motorcycle_mayhem
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 05:47 PM |
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Filling an Inspection Pit
Hoping to get some ideas of how to go about filling an inspection pit.
From the outset, no, this is not a post questioning the safety, usefulness or 'value' related to an inspection pit. I have my own answers
to that debate, but no concrete (pun intended) plan on filling the pit should I decide to go for it.
It's a wide, long, deep (over 6 ft) commercial pit, no steps. Well built, block walls, concrete floor. Minimal ledge for a cover. It's
damp in summer, but dry. It takes in water in the winter, to the water table depth. Now ca. 2 feet. It sits inconveniently at the garage door
entrance, defining vehicle access straight over the top of it, making the space in the garage less useful than it could be, but easy access for
filling material.
So...
Sand, followed by gravel, followed by hardcore, with a concrete/rebar top?
Soil?
Would you line it first, or allow the water table to ebb and flow?
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 06:03 PM |
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Difficult to keep it permanently dry.
I would think about clean brick/concrete hardcore, wacked down. Then few inches of coarse aggregate to blind the hardcore (though if thoroughly wacked
down, it may not be needed), and finish with 4-6" concrete.
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LBMEFM
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 06:28 PM |
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As above, compacted hardcore, blind with sharp sand, plastic membrane topped with100mm of floated concrete. Look in local paper or on facebook etc
your guaranteed to find some one local with rubble to get rid of, just make sure it does not contain any organic material such as wood etc. Bricks,
concrete, paving slabs are ideal just make sure you break them up and compact them well.
quote: "Would you line it first, or allow the water table to ebb and flow?" No need to line it, ebb & flow where are you exactly?.
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02GF74
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 07:06 PM |
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List it on ebay, somebody will take it away.
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morcus
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 07:09 PM |
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6mm hardboard.
Just remember not to walk on it...
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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Mash
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 07:15 PM |
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Ironically, I'm about to dig one, maybe I could buy yours 
Seriously though, I'm going to cover mine with 6x2s
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obfripper
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 07:48 PM |
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If you paint it with tanking slurry (not to be confused with farming slurry!) it will dry out within a month and will stay dry but breathable.
You can then do the hardcore/sand/dpm/steel mesh/concrete to finish with no worries of rising water levels.
Dave
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motorcycle_mayhem
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 08:27 PM |
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Thanks for the guidance, consensus appears to be that lining is not required. Any more guidance on this is welcome, should you differ.
I have plenty of hardcore to fill, left by the previous occupiers (cheers), including a stack of paving slabs.
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JoelP
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 09:48 PM |
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I filled one recently. Just threw in loads of hardcore, topped with 3 inches of concrete. A proper job would be an inch of sand over compacted
hardcore, then a membrane, then 4-6 inch of concrete. Not a difficult job. I see no need to tank the hole.
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 10:09 PM |
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I filled one with most of a ford capri and any other junk laying around,some hardcore and concrete over the top and job done.
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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loggyboy
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| posted on 23/11/16 at 10:21 PM |
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I would frame out in timber and/or metal and try to retain. Seems a shame to delete permanently.
[Edited on 23-11-16 by loggyboy]
Mistral Motorsport
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coozer
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 12:23 AM |
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Mine has about 2" when its raining so I'm going to dig a sump, stick a pump in it to fill the toilet up and reduce our water bill..
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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nick205
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 08:56 AM |
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I'd fill it with rubble (source from a local builder), compacted hardcore then a membrane and floated concrete to finish. Personally I'd
love a pit, but awkward placement would be a PITA. Also, for a 7 jacks and axle stands work fine.
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Matt21
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 11:30 AM |
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Make a 'lid' for it instead
Bolt some 2" angle iron to the inside of the pit walls 4" +18mm below the garage floor, lay in some 6x4 sleepers across the width of the
pit and then screw a sheet of 18mm OSB across the top flush with the floor. Then if you decide you need it or a future owner does, they just take it
all out.
Or forget the OSB and pour a thin layer of cement on top of the sleepers for a more permanent/hidden look, but still easy to dig back out if ever
required.
I know I'd be annoyed if I bought a house and found out it had a pit but the previous owner had filled it in! haha
Instagram: @matt211988
Photobucket
My YouTube
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Ivan
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 11:48 AM |
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I would use compacted hardcore/builders rubble with no fines to 4" below floor level, then geofabric then 4" of concrete. - if there are
fines in the hardcore the changing water level winter to summer will redistribute them causing voids and ultimately changes in the surface profile so
try to get clean hardcore. The geofabric is not really necessary but will stop the concrete fines from running into the hardcore before it sets.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 01:03 PM |
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their great for hiding dead bodies in
anyone you don't like?...
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benchmark51
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 01:14 PM |
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you can have the wife and her mother foc!
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02GF74
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 06:05 PM |
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Can it not be waterporoofed and used for storage such as a wine cellar?
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motorcycle_mayhem
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 07:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Ivan
- if there are fines in the hardcore the changing water level winter to summer will redistribute them causing voids and ultimately changes in the
surface profile so try to get clean hardcore.
Thanks for that, yes, I can see the issue with fines. The diggings from the hallway floor (basically sharp sand, no cement) won't be used as
infill.
Thanks again for the 'lid' comment. Yes, I had considered that, but no, I have decided not to. I don't really trust the Land Rover
sitting on a structure, above a swimming pool.
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owelly
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| posted on 24/11/16 at 10:09 PM |
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I filled mine in for the same reasons you are. It was in a bad position and filled with water. I don't like pits as I know a couple of guys who
have died in them and one got severely burnt, all because of gasses that had collected at the bottom.
I filled mine with rubble. It was old roof tiles, broken concrete and old plaster on the top. All batted down and watered. I left it for a few weeks
then ran the whacker plate over it then topped with 4" of concrete.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 25/11/16 at 12:49 PM |
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yeah fumes at the bottom...we had one when I was a teen and it was always a worry to go in if a car had been run in the garage was damn handy though
and kind of miss not having one 
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