I've acquired a collapsed row house adjacent to my own. I plan to save both front and back brick walls (facades)
But infill the basement with dirt to create a side yard for my house. The basement
To be filled in has its own brick foundation walls and a concrete slab floor. Will my
Basement (and the other adjacent basement) be at risk from water due to the
Concrete slab floor? Do I need to remove the floor or provide drainage before
Infilling the basement?

Yes by ALL means break up the floor with out a doubt. Don't create a in/under ground swimming pool.

I need to caution on the "saving" the façades. If this is the average brick row homes I'm used too much of the brick mortar is shot, and now the brick is dry laid. Reinforcement will possibly be needed here. Check wall for strength.

How far along is the structure? I at times demo row homes. Is it all brick?

I assume you are in a city. Make sure you know exactly what you can bury there. Check with the inspectors. Lead paint may be an issue too.

The other thing to think of is you need dirt to mix with masonry demos so you can run a mechanical tamper "jumping Jack" Some of these are rated for 1 foot of compaction for fully tamped earth. You will most likely need to get dirt hauled and a hoe to spread it around to tamp every 1 foot.

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How far along is the structure?


THANK YOU for some great info and ideas... just what I needed. The four brick walls
Are all intact but the flat roof has collapsed into the structure. Joists are twisted
And breaking if not already broken.

The façade dates to the 1920's and has been hidden by fake coverings
For the past 40 years... the mortar and brick are in great shape now that they
Have been uncovered. The façade is only 20' high and has steel in it; it seems
Structurally sound but I will reinforce it if needed.

I will break up the floor as per your suggestion and tamp the fill dirt. Thanks for
The help... I would rate this answer but there is no "rate this answer" button
visible to me.

That's odd for the button to rate the answer not being there. That's the first I heard that. Its under every post on the site, even your responses

Be careful with the joist end. Slide them out carefully from there brick pockets. They are beam pocketed into the brick, When we redo a fire job on a row homes we cut new joist on an angle for that pocket so if another fire happens and the floor collapses the joist won't Lift the façade and collapse it in. Just check for cracked bed mortar joints when inspecting the wall.


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