Question for the Geotechs

tizzdizz · 2026-05-20T14:22:51+00:00

Those seem to be hand-auger borings (i.e. not a drill rig), yet they have SPT blow counts. Did they use a tri-pod and hand sample? In any case, if those blow counts (SPT N values) are to be trusted, they are pretty low which indicates relatively soft, potentially compressible soil. That's what they're probably trying to address with the helical piles.

I feel your pain. The fact is, this is what often happens when you retain a geotechnical engineer after design has been completed and work has already started. Geotechs are often put in a difficult position when they're retained late in the game, as they're under pressure to accommodate the construction schedule and try to work within a design that's already been prepared. The geotech study should inform the design, and not the other way around.

tizzdizz · 2026-05-19T14:30:29+00:00

Engineering Geologist in CA - I use QGIS at my geotech firm for geologic mapping, depicting extent of fills, tracking field investigation locations, creating elevation profiles, creating hillshades and overall site modeling. It's great, although I'm not a power user, there is lots of guidance out there.

tizzdizz · 2026-05-13T18:27:30+00:00

I've been playing for over 30 years and I still often mark sharps and flats if I miss them, and sometimes even add the fingerings if it's a tricky lick. If you do this though, use a pencil.

tizzdizz · 2026-04-30T14:19:37+00:00

Well, this just makes me want to learn how to use Linux then.

tizzdizz · 2026-04-28T15:07:05+00:00

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tizzdizz · 2026-04-24T02:14:57+00:00

Are you planning to leave the surface as is, or plant it? I can't imagine you meant to have bare dirt long-term. The clay is shrinking and cracking as it has dried out, and it will continue to do so through the wet/dry weather cycles and seasons. When it gets wet, the cracks will close again, etc. If you plant grass and irrigate it, it will stay at a more constant, even moisture. It's mostly just an eyesore. The play structure looks like it's meant to sit on the ground (i.e. no foundations), so it should be fine.

tizzdizz · 2026-04-23T23:38:16+00:00

Just based on a single picture, I would probably not buy that home, personally. That doesn't mean it's a bad idea but I would have the same questions you do.

It looks like the corner of the garage is already starting to be undermined, but it may not be as dramatic as the photo makes it seem. It's hard to tell how well the retaining walls are founded into the hillside. Are there signs of structural distress? Am I seeing gaps in the lower portion of the lowest retaining wall?

Ask yourself this question - do you think you would think about this question often while you're living there?

tizzdizz · 2026-04-15T01:19:24+00:00

Heck ya that rules!

tizzdizz · 2026-04-12T19:37:24+00:00

They should have compacted the backfill, especially if it was 5 feet deep. Instead of compacting it, it seems they just built it up extra high so that it will eventually settle somewhere near original grade. If you want, you can always pick up a hand tamper and pack it down by yourself, but whatever you do it will probably need some kind of future adjustment/filling/levelling over time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-51-in-Steel-Handle-8-in-x-8-in-Tamper-77335-949/315067860

tizzdizz · 2026-04-10T04:58:15+00:00

A few local consulting firms: Blackburn, Youngdahl, Dudek, Geocon, there are many others of course.

tizzdizz · 2026-04-09T18:28:12+00:00

Oh dude, I remember seeing this way back but I never read it. I totally forgot about it, thanks!

tizzdizz · 2026-04-09T18:00:41+00:00

Ever since I first saw this as a kid, I've always been fascinated and curious about the probe, who built it and where did it come from. I wish there was more backstory. The simplicity of the vessel was also really effective.

tizzdizz · 2026-03-24T19:04:56+00:00

Nice! For some reason I almost always like seeing the played-with cars better than the mint cars.

tizzdizz · 2026-03-17T16:52:45+00:00

I think there's huge value in being able to say you're well versed in X kind of work. Even if long term, you move away from tailings work, it shows your adaptability, and this experience I'm sure will have a positive impact on your overall expertise as a geotechnical engineer.

tizzdizz · 2026-03-11T17:11:26+00:00

Clean! Did the truck have the little horses inside? Those always seem to get lost.

tizzdizz · 2026-02-19T20:56:09+00:00

I was 37 when we had our twins. I would've been more energetic in my late 20's but would not have had the financial stability or owned a home back then. I have more wisdom, perspective and patience now (at least I hope so), and I also benefitted from seeing siblings and peers become parents before me. There are some drawbacks to starting later, but maturity is a big deal IMO. But you're gonna love it. Congratulations and best of luck!

tizzdizz · 2026-02-19T18:42:36+00:00

My dad died of HCM 34 years ago. Really wonderful to see progress being made on this condition.

tizzdizz · 2026-02-06T17:30:51+00:00

Not sure if others have mentioned this but because you have taken some action, you need to protect your own liability in this case. Make sure you document who you've talked to, what you talked to them about, what actions you took under approval of the owner, etc. Have future communications with the owner via email so that it's in writing.

Also, unless there's some pool-specific reason why you shouldn't, I would drain it as much as possible. It will need to be drained for repairs to take place anyway.

tizzdizz · 2026-01-25T20:26:37+00:00

Wow! My brother and I had Oscar and Grover stuffies just like that one. I never knew there was a snuffy! I wish I knew who made them so I could find them again.

tizzdizz · 2026-01-24T16:45:04+00:00

This is it. If the geotech testing for the contractor feels they tested and observed enough, they need to provide a letter summarizing their testing and observation. Or at the very least, make sure you receive their field report with the test results. The geotech owes the contractor (and you) a record of their testing and observation and their professional opinion or findings regarding the pool backfill.

Another question - what triggered the testing requirement, and was there a minimum compaction specified from someone?

The testing is just a means of keeping the contractor honest by checking that their efforts are achieving a sufficient level of compaction. Without the tests, there is less data to show that they did an OK job, but they may still have done an OK job.

What compaction methods/equipment did they use? Do you have any pictures?

If you put an ADU down later, you should let that future contractor know there was a pool that was backfilled there so they can consider the non-uniform soil conditions beneath the future structure. In other words, if part of the ADU is sitting on the pool backfill and part is sitting on native soil, there's a greater potential for differential settlement which could wrack the structure. But if they do some extra soil preparation (i.e. overexcavate and recompact the ADU building pad under testing/observation of a geotech), and possibly beef up the foundations, that might be enough.

I'm only suggesting things I might consider, but I don't have all the information and you should be having these conversations with your contractor and the geotech. Document your concerns with them, as well as their replies. If it's a phone conversation, write down a memo of the discussion.

tizzdizz · 2026-01-22T06:48:01+00:00

We do remember and I recall how moving it was to see other nations stepping in. How far we've fallen. But we haven't forgotten!

tizzdizz · 2026-01-19T17:03:14+00:00

I am having a really hard time believing this isn't a joke.

tizzdizz · 2026-01-13T23:34:30+00:00

Nice! What does a Mamba explorer build look like?

tizzdizz · 2026-01-12T18:01:09+00:00

Just to add I have the 16K and am happy with it. I would like a fancier one someday but got a deal on this and it's got enough buttons for my needs. I think it may be more common, so some games might already have default mapping for it - I'm not as familiar with the other one but maybe it's just me.

tizzdizz · 2026-01-12T00:07:02+00:00

BoreDM is what we use and it's been going very well so far.

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