Hello,
Some theoretical questions really.
Is there a minimum depth the top of a footing should be below ground level? Is it OK to fill the trench up to just below ground level? What would happen if the footing remained exposed?
Graham
There should be a clear cavity of at least 225mm below DPC. If this is
150mm above ground, then the concrete should be at least 75mm below ground level. Theoretically nothing wrong with leaving it exposed, but practically difficult to make it neat and finish off with flags, etc. Also, a bugger to get any gulleys or drains close to the wall.
It's do-able, the extension I've done has a raft foundation (for other reasons) with a concrete upstand at the edges. It takes time and a fair bit of money to end up with a good finish - more than the brick wall would be.
not really, but I'd say 100mm would be right, if at all possible for lots of reasons.
if it's absolutely neccesary to fill it up so much, then so be it, nothing nasty is going to happen WRT the concrete being exposed etc, but apart from looking revolting, it shows up the brickwork in the lower courses of bricks - any discrepancies in the concrete levels are transfered to the courses, these are not visible in normal situations because the brickies level up {1} the first 2 or 3 so that by the time they reach ground level, all the courses are even.
[!} they use mortar beds ranging from 2 to 40mm, bricks on edge, bits of roof tiles etc - anything that gets the beds running level
OT, but that's a curious fact when comparing with German practice. The concrete must be level, or the brickies wont lay. The bricks must be straight, or the carpenters wont carpent(er), the studs must be level or the plasterboarders won't board, and the plasterboard must be level or the plasterers won't plaster and woe betide the plasterer who hands duff work to the painter..
The guy who related this says its because they all do trade courses at 'uni' or as its called there, technical college, where the exact skill and the final output is defined. And they consider themselves a cut above labourers for that reason, and take pride in what they do.
Like they value "Engineers" more than what we do;!...
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