my existing addition to my kitchen is built on a shaky foundation (stacks of blocks and bricks directly on the soil -some leaning over slightly). In the spring I plan to dig two holes down to the frost line (4 feet) for a peir foundation. These two will hold the Ibeam in the middle of the floor. I intend to keep the old method of stacks of blocks around the perimeter, but will lay them on a self levelling gravel (I think I've seen such thing on TV). I'm not sure this will be 100% up to code, but I figure it'll be 100 times better than what's there now. Still, any advice is definetly welcome.

...my question is, what should I do about the perimeter wall? I intend to have a closed crawlspace. I was originally thinking to dig 4 feet around the perimeter in order to do a foundation, but it's far too much work -considering I only have about 3 feet to work in. I originally planned to build the wall out of cement blocks on the foundation, but now with a pier foundation I'm not sure how to tackle it. I could dig down a foot or so and then place a layer of blocks and then build a wooden wall on top of that. That way the blocks will help keep the mice and skunks out.

Any help would be really appreciated! My wife and I are quite young with a new house and a new baby and don't have a lot of money, but we need to get this fixed.

 

Any suggestions? Should I post in another area?