ᐅ Compacted Garden Soil in New Construction – Is This Considered a Defect?

Hello,

Last year, I purchased an apartment under construction that includes a garden area. According to the building specifications, the garden should be filled with topsoil. This was done a few weeks ago. However, before filling, the ground was apparently not loosened. The final inspection of the property is scheduled in a few days.

Since I have not been able to find any information during my research, I have two questions:

• The building specifications only mention “filling.” In reality, about 20cm (8 inches) of soil was added. Is this enough, or would more be necessary? What is generally required if no further details are provided?
• After filling, a skid-steer loader drove over the ground several times to fill gabions. The soil is now clearly heavily compacted, and water has been standing for days (on the north side) roughly where the loader drove. Is this a defect? In other words, can I expect or demand that the soil be loosened?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

TeJay schrieb:
What is owed if not further specified?

IMHO: It depends on the context. If you buy a crater 100 m (330 ft) deep with the note "to fill," it will be filled to 100 m (330 ft). If you buy a plot with just a small part missing, only that part will be filled.

TeJay schrieb:
The soil is now obviously heavily compacted and water stands for days (north side) roughly where the loader drove. Is this a defect?

IMHO yes, but... I guess after 2 to 3 years of legal dispute costing you between 2,500 and 10,000 euros, you will probably receive very little as compensation. The most pragmatic advice: politely but firmly ask the responsible party to occasionally loosen the soil again with the excavator bucket. Or loosen it yourself by tilling. I estimate the loader only compacted the surface layer.

Tejay, what questions! Come on, put some effort into it, and in 2 hours the problem will be solved. People can make a mountain out of a molehill....

Renting a tiller and doing it yourself...

Renting a rotary tiller costs about 35 euros per day with us... I don't think it's worth it.

How about sowing the seed? Is that included in the price? If not, do everything yourself, and quickly. Now is the ideal time to plant the lawn.

I wouldn’t call this a defect; it’s something you can easily fix yourself...