Hello friends,
we have a small problem.
When we started construction, we were still very inexperienced and naive. The very first trade on site was the drilling crew for the geothermal heat pump boreholes. They did a pretty sloppy job, but we didn’t realize it at the time, especially since they were only hired through the general contractor.
In short, the guy didn’t follow the plans and drilled holes randomly. This was partly because instead of 3 holes, he had to drill 6. Unfortunately, these holes are now only about 2.5m (8 feet) from the house and right on the terrace side. We have been planning our terrace for ages, but keep running into the question of whether we can build over these boreholes or not.
We need to overcome a height difference of about 40cm (16 inches) up to the terrace door. I would prefer a small strip footing with gravel inside and slabs on top. My husband is more in favor of wooden planks on stilts. Basically, everyone would agree on anything as long as those darn boreholes don’t get damaged. If we use a vibrating plate compactor on top, will that ruin them? Should we dig them up with a spade to check exactly where they are? What would you do?
we have a small problem.
When we started construction, we were still very inexperienced and naive. The very first trade on site was the drilling crew for the geothermal heat pump boreholes. They did a pretty sloppy job, but we didn’t realize it at the time, especially since they were only hired through the general contractor.
In short, the guy didn’t follow the plans and drilled holes randomly. This was partly because instead of 3 holes, he had to drill 6. Unfortunately, these holes are now only about 2.5m (8 feet) from the house and right on the terrace side. We have been planning our terrace for ages, but keep running into the question of whether we can build over these boreholes or not.
We need to overcome a height difference of about 40cm (16 inches) up to the terrace door. I would prefer a small strip footing with gravel inside and slabs on top. My husband is more in favor of wooden planks on stilts. Basically, everyone would agree on anything as long as those darn boreholes don’t get damaged. If we use a vibrating plate compactor on top, will that ruin them? Should we dig them up with a spade to check exactly where they are? What would you do?
Personally, since I will also be using geothermal energy, I would partially build over them in a way that still allows access afterward. You should also know exactly where they are located. I documented everything with photos and a plan including measurements so I can easily find them again. I would also have major concerns about the vibrating plate. Unfortunately, my statement is based only on a gut feeling ✌️
Milo3 schrieb:
Personally (we will also use geothermal energy) I would cover them only partially, so you can still access them later. You should also know exactly where they are located. I documented everything with photos and a plan with measurements, so I can find them again without much effort. I would also have major concerns about the vibrating plate. Unfortunately, my statement is just based on a gut feeling ✌️ Yes, we feel the same way. We also have photos. Unfortunately, the drill covered the pipes with soil faster than we could take precise measurements. There were only flags left marking the locations, but at least that. It’s no use complaining. I plan to dig them up this spring to see exactly where they run.
I would be cautious with such general statements. While the heat does come from the ground, there are distribution points that you might need to access at some point. The pipes should, of course, be properly laid in sand, so a vibrating plate won’t cause any damage. If done correctly, an access chamber with a cover is installed above it, allowing easy access if one of the probes ever has issues and needs to be shut off.
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