ᐅ Peat in the Soil – Pile Foundations, Well Foundations, or Vibro-Concrete Columns?
Created on: 5 Feb 2024 12:04
N
Nordlichter
Hello! We were fortunate to be able to reserve a plot of land that really appeals to us again. Unfortunately, the soil report we commissioned revealed peat in the ground. Since the peat layer isn’t very deep, the potential general contractor suggested that soil replacement might be the most financially attractive option for a safe and stable foundation. We contacted every company that came up in our online search for a quote, but only received one offer, which amounted to nearly 75,000 euros. Because the groundwater level is relatively high, soil replacement might not actually be a sensible option. We are now looking at alternatives; we have found various methods such as pile foundations, drilled foundations, and vibro stone columns, but we are completely overwhelmed in trying to assess which methods might be feasible, which would be the most reasonable option, and we have so far only relied on browser searches to find a suitable company. Through this post, we hope to get some information that will help us understand the situation better and take the right steps. I have attached the soil report and would like to thank anyone who takes the time to have a look! A slab foundation with reinforced concrete might be possible, but everything we have read so far sounds like "just don’t do it." Are we correct in thinking that?
Honestly, I would be inclined to say unfortunate luck, peat in the soil means expensive costs, so we should look for another plot. That is what we have been doing over the past few weeks—we are on every waiting list we found, have visited various plots, and the search area of "Schleswig-Holstein" was not exactly small. However, mentally and in conversation, we keep coming back to this plot; this new development is exactly in the area where we most want to live, and we really like the town and the surroundings. It’s just uncertain whether we can get the foundation work on a reasonable financial footing, so we would be very grateful for any help!
Best regards,
Kerstin
Honestly, I would be inclined to say unfortunate luck, peat in the soil means expensive costs, so we should look for another plot. That is what we have been doing over the past few weeks—we are on every waiting list we found, have visited various plots, and the search area of "Schleswig-Holstein" was not exactly small. However, mentally and in conversation, we keep coming back to this plot; this new development is exactly in the area where we most want to live, and we really like the town and the surroundings. It’s just uncertain whether we can get the foundation work on a reasonable financial footing, so we would be very grateful for any help!
Best regards,
Kerstin
N
Nordlichter8 Mar 2024 11:33We are not limited to new development areas! However, so far, every cost comparison (and also the process – everyone warns against scheduling the notary appointment before the 14-day withdrawal period for the financing has passed, because the seller might change their mind) has clearly favored plots sold by the municipality in new developments. I suspect the likelihood of a seller backing out is lower with a municipality that sells at a fixed price than with a private individual who might suddenly receive a better offer. Besides that, with peat in this development area, peat in the neighboring village, and a bog nearby, isn’t it likely that peat will be found in several, if not most, spots where building is possible?
Why do you think this might be the least desirable plot in this area? One disadvantage that comes to mind is snow shoveling! In the development area, there are plots where less snow needs to be cleared, and others with more street frontage. Otherwise, I see only advantages. Although we don’t know for how long, there is still a view of fields to the east on the outskirts of town, no neighbor to the east (again, only for now, as the future is uncertain), no neighbor to the south (since that’s where the basin is), a neighboring plot to the west, and to the north, separated by a small road, another neighboring plot. Do I have a neighbor allergy? No, not at all; I hope for really nice neighbors with whom life is easy and greetings are exchanged gladly! But fewer noises, fewer negotiations, and more greenery around sound ideal to me!
Another advantage is that the fence to the south is already installed, meaning less cost and work!
Access from the north and a garden facing southwest would also be a plus!
What am I overlooking?
Regarding the foundation using vibration-compacted piles, you are, of course, right that it definitely doesn’t increase the value! But anyone in the development area whose plot contains peat will likely be forced to build with increased costs. This way, higher resale prices can be asked for all houses there later on. If other future buyers opt for reinforced slab foundations, then every subsequent owner will likely have to accept potentially stronger settlements and possibly unpredictable effects on the building due to the peat. So here the seller can use the argument of good foundation conditions?
I didn’t know that L-shaped concrete blocks are mainly cosmetic. You learn something new in every thread. Until now, I only knew that L-blocks, like peat, significantly increase costs.
Regarding the floor plans, I expressed myself very unclearly, sorry! There are many sample floor plans from the general contractor freely available on their website and in the catalog. Since, for health reasons, we absolutely want to build with straight stair treads (whether by using a straight single-flight staircase, a half-landing staircase, or a winder staircase with straight steps doesn’t matter), we were also sent many floor plans with corresponding staircase solutions. We are not being pressured! What I meant, and explained poorly, is that we will only receive our personalized floor plan once we are a customer with a signed contract.
Why do you think this might be the least desirable plot in this area? One disadvantage that comes to mind is snow shoveling! In the development area, there are plots where less snow needs to be cleared, and others with more street frontage. Otherwise, I see only advantages. Although we don’t know for how long, there is still a view of fields to the east on the outskirts of town, no neighbor to the east (again, only for now, as the future is uncertain), no neighbor to the south (since that’s where the basin is), a neighboring plot to the west, and to the north, separated by a small road, another neighboring plot. Do I have a neighbor allergy? No, not at all; I hope for really nice neighbors with whom life is easy and greetings are exchanged gladly! But fewer noises, fewer negotiations, and more greenery around sound ideal to me!
Another advantage is that the fence to the south is already installed, meaning less cost and work!
Access from the north and a garden facing southwest would also be a plus!
What am I overlooking?
Regarding the foundation using vibration-compacted piles, you are, of course, right that it definitely doesn’t increase the value! But anyone in the development area whose plot contains peat will likely be forced to build with increased costs. This way, higher resale prices can be asked for all houses there later on. If other future buyers opt for reinforced slab foundations, then every subsequent owner will likely have to accept potentially stronger settlements and possibly unpredictable effects on the building due to the peat. So here the seller can use the argument of good foundation conditions?
I didn’t know that L-shaped concrete blocks are mainly cosmetic. You learn something new in every thread. Until now, I only knew that L-blocks, like peat, significantly increase costs.
Regarding the floor plans, I expressed myself very unclearly, sorry! There are many sample floor plans from the general contractor freely available on their website and in the catalog. Since, for health reasons, we absolutely want to build with straight stair treads (whether by using a straight single-flight staircase, a half-landing staircase, or a winder staircase with straight steps doesn’t matter), we were also sent many floor plans with corresponding staircase solutions. We are not being pressured! What I meant, and explained poorly, is that we will only receive our personalized floor plan once we are a customer with a signed contract.
Nordlichter schrieb:
We are not limited to new development areas! [...] But apart from that, peat in this development area, peat in the neighboring town, a bog nearby—can it then not be said that it is very likely to find peat in various, if not most, spots where construction could take place? Recent new development areas are increasingly ones that a geologist would not have recommended to their own family. Infill sites in town centers are often a better choice—even though these are regularly not offered by the municipality.
Nordlichter schrieb:
Why do you think this might be the worst plot in this area? I already explained this: we don’t know how the location of the retention basin was decided, and this plot is the closest to it. Drawing a conclusion about its relative quality compared to others in this development area is therefore not far-fetched, although of course it is not a definite indicator of poor quality.
Nordlichter schrieb:
Interesting, I didn’t know that L-blocks are more of a cosmetic feature. I could have called them "seasonings" as well. Either way, they are only suitable for moderate terrain shaping and/or stabilization. They are not the magic solution in the civil engineering toolkit. Their often attributed role as a wonder bra or slimming garment is greatly overrated. Where the soil has viscosity or other stability problems, in a worst-case scenario, the mass movement will simply carry the L-blocks away. Pudding remains pudding.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Similar topics