp]

My son is building a new home now, the house is about 6000 feet under roof, the pad was about 6 feet out on one end, the dirt work was 40K.

[AntlerCollector]

Build it on stilts or have a pond dug for $10,000-$15,000 and use that dirt.

[txheartshot]

Assuming that one end of the pad is ZERO and 90' away it needs 9' of fill you can assume the following. Number one, you want a minimum of a 5' apron (pad that extends past the slab). So let's say a pad of 100'x50' area with an average depth of 4.5'. You're also gonna want a 3:1 slope down from that 9' side and back to grade zero all the way around. That's about 1400 tight yards of dirt, so figure 2100 loose yards or about 175 truck loads.

Select fill, placed, compacted, graded and finished, you should be able to get someone local to do it for about $12-15k in your area. That's assuming they're importing and not able to mine onsite.

I did this off the top of my head, so quantities and figures aren't exact. Just a best guess on my experiences and expertise and knowing that area.

No way in HAIL you can get someone to do it that cheap. 175 loads @ $145/load=$25,375, and that’s just to buy the dirt. I would budget $70k for the turn-key pad, depending on how much you over build it. I generally go 5’ around the perimeter, but considering the steep slope, you’re probably going to want grade it out farther.


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[El General]

Assuming that one end of the pad is ZERO and 90' away it needs 9' of fill you can assume the following. Number one, you want a minimum of a 5' apron (pad that extends past the slab). So let's say a pad of 100'x50' area with an average depth of 4.5'. You're also gonna want a 3:1 slope down from that 9' side and back to grade zero all the way around. That's about 1400 tight yards of dirt, so figure 2100 loose yards or about 175 truck loads.

Select fill, placed, compacted, graded and finished, you should be able to get someone local to do it for about $12-15k in your area. That's assuming they're importing and not able to mine onsite.

I did this off the top of my head, so quantities and figures aren't exact. Just a best guess on my experiences and expertise and knowing that area.

Are 5’ envelopes common for residential? Honest question.

I have only done residential in the Austin area where they do it backwards. Set forms then fill with crusher fines or 1/4” screenings.

[eliteweldingco]

Ever thought of a walk out basement or garage with 9’ of fill needed?

[Quackerbox]

It is on Lake LBJ. Bought small house (1100 sq ft) on the water in 2018. 6 months later the big flood happened. BTW that is the only time since it was impounded that the lake came up over 13". Our house did not even come close to flooding. Had 6' to spare. Fast forward to this year and we retire and plan to just add on/remodel the original 1100 sq foot house to a 4/3-about 2400 sq ft. Permits get pulled then a week before we are to begin, LCRA declares that they need current flood elevation certificate done. We do it and they say we must be 3' over new flood elevation (established from the 2018 flood) which required us to elevate the aforementioned 5'. We could have kept the same elevation but would only have been able to double the original footprint. So, we demolished it and sticks are going in the air as of today. Makes no sense but we had no choice. To be fair, my contractor encouraged me from the beginning to demolish and start over but I am hard headed.

That's crazy!!

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[Chew]

Someone above nailed it. We strongly suggest they were trying to scare us off due to the distance from Bryan. They claimed they build in a 80 mile radius but we can't find where they've built in Madison or Leon county.

We have a meeting with a local guy Saturday. He's already been out and the wife liked his answers and his knowledge.

Team Little Debbie Pro Staff