Blasting

Okay. The blasting has gotten a little out of control. It sounds and FEELS like someone has rammed their car into the house.

Anyone else sick of this? Anything we can do (yeah, right!)?

 

Where are they blasting?

 

The blasting is being done by the developers of the Villages of Waxpool on Belmont Ridge, and other sites along the ridge. FWIW, its only going to get worse as development moves around us on Belmont Ridge, below Crosen, and old Ryan road.

Really, there's not much anyone here can do, this whole area is underlaid by rock ledge, and the only way for basements and utilities to be put in is to blast. The rock is one of the reasons Verizon has postponed FIOS installation in Ashburn Farm, too much of it.

You should be glad its only vibrations you're feeling. When they were blasting some areas of Broadlands North right after I moved in in '99, there were rock pieces flying all around. A few houses actually got hit, and had to be repaired.

 

Neilz,

That may be a source, but a more consist blast comes from the quary on Belmont Ridge Road.

 

True ... but we're far enough away that we don't notice it as much (if at all) as those in the Farm.

We've had complaints about blasting from people in Broadlands South recently, and they're really blasting away for that Villages of Waxpool subdivision !!

 

Sorry, I had chili the night before!

 

Yeah. I know there's nothing I can do. I just needed to vent a little.

T8erman: Can I have some of that chili? I need to fight back!

 

Since I live in Southern Walk the blasting is very noticeable and very consistent. Everyday between 3 and 4pm. Sometimes the hanging lamps in my house shake. I contacted the Loudoun County Fire Marshall (the people who oversee construction blasting) and they told me they have received several complaints, they have installed a blast recorder to check to see if the blasting is in within the limits, and have notified the developer that complaints exist. Unfortunately, according to the blast meters, the blasting is in within the limits. The Fire Marshall told me that, in his opinion, the blasting limits are old and outdated and suited for older homes with brick or stone exterior construction (not many of those out here). The Fire Marshall says every year they ask lawmakers in Richmond to lower the blast limits but every year they are defeated due to a "powerful developer lobby." The Fire Marshall says to expect the blasting to continue for a lengthy period of time as the developer and the county work to install untility lines, etc in the Villages of Waxpool area. He also said the only recourse for residents is if there is some damage to their homes. The Fire Marshall has a legal contact he can share with any homeowners who call in and complain that the blasting has caused cracks or other damage.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the info Brosowalk. I wonder how we'd go about proving it was due to blasting. I'm also in SW and today thought one of my children fell down the stairs the thumping was so loud. We do have some "settling", our floor boards under the carpet are no longer laying nicely next to each other. When you walk across the joints you can feel that one side has popped up.

But I'm exhausted just THINKING about the hoops we'd have to jump through to try to pin it on the blasting, even if it truly is to blame.

 

Sharse, I guess you would need to talk to the FM directly regarding proof of damage, what to do, etc. I can tell you that in my experience with the FM's office they have been very responsive. I don't have the FM's phone number handy, but the Loudoun County Government web site has the number posted as 703-737-8600. Good luck!

 

Not only have we now been in our home 15 months, we were not the original owner. We bought from an investor who owned the home about 10 minutes, never lived here, and flipped it. So needless to say, "customer service" is NOT something we've ever experienced from VM. (Don't get my husband started... he'll rant for days on this topic.)