Hello everyone,
My starting situation:
We have visited three home construction companies and requested quotes. The problem is that these three companies have three different opinions regarding the basement. We want to build a house on a sloped plot of land. From one corner to the other, there is about a 1.50m (5 feet) gradient. We do not want to fully embed the basement, as the soil report does not look very good (soil class 6 and 7 starting from 1m – 1.70m (3.3 – 5.6 feet)).
The issue that has me torn is the basement door opening outward, which is important to us. The supplier, or rather the site manager of the company we are leaning towards, strongly recommends installing a waterproof door. He advises this because he frequently encounters problems with water penetrating through basement doors.
He offered us a door of the type "waterproof basement door Buchele HAT 70-1" for 6,100€.
What do you think about this? The door partly faces away from the slope, so theoretically no water should penetrate there – water would have to run uphill otherwise. We are really unsure.
Regarding the basement: This supplier offers us a waterproof concrete basement as a “white tank,” since this should cause the least water-related problems over the coming decades. The other suppliers focus on a “black tank” solution and don’t seem concerned about the basement door issue.
I’m looking forward to your opinions. Thank you
My starting situation:
We have visited three home construction companies and requested quotes. The problem is that these three companies have three different opinions regarding the basement. We want to build a house on a sloped plot of land. From one corner to the other, there is about a 1.50m (5 feet) gradient. We do not want to fully embed the basement, as the soil report does not look very good (soil class 6 and 7 starting from 1m – 1.70m (3.3 – 5.6 feet)).
The issue that has me torn is the basement door opening outward, which is important to us. The supplier, or rather the site manager of the company we are leaning towards, strongly recommends installing a waterproof door. He advises this because he frequently encounters problems with water penetrating through basement doors.
He offered us a door of the type "waterproof basement door Buchele HAT 70-1" for 6,100€.
What do you think about this? The door partly faces away from the slope, so theoretically no water should penetrate there – water would have to run uphill otherwise. We are really unsure.
Regarding the basement: This supplier offers us a waterproof concrete basement as a “white tank,” since this should cause the least water-related problems over the coming decades. The other suppliers focus on a “black tank” solution and don’t seem concerned about the basement door issue.
I’m looking forward to your opinions. Thank you
Depending on the soil conditions, according to your sketch, a fully waterproof basement (floor slab and walls) is most likely not necessary. It is definitely much easier and more cost-effective to seal the basement using construction measures and to divert the incoming water.
The same should apply to the door without any issues...
But if money is no object...
The same should apply to the door without any issues...
But if money is no object...
B
Bauexperte27 Dec 2015 00:32Good evening,
“Just” lots of stones (rock) or also water in between?
I can confirm that.
After a quick search, I found out that this door is actually a "flood protection door." That feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut – completely oversized for the actual need.
However, rainwater flows down the slope; so having a watertight seal at the entrance is not a bad idea. It could, however, be something a bit less heavy-duty.
That depends on what the soil report says. It’s certain that your basement will be covered with soil on the front side; unfortunately, you haven’t provided details on the top soil layers.
What does the soil report say?
Regards, Bauexperte
TiloDD schrieb:
Soil types 6 and 7 from 1m - 1.70m (3.3ft - 5.6ft).
“Just” lots of stones (rock) or also water in between?
TiloDD schrieb:
He recommends this to us because he often has problems with water penetrating through basement doors.
I can confirm that.
TiloDD schrieb:
He offered us a door of the type "watertight basement door Buchele HAT 70-1" for a whopping €6100.
After a quick search, I found out that this door is actually a "flood protection door." That feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut – completely oversized for the actual need.
TiloDD schrieb:
What do you think about it? The door partly faces away from the slope, so in theory no water should get in because it would have to run uphill. We are torn back and forth.
However, rainwater flows down the slope; so having a watertight seal at the entrance is not a bad idea. It could, however, be something a bit less heavy-duty.
TiloDD schrieb:
Regarding the basement: This supplier offers us a waterproof concrete basement (“white tank”) because that will presumably cause the least water-related problems for the next decades. The other suppliers rely on a bituminous membrane (“black tank”) and don’t see issues with the basement door.
That depends on what the soil report says. It’s certain that your basement will be covered with soil on the front side; unfortunately, you haven’t provided details on the top soil layers.
What does the soil report say?
Regards, Bauexperte
I
Irgendwoabaier27 Dec 2015 11:34Hello,
Some acquaintances of mine in West Yorkshire are currently dealing with unusually high water levels: How high does the water rise during a prolonged rain event? Even Mytholmroyd or Hebden Bridge couldn’t have imagined such water levels... A hillside location only helps if there is still enough elevation difference down to the valley floor. On Green Road in Meanwood, I also measured a water level of 10cm (5 inches) on the road surface during a heavy rain event – on a street with a 12.5% gradient!
Some acquaintances of mine in West Yorkshire are currently dealing with unusually high water levels: How high does the water rise during a prolonged rain event? Even Mytholmroyd or Hebden Bridge couldn’t have imagined such water levels... A hillside location only helps if there is still enough elevation difference down to the valley floor. On Green Road in Meanwood, I also measured a water level of 10cm (5 inches) on the road surface during a heavy rain event – on a street with a 12.5% gradient!
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