Hey everyone! I recently discovered something strange while working on my basement in my 100-year-old home in Minnesota. While replacing a rotted 2x4, I found a rectangular hole underneath, showing that the slab isn't sitting on anything. Upon inspecting further with my phone and a bore scope, I noticed a pretty large void under the concrete. There's some old clay pipe down there, a piece of an old magazine, and some weird plastic material that looked like Easter basket grass. I'm at a loss and worry about what this could be. Was it common back in the day to have such voids? What kind of professional should I reach out to? Is this a safety issue or just an unusual leftover from the past? Any insights and experiences would be super helpful! Thanks!
3 Answers
That green stuff might actually be part of an old feed bag or a similar underlayment. There’s a chance the ground settled under the slab, creating that gap. Make sure you check everything thoroughly before making any big moves!
This sounds like a void created by shifting soil or water erosion, which often leaves debris from critters. Those random items you found could very well be nesting materials from mice or other animals. I'd suggest looking into specialized foam mixtures that can fill these voids. Just ensure you contact a contractor experienced in such repairs!
Thanks for the tip on the foam mixtures! Have you dealt with something like this before? I'd love some recommendations for contractors who do this kind of work.
The ground may have settled over time, which is why you’re seeing that gap. Erosion from a broken pipe could be a culprit too. A foundation engineer should definitely take a look at it, but honestly, if it’s been stable so far, that’s a good sign. Just keep an eye on it!
That's reassuring to hear! I’ll start looking for foundation engineers in my area. I definitely want to sort this out before it becomes a bigger problem.
Good call on the green material - I didn’t notice the stitching at first! I appreciate all the different perspectives here.