My basement floor has a hole cut where the water line enters the house. This hole is around 2ft square, and digging down a little I hit dirt and small roots. I'd like to seal this hole as I believe it provides an entry point for insects.
In the picture above, you can see the water line coming in and leading to the meter. The tubing along the wall on the left is electric conduit, grounding the service panel. Note that the horizontal part of the water pipe is actually below the level of the nearby concrete floor, so a new floor in this area would have to be lower than the rest of the basement floor because I don't want to encase the pipe and valve in concrete.
What's the best way to fill in that hole? A few specific concerns:
- Do I need to lay down a layer of gravel or something above the dirt?
- Would the new concrete need to be tied into the existing floor somehow?
- Is there a minimum clearance around the pipe that I should preserve?
- Are there any structural concerns digging or pouring concrete here? The foundation is fieldstone parged with mortar.
The house was built in 1892 and I suspect this hole was cut when the water line was changed from lead to copper.
Best Answer
Let's not over complicate this little project. I have seen these open sump holes hundreds of times. I am absolutely sure there are no structural issues here, how long has the house stood without concrete in the hole? There was probably not a concrete floor when it was built and for many years after. If you want to simply keep stuff out and hide the dirt then let's do it simple. Dig out to about a total of 4 inches below your water pipe and valve. Mix up a small bag of Sacrete concrete mix and fill the hole to about 1 inch under the pipe. Float it smooth, you're done. There is no need to get carried away with a special base etc. The size and weight of the concrete patch is negligible as far as settling or shrinking is concerned. Get the stuff and be done with it in an hour!