How deep is the Aquafer level in Grafton? (Lex would know. Hopefuly)

[tracysaboe]

When I get to NH, I would like to build an underground house. Or at least build it into the south side of a hill or whatever.

However, if the aquafer level gets too high sometimes, that gets tricky. How many feet below the ground is the aquafer level in places like Grafton? If it doesn't get up much more then 10 feet below ground level I should be fine. Higher (less) then that, and my first floor will be flooding. A Sump pump and extra waterproofing will only do so much if the aquafer level is constantly above the foundation. It's not usually a good idea to fight nature.

Tracy

[Michael Fisher]

We never watered our lawn, but it was often a swamp. I guess it may be best to assume the water level is often very near the surface in any given town and to build your underground house on a large hill.

[tracysaboe]

Yeah. Is Terain in NH typically fairly hilly?

If I purchased say, 10 acres of Property, would their be a good chance that I could find a hill like that? Specifically in Grafton?

Tracy

[bogie]

10 acres is not very much, so you're not likely to have a hill specifically on it. It all depends on where you get the 10 acres. My land is on the side of a ridge and the aquifer is quite aways down. However, 2 miles from me, in the valley, plenty of people are within feet of the aquifer. Oh, and even if there isn't an aquifer situation, you have to be careful of the underground streams too. We have one on our property that runs year rounnd even though it doesn't push much water. You just have to research the property before buying.

[tracysaboe]

But with research I should be OK?

OK.

Thanks.

Tracy

[Dreepa]

During 'the rains' of Oct 05 and May 06  my well filled all the way up to ground level.  I am on a slight hill.

[9thmoon]

When I was chatting with a native about wanting to build an "underground" (in a hillside) home, he said to me (and I'm paraphrasing) "They don't call it the Granite State for nothing.  We grow rocks here.  You can't really build into a hillside unless you're willing to do lots and lots and lots of excavating." 
Basically seemed to be discouraging me from pursuing that idea... have you looked into whether there are any existing underground homes in the area, Tracy? 

[Lex]

How many feet below the ground is the aquafer level in places like Grafton?

I don't know the average. Even if I did I don't think it would be much help because each property is different and the aquafer level can range significantly between properties.

My advice would be to find land you like and can afford and then build a house to fit the land instead of building the house in your head and then trying to find land to fit the house.

[Money Dollars]

How many times do you ask the same question Tracy?
The answer doesn't change in two years.......
http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=53f501b50183e57048d0c98985e61f20&topic=5814.msg90576

How high is the water table in Grafton? Is it low enough to make an underground house possible or practical?

This absolutely depends on location. John Babiarz lives down in the valley and has a 42' dug well that doesn't go dry. If you want to build an underground house, you are going to want to find a hillside site with plenty of till and not a lot of ledge.

My drilled well is over 400 ft deep.......but I'm on a hill.

[FrankChodorov]

When I was chatting with a native about wanting to build an "underground" (in a hillside) home, he said to me (and I'm paraphrasing) "They don't call it the Granite State for nothing.  We grow rocks here.  You can't really build into a hillside unless you're willing to do lots and lots and lots of excavating." 
Basically seemed to be discouraging me from pursuing that idea... have you looked into whether there are any existing underground homes in the area, Tracy? 

the problem with excavating for an underground house will be the ledge you may encounter on the property not the presence of an aquifer...a perc test should tell you how close you may be.

[KBCraig]

My advice would be to find land you like and can afford and then build a house to fit the land instead of building the house in your head and then trying to find land to fit the house.

Exactly right!

That's my biggest complaint about traditional houses -- they force the land to fit the house, instead of changing the house to fit the land.

In this part of the country, where slab-on-grade is the usual foundation (basements are almost unheard of), I frequently see slabs poured on hastily scraped together red clay surfaces, with no attempt to blend the pad into the terrain. No wonder foundation repair is big business here!

Kevin

[Money Dollars]

I looked at a house on Rt. 10 in Marlow(the one Dawn Lincoln was touring in the Choricle FSP video), and it had a huge rock in one corner of the basment. They just poured the foundation around the ledge, I guess.

[tracysaboe]

How many feet below the ground is the aquafer level in places like Grafton?

I don't know the average. Even if I did I don't think it would be much help because each property is different and the aquafer level can range significantly between properties.

My advice would be to find land you like and can afford and then build a house to fit the land instead of building the house in your head and then trying to find land to fit the house.

I vaguely remember being told that before.

I know Maine has underground houses.

Thanks,

Tracy

[tracysaboe]

How many times do you ask the same question Tracy?
The answer doesn't change in two years.......
http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=53f501b50183e57048d0c98985e61f20&topic=5814.msg90576

How high is the water table in Grafton? Is it low enough to make an underground house possible or practical?

This absolutely depends on location. John Babiarz lives down in the valley and has a 42' dug well that doesn't go dry. If you want to build an underground house, you are going to want to find a hillside site with plenty of till and not a lot of ledge.

My drilled well is over 400 ft deep.......but I'm on a hill.

Thanks for pulling that thread up Fisher. I was looking for that.

Tracy

[tracysaboe]

When I was chatting with a native about wanting to build an "underground" (in a hillside) home, he said to me (and I'm paraphrasing) "They don't call it the Granite State for nothing.  We grow rocks here.  You can't really build into a hillside unless you're willing to do lots and lots and lots of excavating." 
Basically seemed to be discouraging me from pursuing that idea... have you looked into whether there are any existing underground homes in the area, Tracy? 

the problem with excavating for an underground house will be the ledge you may encounter on the property not the presence of an aquifer...a perc test should tell you how close you may be.

I know that. A Perc test would be one of the first things I'd do on any property I was looking into buying.

Tracy