Hey everyone! I recently bought a 1950s home on a slab that seems to have had only one owner before me. I discovered that the walls around my bathtub are filled with tightly compacted dirt, standing 2-3 feet high. I initially thought the dirt was there for insulation or support, but then I found old coupon flyers from September 2024 among the dirt! I've excavated about 50 gallons of dirt, and I'm trying to figure out how it got there. The only wall with new drywall has new 2x4s stamped with recent company logos, and the plumbing wall shares with the kitchen, which had some damage likely from past leaks. I've looked into gopher activity but it doesn't seem likely since the dirt looks pretty clean without signs of bugs or rodents. I've already informed my agent and have the inspector coming back, but I'd love to hear your thoughts or experiences!
3 Answers
Wow, that's a strange situation! It definitely sounds like something went wrong during some renovation work. The compacted dirt and the flyers suggest someone was probably just trying to cover up something without doing a proper job. My guess is it was not an intentional thing but rather a hasty fix from a previous repair. It could be worth checking if any nearby properties have had similar issues—it could be a local problem that needs more attention!
That's wild! I've never heard of dirt being used like that in walls. It's possible some previous DIYer used the dirt to deal with plumbing issues, but dumping it there seems wrong. My first thought was that it could be a lazy way to provide some temporary fill for a remodel. Keep an eye on that wall and make sure it doesn't cause any structural issues!
Definitely keeping an eye out! I appreciate your advice!
This sounds like an interesting mystery! Have you checked if any major renovations happened before your purchase? Maybe someone didn't want to take out the dirt properly and thought it could just be hidden away. It could also be a case of someone trying to mask a leak or other issue! Good luck sorting it out!
Thanks! I did check the paperwork, and there don’t seem to be any major renovations listed, so it's really puzzling.
That makes sense! I just hope it's not anything too serious. Thanks for your input!