The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:26 am**

Looking for some advice.

Victorian property - 4 metre garden (pathway to house) + slope and 4 steps leading up to front door. Had front wall and raised garden removed to depth of 250mm below finished block height/kerb height. Finished look will be a slight fall from property to pathway, + 2 additional steps added to foot of existing steps.

Excavations at house edge has resulted in exposing foundations which from the rendered area down are then 2 courses exposed brick + remainder flint and stones. Clay subsoil. Proposed finished block height will still leave exposed foundations. Company laying drive have suggested a small wall and planters, although I'm not keen on this. I was envisaging paving as close to house as possible.

What are my options?

Grateful for any advice received.

Andy D

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:23 am**

other than underpinning the front of the house you will have to swallow it and have a wall built in front
i see a lot of this in luton in older houses,where people decide to dig out the front garden,only to discover they have undermined their foundations
not good
i think an engineer should be consulted
peace of mind in the long run
LLL

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:41 am**

Many thanks. I think the landscapers got a bit carried away with the digger, and should have checked levels nearer the house first. What was advised would be a straightforward job has resulted in a few problems. Hence found my way to this very useful website.

I'll look to get an engineer to advise.

To give a bit more background to the saga, I returned home to find garden dug out and foundations exposed around bay window and steps, and additional quotes for a lot more work. Hadn't budgeted for additonal work!! Have since put in the new footings for additional steps + a small retaining wall alongside boundary.

Solution/options to bay window area was the problem. I don't think foundations are compromised too much as inside property, the basement is like a bunker, with so much concrete about. I did see on this site somewhere where a small wall, say 2 courses could be built around bay and filled with gravel, which would, with the levels in my situation, cover the level where brick meets foundations. Is this a viable solution?

As soon as I can agree a finish up to the house the landscapers/pavers can come back, fill in and finish job.

Regards

Andy Dunn

Posted: **Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:14 am**

cant advise as not on site, but would be wary of gravelling as on victorian founds rely often on ground acting as footing retainer. Engineering advise as lll suggests would be yr best option imho:)

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:46 pm**

Thanks Matt. Local Engineer contacted to inspect and report, but your point is noted.

The gravel option noted earlier was from www.pavingexpert.com/archv406.htm#Drying out the sub-soil clay - David Nelson - May 6th 2003.

I will report back following Engineer's advice.

Regards

Andy D

The Brew Cabin

Exposed victorian foundations