Soil report for decision on type of basement

Hello everyone,

the previous owner of our property had given us some indications that there might be a problem with the groundwater under our property. The neighbors could not confirm this; apparently no one there has problems with their cellar.

Nevertheless, we are wondering whether we should spend about 1000 euros on a soil analysis and what conclusions we could possibly draw from it.

We are in contact with two construction companies.

One construction company says that they typically build waterproof concrete cellars where there can be no problems with water ingress and that an analysis is not necessary.

The other construction company usually builds masonry cellars, offers waterproof concrete cellars as an alternative at no extra cost, but emphasizes that the cost-free execution of the waterproof cellar is only possible if the building ground is permeable and the design water level does not exceed the specified height.

Would an analysis provide information about permeability and water level and, if the values are poor, is there a solution with additional costs that would make a waterproof cellar "even tighter" than it already is?

Is there a risk in building a waterproof cellar without having analyzed the soil beforehand?

Thanks for your opinions!

I thought a ground survey is now mandatory?

Yes, that is 1000€ that should not be saved.
You need it anyway for the infiltration or are you allowed to discharge your rainwater?

I thought a soil survey is now mandatory?

Not mandatory, at least not here. But hardly any construction company will build without a soil survey anymore, and it is also in the interest of the client to have one. Especially if you are building with a basement and there might be problems with water. The soil survey is also helpful regarding water management during the construction period.

Despite everything, we are wondering whether we should spend the approximately 1000 euros on a soil analysis and what conclusions might possibly be drawn from it.

Definitely!