ᐅ Is a soil survey necessary even if I’m not building a basement?

Created on: 13 Jul 2020 14:26
H
Hausner
Hello,

It is often recommended to have a soil survey done during or shortly after purchasing the plot. I understand that this is important to know how to waterproof a basement and where to dispose of the excavated material. But what is the purpose of a soil survey (at such an early stage) if you are not building a basement?

I have not requested any quotes yet, but it might be cheaper to include the soil survey later with the excavation work, or the survey might have to be repeated because the "old" one is not accepted...
T
T_im_Norden
13 Jul 2020 16:47
Landfills often require only current expert reports.
N
nordanney
13 Jul 2020 17:15
The landfills here in our region do not require any expert reports (NRW). It is stated that no contamination is expected (or the transport contractor confirms this), and that’s it.

Excerpt from the landfill regulations nearby:
Waste for which no contamination is expected can be delivered without analysis after being properly declared. This can include, for example, excavated soil below the topsoil from non-contaminated sites.
J
Jann St
15 Jul 2020 12:10
Hello,
Hausner schrieb:

The chemical analysis has already been mentioned here, it is only valid for a few months, right?
In Lower Saxony, an analysis is only valid for 6 months. In Hannover, for example, it is also required that this analysis comes from a stockpile sample. This means that the analysis must be done during excavation and the soil stored to the side. However, there are recycling centers that accept it without stockpile sampling. The analysis takes 5 to 15 working days.

The question of whether a soil report should be carried out does not arise for me. It is a very strong recommendation. Otherwise, you will be liable for any damages resulting from unknown soil properties (settlement, groundwater, and layer water).

A quote for a single-family house might be around 750€ (about 800 USD). Others might certainly have better estimates.

Kind regards,
Jann
H
Hausner
15 Jul 2020 20:06
The lowest offer I have received is just under 1000 euros including tax.
K
knalltüte
15 Jul 2020 21:02
€476 per semi-detached house (so €952 for 2 semi-detached houses without a basement) including 19% VAT. Received and paid just 2 weeks ago.
Pinky030115 Jul 2020 21:46
When we were still looking for a plot of land, I didn’t fully understand the issue of soil reports. Ideally, you would have a report before purchasing so you know what to expect. However, the seller and the market conditions have to cooperate. Also, a home builder told me that the soil report can only be done once you know exactly where the house will be located. But then you might have already planned a house that turns out to be unfeasible due to budget or ground conditions. How is this usually handled?