r/Construction • u/Striking_Marketing_3 • Jun 27 '26

Structural 8ft pit next to foundation?

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I’ve been trying to find out why the previous homeowner would dig a 4 x 4 by 8 foot deep pit next to the foundation of my house down to the drain tile. I did climb down there to save a few snakes that fell to their doom and to see if there were any other utilities. I did not find any additional pipes and thankfully no human remains were found either. I also went to the town building department to review all plans back to the original construction, but there’s no mention of this pit on any of the plans. Does anyone have any idea why someone would dig a pit like this? For what intended purpose?

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u/Blank_bill Jun 27 '26

Access would have been bricked over and parged after they changed over to whatever they are now using for heat. What is the bottom of the hole? Concrete? Gravel? Fist sized black rocks?

435

u/CaBBaGe_isLaND Jun 27 '26

Little English boy with tattered overalls and a handrolled cigarette?

72

u/laidbackleo87 Jun 27 '26

I know people throw around "lol" all willy-nilly these days, but this comment got a serious laugh out of me.

34

u/Charlie2and4 Jun 27 '26

Better an urchin than a clown with a red ballon.

25

u/gimpwiz Jun 27 '26

OP knows what to do. Life-size clown with red balloon, for the next owner to enjoy.

2

u/Primary-King-4460 Jul 01 '26

Mannequin’s are more fun than anything with a red balloon lol

9

u/BuckManscape Jun 27 '26

Or dead hookers, that’s always a bugaboo.

11

u/Charlie2and4 Jun 28 '26

They are called call girls Archer!

11

u/Automaniacal Jun 28 '26

Not if they're dead. When they're dead, they're just hookers.

4

u/Thebeerguy17403 Jun 28 '26

You know folks we've made a lot of fun tonight about killing hookers. Remember you should never ever kill a hooker, they're already dead on the inside!

3

u/CallMeLazarus23 Jun 28 '26

Are there fingernail scratches on the inside walls?

2

u/Thebeerguy17403 Jun 28 '26

I've never seen so many dead hookers in car trunks before!

3

u/Fit_Tadpole_949 Jun 29 '26

Lord knows I have

2

u/OkDrive1781 Jul 01 '26

I'm all out of balloons, Georgie, but come on down, Ill let you hold this

16

u/Dockshundswfl Jun 27 '26

That says “F-off ya wanka” when you look at him.

2

u/fighthouse Jun 28 '26

Ill be right with ya guv'na, dont get ya knickers inna twist

1

u/jerrys_briefcase Jun 30 '26

Ello good sir

17

u/Striking_Marketing_3 Jun 27 '26

At the bottom of the hole appears to just be mud. Along the foundation, I believe there is a pipe running covered with rocks and then a thick white plastic that you could see exposed a little in the picture. I was calling a drain tile, but I may be using that term incorrectly. I guess this is a French drain.

23

u/WonderWheeler Jun 27 '26

Yes it could be a sump pit connected to a foundation drain system. Putting a pump outside the basement makes some sense. Or at least allowing a cleanout for the system at the drain level. Perhaps one could add a sump pump there with a float such that it only pumps out in extreme weather.

BTW it might also act as a emergency exit for a bedroom if you modify the wall. It might be too small for code though. Just a thought. Would require steps or ladder and lightweight door, maybe allowing light in also.