Lifting a sinking footer?

[frank deniro]

A client has a house and the back corner aprox. 16 x 16 built on fill and has settled 3 to 4" in the last 10 yrs.
The slab is 10" x 24" with 2 bars and probably 3000 lb. concrete and a 4" slab with wire on top with a walk out basement and main floor above.
He proposes digging 3x3 ( could be 4x4 depending on the soil we encounter) pads every 8 feet down to hardpan, deep enough to leave room above the pads and below the footer to use hydraulic jacks to lift the footer, slab and house. Then after installing temp support, fill above the pads to the footer with concrete.
With 3x3 pads, 8' centers, after the area above the pads and below the
footer is filled that would leave approx 5' of unsupported 10" x 24" footer between the pours.
I think we could lift this but would wreck the footer, and if we could lift
everything without ruining the footer, would a 10 x 24 " footer span 5' ?
I'm for digging under the footer to hardpan and pouring suitable pads enough to support the existing footer, the lifting the house and filling under the
plates. So before I call the engineer, any thoughts, has anyone lifted a
footer with any success? yes I think this is nuts FDC

[ThingOfBeauty]

Helical piers
http://www.helicalpierworld.com/
space them close enough so the footer doesn't need to span that far

[Andrew R.]

Originally Posted by ThingOfBeauty

Helical piers
http://www.helicalpierworld.com/
space them close enough so the footer doesn't need to span that far

I agree, by far, the easiest way. I've used them often.

[frank deniro]

Ive been told that you can use these helical augers with a bobcat or tractor?
Do you have to be licenced by the man. to buy these? Have you guys done this yourselves?
Has anyone tried lifting as existing footer? thanks FDC

[marson]

Frank, the helical piers for this application require a special hydraulic device that can be mounted on a skidsteer or a mini excavator. It's nothing you would do yourself. Call an excavator--he should know if there is anyone doing them in your area.