backfill around basement?

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#1 What’s the purpose of the clay/sand/rock backfill that is pressing against my basement foundation wall? Is it structural or to insulate?

My plan is to build a 4-season room under my deck (where this backfill is located). To build the room I need to remove the backfill. My gf wants me to build her a cold storage for food as well. I was planning to concrete slab the whole floor and have big glass windows to enjoy the view behind.

#2 Is it safe for me to remove the backfill and build a 4-season room? I will stay away away from the deck posts of course.

Pics of the deck/basement:

[motoman]

Tapered away from foundation for water run-off. Not an issue whatsoever for what you have planned.....just a lot of dirt removal. May find the wall just below dirt level has a black tar like sealer on it also.

[JeffH]

Ditto what motoman said

From the pictures I can't really tell the "original" grade / elevations / natural slope (front to back, left to right, street grade, woods grade) but it looks like the rear grade is Left to Right. So it appears left of the door was the natural grade anyways.

Of course the house foundation came first, before the added patio & deck so the house foundation has the structural integrity and drainage. The foundation perimeter was likely dug from street grade back into the natural grade. The dirt backfill to the right of the door was probably the easiest place to get rid of the extra dirt from leveling the patio area.

What I'd plan and study most is the drainage. Surface water, downspouts, neighbors run off. If you add that new room you don't want to create a water problem. So a carefully planned drainage plan would be step #1. Where's the water going to pool up when you start moving dirt and build that new addition. That's the real problem that needs to be addressed before you begin. What's the water going to do and how am I going to move it along and keep the area dry.

The right of the door patio deck pilings look be proper and adequate when you begin to move dirt. However, the left of door patio deck pilings appear to be on the fill grade level. So that will need to be addressed up front in the project so the structural integrity of the deck is maintained.

that's my 2 cents fwiw from the available pics
btw: nice back yard. Very pleasant place to hang out and relax ............

Good Luck,
Jeff

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thanks guys!

yes lots of dirt to remove, but thats ok i love digging, its free exercise

ill have to install some kind of roof for my room, the water is definitely a top concern to address at the beginning.

i love improving my backyard, its very peaceful to chill, here’s a panoramic view if im standing at the door looking towards water

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this morning’s workout

[DiverRay]

I did something like that years ago. I built a deck that was for the second story MB as part of a remodel. After the inspectors left (this IS Can'taffordya!) I made a roof that was connected at the house with Simpson brackets, and the other end was still on the ground. I added the roofing and then with help lifted the other end up almost as high so I had a lean to type roof. Kept everything dry!