Started a new job on Thursday, a rip out of existing front boundary wall and replace. Sounds simple enough - right.
Had large silver birch dropped last week (the cause of replacing the old wall), turned up thursday to rip out and get footings in, Started with getting the old stump out and managed 3 scratches with the bucket before 'pop'. First root had done the electric cable, directly under the stump at a good 150-200mm below surface .
Useless utilities turned up 7.5 hours later to do a temporary fix until the following day.
When i turned up Friday to check on everything U.U. had called in highways agency due to cable runnning right next to lamp post (which was loose! )to remove it.
As soon as the area was safe for them to start the digging back to make the connection they went straight through the water main.
Next door neighbours already decided we've knocked his pillar loose (other side of drive to where we started). When ive had a look hes got a timber gate post with a 'L' shape wall covering front and one side built from dense block stacked on end and rendered laid directly on to his CBP threshold
Told client id be back Monday morning at that point and walked off with my head in my hands
Tops off a good week if i take in to account my 2 punctures and sale of house falling through.
And breath! At least i can laugh about it :p
Anyway good to see everyone keeping busy and some quality work being shown in the recent work thread. Cutting down the hours a bit now to spend a bit more time with the family so can hopefully lurk and contribute a bit more again
Always stuck in a hole - just the depth that varies
might be insurance job, UU have been known to charge £1750 for emergency repair
ive been on a job trenching through bed rock, had cat scanned new where the elctric was but couldnt hand dig.
hit the water first, fixed that, hit the gas, temp fixed that, peeled the sheaf of the electric, fixed that with a resin repair then next day hit the gas again as it came up from 400 deep to 200mm deep.
there was no way to gentle peel through or hand dig before hand, was a thick shale type but with walling size rocks coming out mixed with hard packed clay, nightmare job.
sometimes you just get unlucky, any groundworker or machine man will always hit something, like i say saw the utility lads the other day and they'd hit a 450mm watermain that really is bad news.
Giles
Groundworks and Equestrian specialists, prestige new builds and sports pitches. High Peak, Cheshire, South Yorkshire area.
To be fair we had cat scanned and we were trying to get access to the roots on one side of the stump to start cutting out. It was the fact that the root we pulled on looped around and under the trunk and handily wrapped itself round the cable. You live and learn. All the other issues were down to the utility guys on the digger who also incedently went through the soil pipe as well :p
Lad that came out to assess has had the 'incedent' put down to a 'service fault' and was very good about it so hopefully the only damage to the wallet will be the 3 days extra hand dig and a few beers for the utility assesor
Always stuck in a hole - just the depth that varies
We have hit all sorts over the years three phase electric, gas, water, rising mains and bloody cable tv. Most of its was where it shouldnt be and not at the depth it should be.
Three phase cables 10inch below ground level under cobbles, same again lay in a concrete slab, bloody Ninex cables pushed in flag joints and pointed in or covered in leaves below a hedge row.
The detection equipment is out there now but it doesnt necessarily tell you the depth
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