topic Basement excavations in The Round Table

Basement excavations

joe_bloggs* — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:38:53 GMT

It’s well known that you have to dig deep to enter London’s property market, but this lot that sold at auction on Tuesday demands actual spadework.

Marketed as “a vacant front basement suitable for redevelopment”, this was one for investors willing to take a risk on getting the right planning consents. Prospective buyers were told, “There will be no internal viewings due to lack of access (excavation required)”.

Bidding reached £27,000 before the hammer came down. The lot was sold by the freeholder of the property.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/24/south-london-basement-auction

I wouldn't like to live above this work!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-kassler-former-phones4u-bosss-mansion-collapses-as-builders-work-on-huge-basement-complex-a6750821.html

Re: Basement excavations

bankhaunter — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:19:43 GMT

Out of curiosity I did a bit of googling.

Apparently houses being rendered unsafe by over enthusiastic shovelling are not uncommon.

Re: Basement excavations

joe_bloggs* — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:56:30 GMT

I think there's been many a builder called out by over enthusiastic DIY shovellers! (and cowboy builders)

I and a builder did a one a while ago and (luckily) the exterior walls went down far below our excavations,but what i,m finding a lot lately is where home owners have had new upvc windows installed the window companies have not installed lintels,and over time the actual brickwork presses down on the new windows and buckles them leaving them unable to open,and in severe cases leads to collapsing brickwork,incidentaly i replaced 2 lintels a couple of weeks ago,which were steel which had rusted and expanded cracking a large area of brickwork above the lintels,the woman tenant was nearly in tears when i first inspected it thinking the whole house was due to collapse !