alfaTom Posted March 6 Posted March 6 52 minutes ago, Kacha said: Hi - quick question, do you know how deep your foundations were/are? Our foundations in the old part of the house were about 650mm from finished floor level. I remember the builder looking at them and saying you couldn't even build a conservatory on them nowadays let alone a house 😁 If you need to find out the depth of your foundations you could dig a borehole near the external wall for that room - you'll find the foundation jutting out if you dig right down against the brickwork. Then just dig down on the edge of the foundation until you find soil under it and that'll give you an idea on depth. We've had to cantilever pile the old section of house to underpin and the new foundations are ringbeams on piles now so the foundations have been beefed up to a degree which gave me some confidence we wouldn't seriously impact the foundations.
Kacha Posted March 6 Author Posted March 6 (edited) 5 minutes ago, alfaTom said: Our foundations in the old part of the house were about 650mm from finished floor level. I remember the builder looking at them and saying you couldn't even build a conservatory on them nowadays let alone a house 😁 If you need to find out the depth of your foundations you could dig a borehole near the external wall for that room - you'll find the foundation jutting out if you dig right down against the brickwork. Then just dig down on the edge of the foundation until you find soil under it and that'll give you an idea on depth. We've had to cantilever pile the old section of house to underpin and the new foundations are ringbeams on piles now so the foundations have been beefed up to a degree which gave me some confidence we wouldn't seriously impact the foundations. Thanks. Sounds like a lot of work! We had to dig to expose the foundation to put in steel beams. The foundation is 800mm from the finished floor level. Any ideas how deep a safe dig would be? Edited March 6 by Kacha
alfaTom Posted March 6 Posted March 6 6 minutes ago, Kacha said: Thanks. Sounds like a lot of work! We had to dig to expose the foundation to put in steel beams. The foundation is 800mm from the finished floor level. Any ideas how deep a safe dig would be? I wouldn't like to guess - I'm not an SE. If you do go digging out then it's always best to do it as quick (and safe) as possible to reinstate the floor. I would have thought 500-600mm would be ok for a short term bit of work. Soon as you're at depth in goes the hardcore so you star to build it back up. But then I'd also say that might not be worth the effort going deeper - heat loss via the ground is less than the roof or walls etc so I'd probably rather put the money into those. 1
Kacha Posted March 6 Author Posted March 6 1 minute ago, alfaTom said: I wouldn't like to guess - I'm not an SE. If you do go digging out then it's always best to do it as quick (and safe) as possible to reinstate the floor. I would have thought 500-600mm would be ok for a short term bit of work. Soon as you're at depth in goes the hardcore so you star to build it back up. But then I'd also say that might not be worth the effort going deeper - heat loss via the ground is less than the roof or walls etc so I'd probably rather put the money into those. Thank you. We've made a start but had to halt as the SE we engaged, for the load bearing wall calculations, has said he thinks 500mm is too deep. The builders think otherwise. We're waiting to hear back from building control, and maybe get a second opinion. Super frustrating to have to pause - also worrying because as you've mentioned need to build it back up asap whichever route we go. Building control have been to the property previously (before this phase of work), we told them our plans for the dig out and were fine with all of it. My head is spinning 😩
Kacha Posted March 7 Author Posted March 7 12 hours ago, Kacha said: Thank you. We've made a start but had to halt as the SE we engaged, for the load bearing wall calculations, has said he thinks 500mm is too deep. The builders think otherwise. We're waiting to hear back from building control, and maybe get a second opinion. Super frustrating to have to pause - also worrying because as you've mentioned need to build it back up asap whichever route we go. Building control have been to the property previously (before this phase of work), we told them our plans for the dig out and were fine with all of it. My head is spinning 😩 Building control have come back to say the 500mm dig is fine. I am reaching out for a second opinion. So much fun!
JohnMo Posted March 7 Posted March 7 1 hour ago, Kacha said: Building control have come back to say the 500mm dig is fine. I am reaching out for a second opinion. So much fun! Have you done a basic cost benefit analysis, doesn't sound cheap or easy. Just for UFH?
Kacha Posted March 7 Author Posted March 7 1 hour ago, JohnMo said: Have you done a basic cost benefit analysis, doesn't sound cheap or easy. Just for UFH? Tell me about it! We did a basic cost benefit analysis......before this spanner in the works 😩 Waiting to hear back from another structural engineer. 🤞
saveasteading Posted March 7 Posted March 7 3 hours ago, Kacha said: 500mm dig is fine. I am reaching out for a second opinion. So much fun! If the SE says 500 then the bco will have to accept it, but it's good to know they are personally comfortable, and they know the norm in the area. The builder has likely done 10 years less study than the SE. 2
JohnMo Posted March 7 Posted March 7 Is your £4k (+vat) quote to dig out or dig and buildup with UFH pipes etc. So if you stay in the house 20 years you would need to save £240 a year on downward heat loss only just to break even? 1
Kacha Posted March 7 Author Posted March 7 7 hours ago, saveasteading said: If the SE says 500 then the bco will have to accept it, but it's good to know they are personally comfortable, and they know the norm in the area. The builder has likely done 10 years less study than the SE. Yes. That is true. Let's see what the second SE says. Second SE has gathered a lot of additional information on the property, so whatever the outcome, we will be more comfortable with the decision. First only asked about foundation depth.
Kacha Posted March 7 Author Posted March 7 7 hours ago, JohnMo said: Is your £4k (+vat) quote to dig out or dig and buildup with UFH pipes etc. So if you stay in the house 20 years you would need to save £240 a year on downward heat loss only just to break even? I suppose. 🥴
Kacha Posted March 13 Author Posted March 13 Hello. Quick update - second SE has come back and we are good to go!! Thanks for all your advice & guidance so far. It is very much appreciated. 1
Kacha Posted March 15 Author Posted March 15 On 06/03/2025 at 20:42, alfaTom said: I wouldn't like to guess - I'm not an SE. If you do go digging out then it's always best to do it as quick (and safe) as possible to reinstate the floor. I would have thought 500-600mm would be ok for a short term bit of work. Soon as you're at depth in goes the hardcore so you star to build it back up. But then I'd also say that might not be worth the effort going deeper - heat loss via the ground is less than the roof or walls etc so I'd probably rather put the money into those. Hello. Would you happen to know when building control need to come in for an inspection. Is it after the concrete has been laid, but before insulation? Or after DPM, but before concrete?
saveasteading Posted March 15 Posted March 15 3 hours ago, Kacha said: Would you happen to know when building control need to come in Ask them. it isn't a standard process. 1
alfaTom Posted March 17 Posted March 17 On 15/03/2025 at 15:47, Kacha said: Hello. Would you happen to know when building control need to come in for an inspection. Is it after the concrete has been laid, but before insulation? Or after DPM, but before concrete? As saveasteading said - you'll have to ask BC. We can't inform you of that as councils will want to see at different stages BC are really friendly and helpful round here so may as well just ask them. 1
Kacha Posted March 17 Author Posted March 17 On 15/03/2025 at 19:39, saveasteading said: Ask them. it isn't a standard process. 6 hours ago, alfaTom said: As saveasteading said - you'll have to ask BC. We can't inform you of that as councils will want to see at different stages BC are really friendly and helpful round here so may as well just ask them. Ah - I see. Thank you.
saveasteading Posted March 17 Posted March 17 On 15/03/2025 at 15:47, Kacha said: Or after DPM, but before concrete? I expect it will be this stage. But whatever they say, take photos at every stage...really boring ones showing the whole area and closeups eg the hardcore before dpm ( compacting machine in action or background) and that the dpm is lapped and taped. Keep them safe til sign-off. As a bonus you will likely find yourself referring to some of them later. 2
ETC Posted March 17 Posted March 17 (edited) Building Control need to see the DPM before you place insulation or concrete. There are a list of Statutory Inspections but assume that BC need to see most works before they are covered. Edited March 17 by ETC 1
Kacha Posted March 18 Author Posted March 18 (edited) 10 hours ago, saveasteading said: I expect it will be this stage. But whatever they say, take photos at every stage...really boring ones showing the whole area and closeups eg the hardcore before dpm ( compacting machine in action or background) and that the dpm is lapped and taped. Keep them safe til sign-off. As a bonus you will likely find yourself referring to some of them later. Thank you. You are right. They said they need to see it after dpm and before concrete. So they will be visiting tomorrow. Hadn't thought about the photos for this purpose. However, luckily, I do have loads of photos as I am documenting the process for our own memories. 😊 Edited March 18 by Kacha
Kacha Posted March 18 Author Posted March 18 5 hours ago, ETC said: Building Control need to see the DPM before you place insulation or concrete. There are a list of Statutory Inspections but assume that BC need to see most works before they are covered. Thank you. Yes, BC have confirmed this. I will google search "list of statutory inspections" and see what I can find.
ETC Posted March 18 Posted March 18 2 hours ago, Kacha said: Thank you. Yes, BC have confirmed this. I will google search "list of statutory inspections" and see what I can find. Just look at the legislation-it will say what the inspections are. 1
saveasteading Posted March 18 Posted March 18 4 hours ago, ETC said: look at the legislation-it will say what the inspections are. I wasn't aware of that. Can you refer me to it? 1
Kacha Posted March 31 Author Posted March 31 Hello all. I hope all is well. Update: insulation/PIR is in the floor. We were let down by the UFH guys we'd booked. So had to find a more reliable company, who will be coming in on Monday. Frustrating as we'd wanted this in by now to protect the PIR, but alas, we are where we are. Screeding should happen the day after pipes are laid (or very close to it), I am told by the builders, and then that is the floor done!! 1
saveasteading Posted March 31 Posted March 31 I found 2 kinks in the supposedly perfect pipes. Easily sorted.
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