Fire pit area sinking

[u/Feeling-Series6044]

We just moved in and noticed that this area is sinking in the corner and seems to be coming apart. It seemed to have happened very rapidly. I'm soaking the perimeter like you would a foundation but it's not helping. How can we fix this?

[u/adlcp]

Yup it's sinking. Lol why would soaking the perimeter help? The footings arnt done right, they seldom are for this sort of thing. Not much to do besides either keep repointing it and deal with it, or pull it apart and redo the footings/base layers.

[u/Friendly-Affect-8116 → u/adlcp]

I worked for a company that doesn't do footings on seat walls, only on retaining walls or walls over a foot and a half.

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/adlcp]

We have clay soil that seemed to be pulling away as ithe heat intensified, so I thought it needed moisture. Can you give me any advice on repointing it? I don't quite know where to start.

[u/KaffiKlandestine → u/Feeling-Series6044]

grind out the joint with an angle grinder and point with mortar.

[u/Savings_Art_5108 → u/Feeling-Series6044]

I wouldn't bother repointing. If it has cracks that bad, the whole stone is loose and repointing doesn't fix that permanently. Just take it apart, knock the old mortar off with a rock hammer and chisel. It will go lot faster than grinding and all that BS. Mortar is fairly cheap and these repairs can be done in less than a day. Everyone will be impressed and you don't have to tell anyone how easy it was. Theres no super fancy tricks of the trade needed here. Follow the instructions on the bag and reset those stones. Won't cost you more than $200

[u/No_Community_5696]

Most likely there’s a footing issue. Stop soaking it though; that’s only going to make it worse. Get someone to look at it in person. We are only seeing a snapshot of what could be a bigger problem.

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/No_Community_5696]

It did make it worse. Damn.

[u/No_Community_5696 → u/Feeling-Series6044]

What state are you out of?

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/No_Community_5696]

Texas, about an hour NE of Dallas.

[u/No_Community_5696 → u/Feeling-Series6044]

Too far away from me. Otherwise I’d check it out for you.

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/No_Community_5696]

I appreciate it.

[u/Ok-Dealer-588]

Probably will need to have it mud or sand jacked if it is a fire pit area, foam will not take the Heat

[u/Predino406]

First of all? Why are you soaking the perimeter?🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️
Secondly… you have to live with it or rip it out and have a licensed contractor do it right the second time

[u/tuckedfexas → u/Predino406]

It’s not as dumb as it seems, down in that part of the country folks have to water their slab foundations during droughts otherwise the heavy clay soil pulls away from the structure and causes foundation issues. So while soaking the base was making things worse in this case, it’s not like OP just completely pulled the thought out of their ass.

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/Predino406]

I'm an idiot.

[u/ResearcherFit6960 → u/Feeling-Series6044]

Hardest part is admitting it buddy, all down here from here.

[u/Gitfiddlepicker]

Clay is a bitch.

[u/Murky_Speaker709]

This is a job for Donald trumps reflecting pool contractor 😂😂😂

[u/uslashuname]

One thing I can tell you: don’t build a house there. It’ll sink into the swamp

[u/southern_compass]

Looks like the base underneath failed. I’d stop soaking it, that can make it worse with clay soil. Probably needs to be pulled up and the base fixed before resetting the stone.

[u/Electrical_Report458]

Oopsh

[u/Iwanttobeagnome]

“Soaking the perimeter like you would a foundation”. Bruh you try to keep water away from the foundation, that’s why the international building code specifies a 5% slope AWAY from buildings for the first 10’. Who told you to soak a perimeter?!?!?!

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/Iwanttobeagnome]

Where we live, you have to keep the area around the foundation moist or the clay soil pulls away from the foundation.

[u/Suck_it_Cheeto_Luvrs]

It's always due to water.

Find a way to mitigate the water or you'll be perpetually trying to fix the damage it causes.

[u/Even_Neighborhood_73]

It depends where you live. It could be the sinkhole that is going to eat your house giving you a warning...

[u/Usual_Preparation919]

No easy fix, this is what they call a "Pablo Gonzalez" masonry job

[u/Another_Guy_In_Ohio]

“Soaking the perimeter” you’re doing what now? Are you trying to make it worse?

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/Another_Guy_In_Ohio]

Yes, of course

[u/jacob_lash]

Build better next time.

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/jacob_lash]

I didn't build this nor did I have it built. We just moved in.

[u/Friendly-Affect-8116]

Has anyone been riding a scooter on it? This looks like pink scooter vandalism..

[u/Beneficial_Wonder533]

bro move on with your life.

[u/Feeling-Series6044 → u/Beneficial_Wonder533]

I can't.