Decked Over manhole - selling property!

[Andehh]

Hi guys,

I am at serious panic stations currently. I am in the process of selling my house, and one of the enquiries is over the fact that 'no pipework has been built over'. Now the problem is I am a total prat, and I built my decking 18 months ago and built it over the freaking manhole cover in my garden.

Now, I didn't concrete or joist over it, just laid the planks over the top, with a cross beam resting on it, and screwed them down...however I was a total prat and didn't check to make sure Thames Water was happy with it. Now I have rung their customer service department and spoke to a women who said it wouldn't be a problem, as long as it was removable should there be a problem with the drains (that's what she did) ....but that I need to speak to their building development team to confirm. Now I checked on their website and they only seem to refer to large permanent structures and then £1000s worth of inspections & certifications required.

Now, with the enquiry I have to answer 'yes' to building over it obviously, but if I put an explanation of 'access via 4 removable decking boards (numbers 4,5,6,7 from fence) screwed into place covering it' am I likely to be totally shafted by them? Anyone think of a wording to make it seem less of an issue? Should I take photos and detail the manhole & planks covering it, send them the photo I took showing the joists around it?

Anyone ever been in this situation with their decking/man hole covers?

*******s

 

[Jackrae]

In my opinion, wooden decking is a "temporary structure" so your manhole is not "built over" As you have indicated. removable boards with a "map" showing location of manhole should be perfectly adequate to any half-intelligent person.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I'm not sure decking can be classed as building over, they mean a shed or garage or extension really. After all access, whilst not instant would not be difficult just the removal of a few decking boards. If it were me I'd just say I'd not built over it. Why on earth did you ring the water company?

 

[Andehh]

I am hoping I am panicing for nothing, there are no joists or structural elements over it, and its only 4-5 planks screwed into place so with a drill access would only take 15mins to access!

All depends on how funny they want to be over it, worse case scenario it will be a long drive one weekend and a few hours worth of cutting an access hatch in! Dammit


edit: I rang the sewerage company as it's a sewer access hatch. Wanted to see if they have anything to add, women I spoke to said she decked over her drain hole, after ensuring access wasn't permanently blocked. She then told me I need to speak to their development department for a solid answer though.

 

[Inky Pete]

Provided, as you say, there are no joists over the manhole and it's just a question of removing a few deck boards to gain access then I wouldn't consider it to have been "built over" at all.

So I'd have answered no to the question and left it at that.

 

[pred]

Me and a mate were involved with a company here in Bristol that made and fitted conservatories, our job was to build the base, brickwork concrete or whatever, we usually had two a day, so in the morning prep and then concrete in the afternoon, we got to one, cleared the turf and lo and behold a manhole cover that the surveyor had missed, the concrete wagon was pre booked, so while i'm still scratching my head my mate scatters some earth over the offending item, sorted.. later that same day it was covered with 4" of concrete.


And i think to myself you're worried about a bit of decking covering a manhole....

Push comes to shove cut a square out of the decking and fit a couple of joist hangers in to take the wooden cover that you make out of the decking.. Simples..

In short you are panicking over nothing, keep your mouth shut, dont even mention it.

If anyone should say anything say Joe90 & his sidekick PrettyPeter advised you..

 

[peterperfection]

Me and a mate were involved with a company here in Bristol that made and fitted conservatories, our job was to build the base, brickwork concrete or whatever, we usually had two a day, so in the morning prep and then concrete in the afternoon, we got to one, cleared the turf and lo and behold a manhole cover that the surveyor had missed, the concrete wagon was pre booked, so while i'm still scratching my head my mate scatters some earth over the offending item, sorted.. later that same day it was covered with 4" of concrete.


And i think to myself you're worried about a bit of decking covering a manhole....

Push comes to shove cut a square out of the decking and fit a couple of joist hangers in to take the wooden cover that you make out of the decking.. Simples..

In short you are panicking over nothing, keep your mouth shut, dont even mention it.

If anyone should say anything say Joe90 & his sidekick PrettyPeter advised you..

I have built 'many ' conservatories over a inspection chamber .No big deal at all.

 

[pred]

Me and a mate were involved with a company here in Bristol that made and fitted conservatories, our job was to build the base, brickwork concrete or whatever, we usually had two a day, so in the morning prep and then concrete in the afternoon, we got to one, cleared the turf and lo and behold a manhole cover that the surveyor had missed, the concrete wagon was pre booked, so while i'm still scratching my head my mate scatters some earth over the offending item, sorted.. later that same day it was covered with 4" of concrete.


And i think to myself you're worried about a bit of decking covering a manhole....

Push comes to shove cut a square out of the decking and fit a couple of joist hangers in to take the wooden cover that you make out of the decking.. Simples..

In short you are panicking over nothing, keep your mouth shut, dont even mention it.

If anyone should say anything say Joe90 & his sidekick PrettyPeter advised you..

I have built 'many ' conservatories over a inspection chamber .No big deal at all.

Why am i not surprised, thank you PP, when i read your reply i burst out laughing, you should be on stage, but lets be serious for a min. Tell me have you ever heard of "Building Regs"??

 

[libby lou lou]

I have built an oversized conservatory, at at least a metre to long, 4m.
Concreted over the gas and drains, so what

Been to prison, can't hurt me much more.

 

[snico]

Me and a mate were involved with a company here in Bristol that made and fitted conservatories, our job was to build the base, brickwork concrete or whatever, we usually had two a day, so in the morning prep and then concrete in the afternoon, we got to one, cleared the turf and lo and behold a manhole cover that the surveyor had missed, the concrete wagon was pre booked, so while i'm still scratching my head my mate scatters some earth over the offending item, sorted.. later that same day it was covered with 4" of concrete.


And i think to myself you're worried about a bit of decking covering a manhole....

Push comes to shove cut a square out of the decking and fit a couple of joist hangers in to take the wooden cover that you make out of the decking.. Simples..

In short you are panicking over nothing, keep your mouth shut, dont even mention it.

If anyone should say anything say Joe90 & his sidekick PrettyPeter advised you..

I have built 'many ' conservatories over a inspection chamber .No big deal at all.

 

[peterperfection]

Me and a mate were involved with a company here in Bristol that made and fitted conservatories, our job was to build the base, brickwork concrete or whatever, we usually had two a day, so in the morning prep and then concrete in the afternoon, we got to one, cleared the turf and lo and behold a manhole cover that the surveyor had missed, the concrete wagon was pre booked, so while i'm still scratching my head my mate scatters some earth over the offending item, sorted.. later that same day it was covered with 4" of concrete.


And i think to myself you're worried about a bit of decking covering a manhole....

Push comes to shove cut a square out of the decking and fit a couple of joist hangers in to take the wooden cover that you make out of the decking.. Simples..

In short you are panicking over nothing, keep your mouth shut, dont even mention it.

If anyone should say anything say Joe90 & his sidekick PrettyPeter advised you..

I have built 'many ' conservatories over a inspection chamber .No big deal at all.

Why am i not surprised, thank you PP, when i read your reply i burst out laughing, you should be on stage, but lets be serious for a min. Tell me have you ever heard of "Building Regs"??

Have you heard of a 'double sealed cover '?

why am i not surprised too ?.

EEAW

 

[Bodgeitandleggit]

Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzz,good job you are selling it......taking advice off some of these is like turkeys taking advice for xmas

 

[Whitespirit66]

Been to prison, can't hurt me much more.

Good idea to have some decking over your manhole in there.

 

[Bodgeitandleggit]

Been to prison, can't hurt me much more.

Good idea to have some decking over your manhole in there.

You asked for that libby

 

[Andehh]

I... Um.....