Digging Some Holes (Again)

[bilgriss]

Digging holes for footers for the deck I might finish someday. I know, in theory, that these things are random (got a degree in mathematics even) but as they say - 'In theory, reality and theory are the same, but in reality, that ain't true'. Reality says, if you have to dig fifteen holes in certain places for a deck, it's the 15th one that will be full of concrete already from some previous resident.

Last hole, I hit an old cistern that looks to have been filled with concrete when the kitchen addition was added in the 90s. The house dates back to 1913, and there's a hundred years of trouble every time I start a new project, inside our out. I started digging pilot holes to either side, figuring I'd offset footers and it would be okay, but no. There's enough tons of concrete in and around the thing that I literally cannot get two footers within 8 feet of each other. And I made the (now obviously) stupid decision to file for a permit, so I can't just use the cement as a base for a footer, which is the obvious choice. Gotta show the boys some nice unfilled holes with minimum dimension and correct placement before proceeding.

Solution? Make the deck bigger. Yesterday I started digging again, back to square one. This time I started with holes nearest to the cistern, and it looks like an extra two feet is going to make things work. Filled some holes while I dug. Frustrating stuff.