ᐅ Soil survey in the Hanover area. Costs? Providers?

Bauexperte schrieb:



That is – with all due respect – nonsense!

With the soil survey – without which no sensible person should build in Germany – the geologist provides a foundation recommendation. If the groundworker follows this recommendation but it later turns out to be incorrect against expectations, the liability lies with the soil surveyor. Based on the foundation recommendations, any groundworker can submit a fixed-price offer; if they can’t, I would look for another partner!

Source: my gardening book

Regards, Bauexperte

I rarely read such unrealistic nonsense. With just 2 boreholes on 85m² (915 ft²), I certainly don’t have 100% certainty, even with a foundation recommendation. However, I come fairly close, and of course I also get a fixed price. But from a business perspective, anyone would factor in a safety margin, and that’s what I meant by "or just a way too high offer." Reading the full post sometimes helps...

Billing by cubic meter and delivery note is a nightmare for everyone.

If I have removed 30cm (12 inches) of topsoil, I still don't know whether there is load-bearing soil underneath. Also, with the sand slab, I usually have to compensate for a height difference, so adding 30cm (12 inches) of fill is wrong in almost all cases. But probably all of our clients are just exceptions...

Good evening,

Lars881 schrieb:

Rarely have I read such unrealistic nonsense,

I thought for a while about whether to respond to you or not... my tolerance for bad behavior is quite low; now that I am ill, it is practically nonexistent. Then it occurred to me (again) that besides being a moderator, I also have a real profession and can recognize nonsense when I see or read it.

Lars881 schrieb:

With 2 boreholes on 85m2 (915 sq ft), I certainly don’t have 100% security, despite the foundation recommendation.

You brought up the 2 boreholes in the discussion; not me.

Lars881 schrieb:

From a business perspective, everyone would calculate a safety margin, and that’s what I meant by "or else a much too high offer." Sometimes it helps to read carefully... Billing by cubic meter and delivery note is the standard for everyone.

There is a reason why you work no further than as a mason, right?

Every general contractor, and certainly every civil engineer, can prepare an offer based on a soil report combined with a preliminary site plan (site plan including terrain elevations). Every reputable general contractor or civil engineer will inform their client about the expected tolerance range +/- in monetary terms because they primarily assume the worst case.

Lars881 schrieb:

If I have pushed aside 30cm (12 inches) of topsoil, I still don’t know whether there is load-bearing soil underneath. Additionally, when working with a sand slab, I usually have to compensate for level differences, so filling in 30cm (12 inches) is wrong in almost all cases.

I’m sorry, but I can’t follow you…

If I have a preliminary site plan, I know the terrain profile. If I can also review a geological report, I know the soil conditions. So where exactly is the problem in creating a transparent offer for the client?

Lars881 schrieb:

But probably, all our building clients are just exceptions...

I can hardly comment on that since I do not know what you understand by the role of the house seller. For my part, I always strive to generate long-term references from my projects.

Regards, Bauexperte

Bauexperte schrieb:

I debated for a while whether I should reply to you or not... my tolerance for bad behavior is quite low

Aha... So it’s normal for you to say "You probably haven’t been in the profession long," but when I say “I rarely read such nonsense,” that’s considered bad manners? That already tells you which standard is being applied...

Bauexperte schrieb:

You brought up 2 boreholes in the discussion; not me.

How often do you drill there? The independent surveyors working throughout Germany that I know always operate like this: around 100m2 (1,076 sq ft), the third borehole is added, and more if the area is larger. That’s what I was told—I’ve never actually observed it myself.
If you drill more frequently, please provide a guideline so everyone can look it up. I’ll tell them they’ve been doing it wrong for years.

Bauexperte schrieb:

There is a reason why you no longer work as a bricklayer; right?

Of course there is—a workplace accident. See my first reply for the rest...

Bauexperte schrieb:


Every general contractor, every civil engineer definitely can prepare a quote based on a geotechnical report combined with a preliminary site plan (including terrain elevations). Every reputable general contractor or civil engineer will inform their client about the expected tolerance range => +/- amount <= because they primarily assume the worst case.

So, which is it? Fixed price or tolerances? According to my dictionary, you can’t have both at the same time. A fixed price remains fixed regardless of whether the estimated quantity is exceeded or undercut—that’s the point.
Of course, you can offer the worst-case scenario, and if less is needed, the client benefits, or vice versa. But that doesn’t relate to a FIXED PRICE as stated.

The originally mentioned 30cm (12 inches) is included in the offer long before the client chooses any company, and it is always too little—that’s all I said.
Of course, costs can be estimated more precisely later on (usually after buying the house), but that’s not helpful since the purchase is already done. Because many companies include the geotechnical report in their price, few clients commission it themselves beforehand, even though that would be wiser for overall budgeting.
With some luck, the client was at least informed about this upfront, but beyond that, nothing more can be done at that point, and other claims are unrealistic.
I don’t understand why billing based on delivery notes and a predetermined (and compared) price per m3 (cubic meter) would not be transparent—there are no tolerances here. By the way, I have never advised against a general geotechnical report; that always makes sense.

Bauexperte schrieb:

I can hardly comment because I don’t know what you understand by the role of the house seller. For my part, I always strive to generate long-term references from my projects.

That has happened to me by accident as well, and even without distorting any facts...

Hello,

Lars881 schrieb:

Aha... A "You probably haven’t been working in this profession for long" from you is normal tone, but when I say "rarely read such nonsense," then that’s bad manners? That immediately shows the standard you apply...

No, anyone who bowls should definitely also know how to set up the pins. You already stood out to me during your first appearance on this forum; for someone new who is entering a "living room" for the first time, you certainly made an impression.

Lars881 schrieb:

That has accidentally happened to me before, even without twisting the facts....

I don’t like these petty comments, and certainly not the implied accusation in them. That has nothing to do with good manners; even though I understand that the internet often lowers inhibitions considerably.

My suggestion: it’s quite possible we had a rough start with each other. Let’s end this discussion here, and you focus on what you signed up for: sharing your knowledge with users who have questions. It would obviously be helpful if you would also work on your profile topic.

Regards, Bauexperte

Bauexperte schrieb:

I don’t like these petty remarks, and I especially dislike the implied accusation. This has nothing to do with good manners, even though I’m aware that the internet reduces many inhibitions to a minimum.

Regards, Bauexperte

I can return the accusation in kind, even if yours are admittedly more subtle. By the way, my “inhibition threshold” is the same everywhere...

Bauexperte schrieb:

My suggestion: It’s possible that we both got off to a bad start. Let’s end this discussion here, and you do what you joined this forum to do: share your knowledge with users seeking advice. It would be helpful for the users if you also took the time to complete your profile.

Regards, Bauexperte

That works for me—this topic is closed in my view. However, I will stick to my opinion regarding the soil report...