Despite the mighty efforts of about 15 volunteers on Saturday, some of the drain tile did get covered with gravel. This tile surrounds the basement walls and attempts to collect any water percolating down through the soil, thus preventing it from entering the basement. The tile leads into the basement (under the wall) and into the sump pit, from which it will pumped outside to eventually find it’s way into the storm sewers at the street.

The City of Elgin inspector was scheduled to visit on Monday, and, hopefully, OK the tile installation so the backfilling could begin. Thus it meant the remainder of the tile would need to be covered with gravel before then.

By mid-afternoon Sunday, about 15 feet of tile remained uncovered and it looked like it would not get finished before Monday. Then two delightful teenage girls (Diana, on the right with her mom, and Erica), from across the street, came over with a glass of ice water and started asking some questions: could anyone help, were there age limits and when did we work? After their questions were answered and the ice water was devoured, they left to go home.

About five minutes later one of the girls (Diana) came back, with her uncle and a wheelbarrow and several shovels.  They proceed to attack the gravel pile with vigor and soon had the necessary amount delivered to the space surrounding the basement foundation. Throwing the wheelbarrow into this overdig space and jumping in after, they proceed to spread the gravel over the tile. In less than thirty minutes the total job of covering the tile was done. Hallelujah!

Their dog, Rolle, also came over to help.

The only item remaining, before inspection, was to cover the gravel with landscaping fabric, which serves to keep silt and fine clay particles from clogging up the drain tile. This will be done early Monday morning.

Now to see if we pass the inspection.