GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Masonry pier foundation — Code does not allow appropriate depth?

neumanno | Posted in Building Code Questions on

Hi all, I hope I am interpreting this wrong or missing something but it would appear that the Minnesota residential building code does not allow a masonry pier supporting a wood girder for an exterior load bearing wall to be deeper than 4 ft from top of footing to sill plate. The minimum frost depth is 60″ here (Duluth, MN) for footings. Am I missing something?

.

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. neumanno | | #1

    Accidental post. Continued: it appears that the Minnesota residential building code does not allow a masonry pier supporting a wood girder for an exterior load bearing wall to be deeper than 4 ft from top of footing to sill plate. The minimum frost depth is 60" here (Duluth, MN) for footings. Am I missing something?

  2. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #2

    Oliver,
    I'm not very familiar with this part of the code, but my first thought is that there are other types of piers other than a masonry pier. If masonry piers can't be used, what about using pressure-treated lumber or poured concrete Sonotubes?

  3. charlie_sullivan | | #3

    Or pre-cast concrete piers.

  4. neumanno | | #4

    Martin, I will admit that I was thinking a poured concrete type pier was a masonry pier which I now realize is not the case. I would definitely be doing poured concrete sonotube type piers if I went with a pier foundation. Thank you for helping clear up my misunderstanding.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |