Hello everyone,
I finally decided to register here today because I have a question that neither the forum search nor Google or other online research has been able to answer (or maybe I just wasn’t able to find it ).
I’m really hoping for your expert help.
Here is my question/problem:
My construction project in Bavaria (about 9x10 meters (29x33 feet) external dimensions) includes a basement. I estimate that the groundwater starts at around 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5 to 8 feet) and suspect that excavation will have to go down to nearly 3 meters (10 feet). Of course, the building will use a waterproof concrete shell ("white tank"), with pressure-resistant windows, B2 construction site, etc. All of that is settled and I hope it is adequate.
The big question for me is… what kind of costs should I roughly expect to lower the groundwater level during the construction phase?
Pump rental, wastewater fees (I might be allowed to discharge into a nearby river – but then I would need a sand filter, right?), what rental or operating duration should I anticipate, and so on?
As mentioned, my previous research hasn’t been very helpful… I only find general info about groundwater or overall basement costs, but I simply cannot find specific expected costs related to groundwater pumping. I would be happy to get any kind of estimate so I can at least factor it somewhat into my overall budget calculation!
I would really appreciate your help!!
Best regards,
Bully
I finally decided to register here today because I have a question that neither the forum search nor Google or other online research has been able to answer (or maybe I just wasn’t able to find it ).
I’m really hoping for your expert help.
Here is my question/problem:
My construction project in Bavaria (about 9x10 meters (29x33 feet) external dimensions) includes a basement. I estimate that the groundwater starts at around 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5 to 8 feet) and suspect that excavation will have to go down to nearly 3 meters (10 feet). Of course, the building will use a waterproof concrete shell ("white tank"), with pressure-resistant windows, B2 construction site, etc. All of that is settled and I hope it is adequate.
The big question for me is… what kind of costs should I roughly expect to lower the groundwater level during the construction phase?
Pump rental, wastewater fees (I might be allowed to discharge into a nearby river – but then I would need a sand filter, right?), what rental or operating duration should I anticipate, and so on?
As mentioned, my previous research hasn’t been very helpful… I only find general info about groundwater or overall basement costs, but I simply cannot find specific expected costs related to groundwater pumping. I would be happy to get any kind of estimate so I can at least factor it somewhat into my overall budget calculation!
I would really appreciate your help!!
Best regards,
Bully
T
Tim Turner24 Sep 2014 12:18I’m interested in that as well, but at least I’ve already learned how important it is to have a soil assessment done before starting construction. I’m still just in the planning phase and trying to gather as many tips as possible.
So... almost another year later, I see there is interest in this thread – sorry, I didn’t receive any email notifications about it. I just happened to come across it again by chance.
My house is finished, everything’s fine – here’s my experience:
(1) You can safely do without people like the building expert. Know-it-alls and teachers who don’t want or can’t help you (even if you’re only looking for a rough orientation) should just hold their breath (or keep their fingers off the keyboard).
(2) Soil surveys are a tricky subject... sometimes they provide very useful information, other times they are just overkill – using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Also, moving just two meters (about 6.5 feet) left or right can make a difference. So a soil survey is not the holy grail when it comes to basement construction. For me, it definitely would have been over the top. Since I built in a well-known residential area with older and newer neighbor houses where (soil) conditions weren’t completely unknown (location of rivers, approximate groundwater level, soil consistency based on the experience of direct neighbors, etc.), it was safe to assume that no nasty surprises would occur. So: no money was definitely wasted in the wrong place. And what REALLY happens underground only becomes clear once you start digging. No point soil survey can give you that. Don’t let yourself be unsettled by people who claim building without a soil survey is “reckless,” or by others who got talked into unnecessary expenses by their building provider through scaremongering or the like. Go with your own feel for the situation – the ground beneath our feet is not some mysterious monster you have to fear.
(3) My soil survey costs were in the lower four-digit range (I don’t have the exact amount handy right now, sorry ><). Keep in mind: I had a river just across the (village) street where I was allowed to drain! That definitely helped a lot and saved money!! Because the pump ran continuously day and night until the basement was complete.
My house is finished, everything’s fine – here’s my experience:
(1) You can safely do without people like the building expert. Know-it-alls and teachers who don’t want or can’t help you (even if you’re only looking for a rough orientation) should just hold their breath (or keep their fingers off the keyboard).
(2) Soil surveys are a tricky subject... sometimes they provide very useful information, other times they are just overkill – using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Also, moving just two meters (about 6.5 feet) left or right can make a difference. So a soil survey is not the holy grail when it comes to basement construction. For me, it definitely would have been over the top. Since I built in a well-known residential area with older and newer neighbor houses where (soil) conditions weren’t completely unknown (location of rivers, approximate groundwater level, soil consistency based on the experience of direct neighbors, etc.), it was safe to assume that no nasty surprises would occur. So: no money was definitely wasted in the wrong place. And what REALLY happens underground only becomes clear once you start digging. No point soil survey can give you that. Don’t let yourself be unsettled by people who claim building without a soil survey is “reckless,” or by others who got talked into unnecessary expenses by their building provider through scaremongering or the like. Go with your own feel for the situation – the ground beneath our feet is not some mysterious monster you have to fear.
(3) My soil survey costs were in the lower four-digit range (I don’t have the exact amount handy right now, sorry ><). Keep in mind: I had a river just across the (village) street where I was allowed to drain! That definitely helped a lot and saved money!! Because the pump ran continuously day and night until the basement was complete.
frankenbau2 Oct 2015 14:26Hello,
could you please provide a more detailed estimate of the costs?
Possibly also a small breakdown, such as the pump, wastewater, etc.
When you say the pump ran continuously, what was the time period involved, and how high was the groundwater level in the end?
Thanks in advance for your answers
could you please provide a more detailed estimate of the costs?
Possibly also a small breakdown, such as the pump, wastewater, etc.
When you say the pump ran continuously, what was the time period involved, and how high was the groundwater level in the end?
Thanks in advance for your answers
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