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Roofer been round today and has confirmed as you suggested that the drain is in good order. Will be fitting new downpipe into it in the new year and cutting a recess into/ and bricking and mortaring part of the top so that the only opening visible hole be where the downpipe enters.

Thank you. Today's work. And just to show how much we (well, some help from the other half anyway) have shovelled by hand...! What we originally thought were paving slabs laid under this base has in fact turned out to be....you guessed it.....another base underneath of more concrete. This...

No reason to assume really other than they had three other water butts around the garden! More trying to rule it out best that can be done. When we took over, this particular butt was full and overflowing so I find it strange someone didn't shift it out of the way to reveal the drain again. Then...

So is the key that if the trowel goes under them then they can be removed? If it won't they should stay? The house is from the 60s and canals not too far away.

Today's progress. This really is one hell of a job. If the concrete was without stones/rocks and bricks inside and was more like 150mm or 200mm thick I don't think it would be so bad. Realistically I have faced now that this won't be finished tomorrow and the breaker is due back as progress is...

So I have contacted a local firm of structural engineers who have seen some photos and have emailed with a bit of free advice. Make of this what you wish. They advise that ideally they would wish to see a bit more of the concrete on the lintel stripped back to determine whether the corrosion is...

Thank you. If the pipe was leaking somewhere underground, would it show itself somewhere? I am hoping that it was just the previous owners wishing to collect the rainwater as you suggest rather than due to some malfunction with the drain somewhere. The sewer is about 4 metres away the other...

Just took the house on recently and the outhouse needs some new guttering on the rear where its roof slopes to. The old guttering which was falling apart had a downpipe leading into a plastic garden water butt on top of this hole, the butt was full. We have removed that and underneath is this...

Carrying on today.... I have actually found some large rocks under here within the concrete. Can anyone tell if this is a row of bricks laid up flush to the rear wall of the house and what it might be for? Are the bricks structural to the house or are they likely to have been put there when...

Been doing just that today. The job is a killer though, it's just so deep it's unreal. Nearer to finishing than starting but if can't get it done for end of play Tuesday when breaker is due back will have to carry on with it the following week for a couple of days. The stacks of rubble alone...

Thank you. I was using the wide chisel on day one which is when the last photo was which explains the dust mentioned. Switched to the point today, day two. Hope to post another photo tomorrow. I estimate this concrete in the middle of the base to be 400mm deep I reckon so it's quite grueling...

Made more progress on removing the base today. Switched to the sharp tool (for the heavy duty breaker) and generally it does seem more effective. Although in places the concrete containing shingle is literally so hard that the breaker just drills a deep chisel shaped hole in it without it...

Bit harsh imo never done anything like this before or used a breaker I'm unlikely to remove it alone in a day or half a day. The thing is rock solid with shingle and there's already two piles of rubble out of shot so keep having to stop to re shovel bits away.

So far after 3 and a half hours yesterday afternoon with the heavy duty breaker.

How did you find out about the company/where do such companies advertise?

Sounds good was it with a big company?

I think so. To be honest we probably could have hired the road breaker for this one! I am finding that with the cement without gravel in it that you can aim the breaker straight down and it comes off in one lump. When you find sections with gravel you have to aim the breaker inwards towards...

I believe there are some private recycling businesses which accept things such as hardcore for a fee which can be cheaper than a skip. We previously had a quote for 2 loads of general waste for £250 at a registered private recycler. That waste in the end we cut down and took to the tip but...

Thanks for advice so far. Update: So settled last night on the medium duty breaker before today's sound advice. Got up early and was ready to start at 8.30. By eleven it was clear the medium duty wasn't going to be enough as I'd done about one square metre so took it back and they kindly...

We are looking at hiring the medium duty breaker and going at the lot next few days. A builder friend today suggested the heavy duty breaker might make it easier but is that really needed? Obviously the concrete around the perimeter looks to be gravel and cement mix?