ᐅ Building inspection before purchase not possible – too risky?

ypg schrieb:

The question is what you still want to achieve with the geotechnical report when there is already a house on the property?!
In my opinion: you don’t always have to follow the standard approach if the issue is otherwise addressed 😎
That said: good luck with buying your plot 😀

For example, our soil report indicated the groundwater level and the types of soil layers present. This can require specific measures that were either unknown or simply not implemented 100 years ago.

The biggest risk here is that a basement built according to modern standards becomes too expensive, leading to the decision to simply forgo it.

WilderSueden schrieb:

The biggest risk here is that a basement built to modern standards becomes too expensive, and then you simply decide to do without it.

The ground might also not be load-bearing enough for current requirements. In that case, it would need to be replaced.
This was the case for us. Our old house was on the site as well, but for the new house, part of the ground had to be replaced. It cost us about 5000 Euros in 2021.
If the soil to be replaced is contaminated in any way, the cost will increase.

In addition to what has already been mentioned, it occurs to me that a soil survey can provide information about the landfill classification, which may mean higher fees for disposing of extra excavated soil. Although, apparently, there is already a pit.

A structural engineer’s report is now usually prepared in advance, and the engineer requires soil parameters for the calculations, which can only be provided by the geotechnical survey.

However, I basically don’t consider it too risky to have the survey done only after the demolition. Just keep in mind that everything will take a bit more time.

Cronos86 schrieb:

Nowadays, a static structural analysis is prepared in advance, and the structural engineer needs soil parameters for the calculations, which can only be provided by the soil report.

Yes, the theoretician needs it for their calculation model. However, for the practical question, "Can this ground support a house?" the existing building itself is, in a way, a positive soil bearing report. (Nonexistent or minimal) settlement cracks are hardly more meaningful than core samples sitting on a lab shelf. This is just another theoretician wanting something to play have. Of course, the existing building proves suitability only under two assumptions: that the new house is not heavier than the old one, and that it is placed at the level of the cleared building pit floor—not deeper or higher. I would like to point out—even though I am probably inclined toward theory myself—that when adding an additional floor, the house isn’t first demolished to examine the ground beneath it, even though the building becomes heavier. The same applies to the not uncommon case of replacing a load-bearing wall with a steel beam: the structural engineer is only asked whether the house above remains stable—not also whether the soil beneath continues to support it. You can push things too far and overdo it.

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