Need help assessing a foundation

[Alaska Fisher]

We are contemplating buying a cabin on the Kenai Penninsula. It is a log cabin built on pressure treated lumber placed on a large/deep gravel pad. It has not been a problem in the nearly 30 years the cabin has been there. No rot and no evidence of frost heaves. Does anyone have experience with this type of foundation? We are paying cash, but if we needed to sell, it would seem that a bank would not finance it for someone else. Anybody with experience with that? Anybody have a Geotech engineer that I could get out there to take a look?

Thanks for your help everyone...

[cdubbin]

Haven't bought the place yet and already thinking about resale? A true capitalist.....:cool: Seriously, though....if it aint broke, yadda yadda. Banks have recreational loans for properties like off grid cabins and such. Is the place on skids? How big? How deep is the pad/what's the underlying soil composition/ etc, etc. Pics would help.

[Alaska Fisher]

Pad question

The pad is 4 feet deep with a draining gravel soil underneath. I've decided to get a Geotech Engineer out there. No skids.

I'm not looking to make a buck reselling. We understand that we can't see into the future as to what life will bring. If one of our children develops a respiratory issue and Phoenix will fix it…we're gone and selling everything. The "perfect" plan is to keep it and will it onto our children when we're gone. There is nothing wrong with planning for an emergency fire sale.

Haven't bought the place yet and already thinking about resale? A true capitalist.....:cool: Seriously, though....if it aint broke, yadda yadda. Banks have recreational loans for properties like off grid cabins and such. Is the place on skids? How big? How deep is the pad/what's the underlying soil composition/ etc, etc. Pics would help.

[Big Bend]

With Phoenix having sever dust storms on a regular basis I would not think that it would be good place for someone with respiratory problems.There is such a thing as over thinking everything.

[iofthetaiga]

The pad is 4 feet deep with a draining gravel soil underneath. I've decided to get a Geotech Engineer out there.

I doubt the opinion of a geo-engineer is going to buy you anything in terms of guaranteeing financing for a future buyer. Tho, I'm sure he will be willing to take your money and tell you what you already know.

[Troy Hamon]

Is the pressure treated lumber somehow different from skids? Pressure treated beams are the normal base for cabins out here. If you want to make it one notch better then jack it up and set up concrete pavers in crosslaid sets of two between the ground and the lumber. The gravel alone makes it one of the better starting foundations for a cabin that I am familiar with.