Conservatory built over drains

[katy may]

Hi all

The survey on the house I'm hoping to buy has come back saying (amongst other things) that the conservatory may have been built over the drains.

How do I find out for definite and is it a big problem? (presumably only if the drains need repairing?).

If it is a big problem, anyone got any idea on the cost so I can negotiate with the vendors.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[noseall]

it will depend upon how the drains have been built over.

drain runs can be successfully built over using lintels or compressible material wrapped around the pipe.

inspection pits however should not be built over.

nor should you build on or very near to a drain 'in-line', unless the foundations go deeper than the invert of the pipe.

we generally modernize any drain runs passing through any of our new builds as a precautionary measure. i.e. from salt glaze to plastic.

 

[katy may]

Thank you, that's useful to know.

How would I find out if it has been done properly? The current owners say the conservatory was added in 2000, before they bought the house, and therefore there are no receipts/guarantees/details of which builders etc.

 

[^woody^]

You can get a camera survey of the drains, which will highlight any problems.

But if I had a report that said "conservatory may be built over drains", the I would say "So what?"

What problem is this causing, and what evidence of defects can be seen?

If it was a decent report, then I would expect further comment to qualify this statement and conclude if there was a problem or not, and what should be done about it

 

[katy may]

Thanks Woody, the survey is of the type that covers itself in everyway without actually telling you anything useful.

I'll call the surveyor on Monday and ask him this question along with the others I have lined up.

 

[Static]

You could turn on a tap. Lift the man holes and check if they are flowing freely..

 

[Nige F]

You can get a camera survey of the drains, which will highlight any problems.

But if I had a report that said "conservatory may be built over drains", the I would say "So what?"

and I`d say F` in Hell........because we`re next door to a cons. over a drain run ........it`s Pitch friggin` fibre and collapsed under the conservatory and guess what it`s a "private sewer" and we`re all supposed to pay££££££££££ for the privelege of some numpty buggering ing up a conservatory job Next Door