What a house built on permafrost may look like (Fairbanks: insurance, loans)

[RayinAK]

Those who want to know what happens a few years later to some homes built on permafrost would want to read the article below. It was published on the Fairbanks News Miner today, and is quite interesting:
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Permafrost’s future in Alaska looks poor but the forecast isn’t all bad

Now, keep in mind that I haven't posted the link to start arguments about "predictions" relating to permafrost, temperature warming predictions, and so forth. The photo shows a home that was built on permafrost, which has nothing to do with global or local warming and such. Years ago, specially in the interior of Alaska, some people bought land and then built their homes without realizing that they had built on permafrost. Nowadays one can have an engineer inspect the land or test the ground, as well as to look at the data available to the public relating to lands which contain layers of permafrost.

[Marty Van Diest]

That's a great photo...

[warptman]

...waits for Floyd to chime in and say it's not happening...

[roadfamily6now]

Yes, good photo but when you live in the Interior, you really will have a hard time finding any land with no permafrost.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by warptman

...waits for Floyd to chime in and say it's not happening...

Oh..oh! I am in trouble now LOL

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

Yes, good photo but when you live in the Interior, you really will have a hard time finding any land with no permafrost.

Most of the land around Fairbanks has already been tested, and new buyers can look at the records before buying. Bankers are very careful about the possibility of permafrost, and usually require and engineering test prior to issuing purchase loans. The areas around Fairbanks that have permafrost are well known by the locals. However, many years ago it was a big problem.

[starlite9]

There is a bunch of houses that are tilting like that photo. I was going to take a camera and get some shots of the houses that look like ships going down... But that one pretty much shows the same thing.

It is amazing that some of the folks that built the houses, still live in them because the insurance wouldn't pay out for that type of destruction. So there they live, frozen on a wave!

[cedar_bluff_tree_farm]

It's not hard at all to build a house on permafrost and make sure it doesn't tilt. You just have to make sure the ground stays frozen. One way is to refrigerate the ground (several methods are possible).

I'm taking a class right now in Cold Regions Engineering that goes over the various techniques that a guy can use to ensure that your structure is built right and stands straight.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by cedar_bluff_tree_farm

It's not hard at all to build a house on permafrost and make sure it doesn't tilt. You just have to make sure the ground stays frozen. One way is to refrigerate the ground (several methods are possible).

I'm taking a class right now in Cold Regions Engineering that goes over the various techniques that a guy can use to ensure that your structure is built right and stands straight.

and the cost of these techniques?

There are a few foundations in Alaska that have been constructed specifically for perma frost and muskeg areas. The more ideas and techniques, the better!! As it seems the permafrost in Alaska is melting so there will be a larger need for such technology.

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by cedar_bluff_tree_farm

It's not hard at all to build a house on permafrost and make sure it doesn't tilt. You just have to make sure the ground stays frozen. One way is to refrigerate the ground (several methods are possible).

I'm taking a class right now in Cold Regions Engineering that goes over the various techniques that a guy can use to ensure that your structure is built right and stands straight.

Making sure the ground stays frozen is the trick. Refrigerating the ground is possible...but costs money. The vey act of cutting all the trees, and then erecting the house changes the micro-environment. Now you have to make sure the ground stays frozen. That's easy to say but a little disconcerting if you are the one spending the hundreds of thousands on the house. Much better to find a location without permafrost.