Scraper
LawnSite Bronze Member
- Location
- SE Pennsylvania
Not really a landscaping question, but I have an older customer whose husband (now deceased) attempted to hand dig a basement under her house years ago. It is a cape style house which only had a 2-3' crawl space underneath the whole house. Her husband didn't get too far before he realized it wasn't going to happen. The problem now is that the hole he did create which allows a person to literally stand underneath the house needs to be filled in as the foundation began to settle and the hole fills with water. The settling problem was fixed with concrete by another contractor, but the water still collects in the hole. The woman had a sump put in to handle that, but wants the hole filled in before she needs to soneday sell the home. My question is two-fold:
1) What should I use to fill the hole? I had originally thought of using fill dirt, but have been recently thinking of using sand as I won't have to deal with as much settling and it will be easier to get to the hole. The hole is probably 4' deep by 6' round. (To get to the hole you need to go down a fake storm cellar door and through a 2'x 3' opening. A real pain in the ass!!!) I'm figuring close to 5 or 6 cubic yards of whatever material I use.
2. The woman wants to put the sump back in once I fill the hole, but I don't believe that this is necessary as once the hole is filled, there will be no reason for water to collect.
Thanks for any input!
Scraper
P.S. The house is located in south jersey so the soils are sandy already.
1) What should I use to fill the hole? I had originally thought of using fill dirt, but have been recently thinking of using sand as I won't have to deal with as much settling and it will be easier to get to the hole. The hole is probably 4' deep by 6' round. (To get to the hole you need to go down a fake storm cellar door and through a 2'x 3' opening. A real pain in the ass!!!) I'm figuring close to 5 or 6 cubic yards of whatever material I use.
2. The woman wants to put the sump back in once I fill the hole, but I don't believe that this is necessary as once the hole is filled, there will be no reason for water to collect.
Thanks for any input!
Scraper
P.S. The house is located in south jersey so the soils are sandy already.