Sometimes I wonder if I’m building a patio or running an archeological dig.
It’s wild how much history can be buried just a few inches down. I once unearthed what turned out to be an old cistern—thought it was a tunnel at first, nearly gave me a heart attack. Slows the project, sure, but it’s way more fun than just moving dirt.
Title: Digging Up The Backyard: Found More Than Just Dirt
- Running into unexpected stuff underground is way more common than people think.
- Old cisterns, pipes, random concrete slabs... you name it, I've seen it.
- It can really mess with your project timeline, but honestly, sometimes it's a blessing in disguise—better to find it now than after you've poured the patio.
- If you ever hit old brick or stone, check for utilities before going further. Some of those old lines aren't on any modern maps.
- I get the frustration, but hey, at least it's not just endless clay. Makes for a good story later, too.
- Once found a rusted-out Model T axle about two feet down. No idea how it got there—neighbors still talk about it.
Hang in there. These surprises are part of the fun, even if they slow things down.
Hitting unexpected stuff underground is almost a given, especially on older lots. I’ve seen everything from buried septic tanks to random chunks of rebar that nobody bothered to map out decades ago. It’s true, you really don’t want to discover an old drain line after you’ve started pouring concrete—undoing that mess is a headache. One thing I’d add: sometimes those odd finds can indicate bigger issues, like soil instability around old cisterns or slabs. Worth taking the extra time to check the surrounding area, even if it slows things down a bit. Surprises are part of the job, but I’d rather deal with them up front than risk structural problems later.
Surprises are part of the job, but I’d rather deal with them up front than risk structural problems later.
That’s the truth. When I dug out for my workshop slab, I hit what looked like an old foundation wall about two feet down. At first I thought it was just a chunk of concrete, but it turned out to be the remains of a root cellar from who-knows-when. Took me a whole weekend to clear it out, but I’m glad I did—there was a big pocket of loose soil underneath. Would’ve been a nightmare if I’d just poured over it. Sometimes those “extra” hours save you weeks down the line.
Funny how these things always seem to pop up right when you think you’re making progress. When I was putting in a patio, I ran into a bunch of old bricks and broken glass about a foot down—looked like someone just buried their trash there decades ago. I debated just working around it to save some cash, but ended up hauling it all out. Did you have to bring in extra fill after clearing out that root cellar? I always wonder if it’s worth paying for more gravel or just compacting what’s there...
