
On site this morning to have a look at the proposals to work-around the springs right where our basement is planned to go. First - and part of the plan - we open up the side lane and put down some 4" stone for access. Second, we start clearing out some of the clay lower down and see what that does to the spring - it may move the water egress further downhill (good) or leave it as it is (not as good). With the latter we'll have to add some 6" drainage pipe covered with drainage stone and lean mix, backfilled.
The other issue to come to light is that the fall of the shale substrate goes away from the surface lower down. This will be a problem as the foundation needs to be bedded into it, and either we pull all the levels down (bad) or fill-in where the slate has fallen off. Either way is more expensive for time on the machinery and of course filler stone. Snow and Rain today makes doing anything on the site impossible, with our engineer getting stuck above his calves and still sinking right in the middle of the field. But there is always a solution, and while it will add a few grand onto the cost of this section the only other alternative is to fill it all in and stay where we are! And it could have been much worse - it could have been solid rock under the topsoil. Hopefully by the end of the week we'll have a much better idea on how it will play out.
Taking bets that when we drill the well we won't find water!
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