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Thanks. Sadly I have a feeling that that is going to be the only option. I've decided to dig backwards toward the Manhole hoping to see if the concrete ends leaving just the clay pipe. But if it goes up to and maybe includes the manhole I think I'm well and truly in the brown and smelly.

Thanks. But how far did you have to go to make a join. The manhole here is in my garden and about 10ft from the drain. Would it go right up to the manhole?

I'm laying a new patio but as it is going to be lower than the old patio I have to lower the drain. Sounds simple enough but digging down to get at the soil pipe this is what I've come across. It looks like the pipe is held in a concrete shroud. Does anyone know if that was common practise in...

Yes that's right.

Thanks for the reply. It's a dividing wall about 7ft long and 5ft high. At one end it abuts the house at the other (shown) it ends in a pillar. As you can see there isnt enough room for the 1.5 brick pillar. Unless I can terminate the wall in another bond, and I cant think of one, it looks like...

I did a silly thing. Forgot to make my foundation for a single brick wall wide enough at the end to accommodate a pillar. It's a 1 1/2 brick pillar and needs another 130mm of foundation added. How bad a problem is this. Can I simply dig out the 130mm and lay more concrete up against the existing...

Is that what builders do? Getting down to dry and firm in this weather is nigh impossible yet there must be plenty of building still going on.

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful indeed.

Thanks Ian. So are you saying I can in fact pour the concrete into a wet trench?

I hope not. The shuttering is in place now.

Thanks. That's a good idea.

Thanks but draining it isnt the problem. The trench is small enough (about five feet) using a old saucepan will do it. But the soil is still waterlogged. When it drys out will it shrink and lower the foundation?

I dug a trench for a single brick wall before the rains came. The soil is heavy clay on top of chalk. It holds water quite well! I dont want to wait until the summer for it to dry out. Can I pour the concrete in while there is still water in it. At the moment there's about 1/4 inch of water at...

Thanks cajar.

Has anyone ever used a laser level for brickwork? Most seem to be geared for indoors and casting lines a max of 10m. Is there a laser that will cast a dot about 20m? And if anyone has used one for brickwork how does it's use fare against the use of spirit levels? Is there one they would they...

Ok we got this far and my back's killing me (just a bit more to go close to the house). Now my question is as you can see the previous concrete was laid on hardcore which is still there (apart from a few places where we dug it up) and I'm wondering if that would be suitable to lay the new...

It was for two of us. If I use the bigger breaker what about the house foundations? I dont know how this slab is joined to the wall. If the previous owner put bars into the house foundations what chance of damage to the foundations?

Yeah you were right.

Actually a lot better than I thought as it's not as thick as I believed. The pilot holes I drilled were around the edge where it is 18" think. So some relief. We used a sledge and a medium breaker. Another poster wisely suggested covering up the windows. Well I didnt and the far one got broke...

Thanks. I'm sure you're right about the sledge. Today we'll find out.