digging for new water connection

[xelaris]

In order to get a new water connection I have to dig under the wooden underfloor (crawl space) and lay a blue water pipe + 100mm conduct to connect to the water mains just outside of the perimeter of my property.
Is this an easy job? Do I have to drill the wall/foundations under the soil? (that seems an heavy duty job).
The property is a terrace house built probably 60-70 years ago...

 

[picasso]

Afraid thats exactly what you have to do, minimum 750 maximum 1350, and you need to insulate as it comes up to floor level (hence the conduit)

 

[xelaris]

Afraid thats exactly what you have to do, minimum 750 maximum 1350, and you need to insulate as it comes up to floor level (hence the conduit)

thanks for your feedback...
The 750mm depth isn't a major issue as the crawl space is relatively deep - basically I'll have to dig another 200mm to achieve the minimum (750mm below the ground outside the house)....but what about the actual perimeter of the house? I'm going to find bricks/foundations? If so I'll need to use a power tool (chisel/hammer drill) under the floorboards (very awkward).
It seems some of these old terrace housed don't have foundations (that would help).

maybe this question should be posted in the Building section...

 

[TCCHeating]

It seems some of these old terrace housed don't have foundations

I hope for your sake it does have foundations

Presumably youre going to have to dig outside as well in order to reach the mains pipe??
Could you not drill the hole from outside to make things easier for you?

 

[MANDATE]

I put a new water pipe in about 4years back.
Dug trench 750mm deep right up to kitchen wall.
Dug under the wall foundation and also dug hole in kitchen floor, but it was solid floor not boarded.
I did have use of a SDS hammer drill which are around £30. (worth every penny) I used the 100mm ducting and insulation as directed by United Utilities (who's agreement you have to have or they won't connect)
Also instead of laying the pipe on the existing cinders or using loads of sand I used a 50mm ducting to protect the pipe, being easier and cheaper.
At the rear of the yard went under wall foundations so UU could connect.
It went quite well. After connection I cut existing supply and fitted stop end

 

[xelaris]

I put a new water pipe in about 4years back.
Dug trench 750mm deep right up to kitchen wall.
Dug under the wall foundation and also dug hole in kitchen floor, but it was solid floor not boarded.
I did have use of a SDS hammer drill which are around £30. (worth every penny) I used the 100mm ducting and insulation as directed by United Utilities (who's agreement you have to have or they won't connect)
Also instead of laying the pipe on the existing cinders or using loads of sand I used a 50mm ducting to protect the pipe, being easier and cheaper.
At the rear of the yard went under wall foundations so UU could connect.
It went quite well. After connection I cut existing supply and fitted stop end

"Dug under the wall foundation..."
do you remember how deep? I'm also with United Utilities and they require a minimum depth of 750mm below the outside ground (not inside). Being a suspended floor is much easier than with a solid concrete floor but I have no idea where to find the foundations and if it would be better to drill just above them or digging underneath...

 

[xelaris]

It seems some of these old terrace housed don't have foundations

I hope for your sake it does have foundations

Presumably youre going to have to dig outside as well in order to reach the mains pipe??
Could you not drill the hole from outside to make things easier for you?

Outside there is a public pavement....I dug below it from my property and leave a mark on the top of where United Utilities is supposed to dig - that area is their responsibility not mine.
I'm puzzled myself about the possibility of not having foundations...but if I'm not mistaken that's exactly the case for certain older terrace houses - mind you, there must be something which cover a similar function (e.g. wider bricks?)

 

[MANDATE]

In my case I went down the 750 mm with a trench in rear yard.
At the rear of the yard I went under wall foundations and also made hole in the back allyway with enough pipe for the connection.
At the kitchen end of trench, still 750mm deep dug through about 350mm.
I don't recall any concrete foundations, I recall attempting to cut through brickwork and finding it almost impossible with hand tools.
The loan of a sds hammer drill with chisel dealt with problem with ease.
The kitchen floor is about 250mm higher than yard so had to go down 1 metre in kitchen. It was quite easy because beneath kitchen floor was cinders and most of them came out via the trench.

You could also consider using a 100mm core drill.
UU web site was useful with diagrams showing the various requirements regarding ducting and insulation.
If your stuck for ducting, a visit to C W Berrys at Leyland is the place.
In fact it's the place for everything regarding building