How do we find out if there is something buried in the back yard? (Levittown: houses, neighborhood)

[balasib]

We're considering purchasing a house only we're concerned about the back yard. It is uneven and we're worried something might be buried back there. We were told that the area (Plainview) is on sewer and does not have septic tanks. We're still worried that construction debris may have been buried back there years ago, perhaps something toxic and/or illegal. We asked the realtor who said there was nothing buried, just an uneven yard that could easily be filled. We'd like to verify this. I imagine it's possible to drill a series of cores to get clues without having to unearth the whole yard. Any suggestions? Are there professionals who specialize in this sort of thing?

[kayo_michael]

i'm sorry I can't answer your question directly but I might be able to help you in your search.

Taking core samples to sounds similar to playing battle ship. if your yard does in fact have questionable things burried, then the core sample might show up positive/negative depending on where you drill.

I would look into sonar for solid material (tanks, pipes, debris)and soil samples for leeching and contamination material (hazards, toxins).

What's the basis of your hunch besides the uneven ground? Is this the only house in the area with uneven terrain? Are there other houses built by the same builder around the same time? What do their yards look like?

I agree with not trusting a single word from a realtor unless it's signed in writing. I mean, how did s/he really know there was nothing burried back there?

[OhBeeHave]

Depending upon the age of the house, there may have been a cesspool prior to sewers in that neighborhood. Thinking back, my parent's home in Massapequa was built in the late 1950's/early 1960's and had a cesspool when we moved in. Sometime in the 70's we ended up with sewers.

Their house in Levittown had a cesspool. I remember growing up and all the moms telling the kids to stay off the front lawns. It was about that time (early 70's) that the cesspools were starting to collapse.

There are plenty of homes out there (older ones especially) which have multiple pools buried in the backyard. If you were to poke about as a precondition to a sale, and found something, are you ready to pay the seller to restore the yard to the state you found it in -- pre-hole poking?

As the fellow above wrote -- core holes aren't going to uncover everything that could be down there. You could come up with nothing, and 2' away there be something.

My advise to you is to save your money, and move one -- especially if you have such concerns at this point with regard to debris and toxins.

[JonnyTrees]

metal detector may be the cheapest way to start investigating. If it indicates presence of something ( cesspool, old cars, etc) then you could move to other more expensive methods. Just an idea.

[sickofnyc99]

They also may have had a swimming pool back there. I have the same thing in my yard.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by balasib

We're considering purchasing a house only we're concerned about the back yard. It is uneven and we're worried something might be buried back there. We were told that the area (Plainview) is on sewer and does not have septic tanks. We're still worried that construction debris may have been buried back there years ago, perhaps something toxic and/or illegal. We asked the realtor who said there was nothing buried, just an uneven yard that could easily be filled. We'd like to verify this. I imagine it's possible to drill a series of cores to get clues without having to unearth the whole yard. Any suggestions? Are there professionals who specialize in this sort of thing?

chances are it's fine, nothing harmful. I don't know, it's going to be costly and time consuming I think to hire a professional to do it. I wouldn't worry about it. My backyard growing up was uneven too...and we're all fine...well, some of us!

[Az2Ny]

Originally Posted by balasib

We're considering purchasing a house only we're concerned about the back yard. It is uneven and we're worried something might be buried back there. We were told that the area (Plainview) is on sewer and does not have septic tanks. We're still worried that construction debris may have been buried back there years ago, perhaps something toxic and/or illegal. We asked the realtor who said there was nothing buried, just an uneven yard that could easily be filled. We'd like to verify this. I imagine it's possible to drill a series of cores to get clues without having to unearth the whole yard. Any suggestions? Are there professionals who specialize in this sort of thing?

If it's just uneven and has gradual elevation changes you shoud be ok. What you should be concerned with is if you have deep and somewhat round depressions in the yard. That would signal a dumping area were the debris compresses over many many years or as someone else said an old brick or block sanitary system. Good Luck.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by JonnyTrees

metal detector may be the cheapest way to start investigating. If it indicates presence of something ( cesspool, old cars, etc) then you could move to other more expensive methods. Just an idea.

Brick cesspools won't turn up using a metal detector.

We've dug in a fair number of yards on LI and (knocks on wood) haven't turned up anything more exciting than a few old bottles, arrowheads, cesspools and cisterns. It would be rather interesting to dig up a car, though.

[zulu400]

Did you hear about the stuff the sick Selden woman had buried in the yard ?? Is that the kinda stuff you are worried abt ??

[Displaced Brooklynite]

It could very well be an old oil tank buried back there. Back in the day owners were given permission to do this. There should be a record of this if it's the case.