We Have A Problem

The (4) words you don't want to hear when a sub contractor calls you!  Especially so early on in the project.  Well that is how my day started.  The contractor pouring the footings and walls arrived to a big hole in the ground full of water!  The basement was dug yesterday and overnight it slowly filled due to the high water table.

"What do you want to do?" I was asked by the contractor.  "What are my options?" I replied.

When faced with problems like this I think one of the best things to do is ask the "professional" what they would do if it was THEIR house.  I've found that is usually the way to get to the best result.  Maybe not always the cheapest but there are times to cut corners and times not to.  We decided to dig the bottom a foot deeper and fill it with an extra foot of rock.  This would allow for better drainage after the floor is poured.

       Digging things out a little deeper.

While driving to the site to see the problem I was envisioning the worst.  When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't as bad as I expected.  In speaking with the guys doing the digging they said there had been a few inches of water in the bottom not a few feet as I had pictured.  In fact it was pretty much dry when I got there since they had already dug it out deeper.  It was still evident that there was some moisture seeping in but nothing that will cause any big problems.

       Dirt pile #2.  We are definitely going to have some leftover!

       Don't look now but we've got a driveway....or the start of one.