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I think I have posted in the past about an ongoing problem I have been having getting a conservatory built.
We have had plans approved for a small conservatory on the back of our house. The problem is that there is an existing manhole under the corner of the proposed structure, and a private foul drain running all they way along it’s front wall. (full length glass panes)
The company who we employed to build it said that they would re-site the manhole outside the unit, and user a cantilever footing to bridge over the length of the drain.
When they arrived to do it, they just built over the manhole and poured concrete on top of the drain to create a footing! I asked them to demolish it, and build it to the original specification using new contractors. They agreed.
The new contractor arrived, and has moved the manhole and ‘deleted’ the old one. He has encased the drain pipe itself in pea shingle and boxed it in before pouring the concrete on. This should take any weight off the drain, apparently.
Is this a proper cantilever footing?? I was under the impression that two footings would be dug quite a long way from the pipe, and then some sort of bridging built across.
Building control will not get involved, and a local surveyor that I have appointed seems to think that it is an ‘ok’ way of doing it but I am not so sure – after all of this time I don’t want to have to pull it down again in a few years if there are problems with the drains.
Any advice appreciated.
We have had plans approved for a small conservatory on the back of our house. The problem is that there is an existing manhole under the corner of the proposed structure, and a private foul drain running all they way along it’s front wall. (full length glass panes)
The company who we employed to build it said that they would re-site the manhole outside the unit, and user a cantilever footing to bridge over the length of the drain.
When they arrived to do it, they just built over the manhole and poured concrete on top of the drain to create a footing! I asked them to demolish it, and build it to the original specification using new contractors. They agreed.
The new contractor arrived, and has moved the manhole and ‘deleted’ the old one. He has encased the drain pipe itself in pea shingle and boxed it in before pouring the concrete on. This should take any weight off the drain, apparently.
Is this a proper cantilever footing?? I was under the impression that two footings would be dug quite a long way from the pipe, and then some sort of bridging built across.
Building control will not get involved, and a local surveyor that I have appointed seems to think that it is an ‘ok’ way of doing it but I am not so sure – after all of this time I don’t want to have to pull it down again in a few years if there are problems with the drains.
Any advice appreciated.