Repairing Inspection Chamber

[CheeseyD]

Howdy folk, got some left over work from a groundsman who's abandoned the job half done.

Would quite like to not have a gaping hole in the side of my inspection chamber that's begging for debris to fall into the drain.

Any suggestions on how to patch up the following? (picture attached) It's approx 1.5 foot below ground level.

Much appreciated, clueless with groundworks and drainage.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Personally, I'd dig down around it, remove the riser and replace, this time being a bit more careful with cutting out the entry for the top pipe. Ditto with the top section and the grey rainwater pipe. Once in place, peagravel about the bottom to protect the pipework, and a bit of concrete around the Junction to hold it all in place, before peagravel under and around the rest of the run to protect it before backfilling.

To be honest, thats not even the work of a Groundworker, unless he's used whatever fittings he could find kicking about, no-one uses soil fittings underground as they're more expensive than the brown stuff!

 

[CheeseyD]

Personally, I'd dig down around it, remove the riser and replace, this time being a bit more careful with cutting out the entry for the top pipe. Ditto with the top section and the grey rainwater pipe. Once in place, peagravel about the bottom to protect the pipework, and a bit of concrete around the Junction to hold it all in place, before peagravel under and around the rest of the run to protect it before backfilling.

To be honest, thats not even the work of a Groundworker, unless he's used whatever fittings he could find kicking about, no-one uses soil fittings underground as they're more expensive than the brown stuff!

Eep, it's a good 1.5 meters deep through clay, building rubble and a 6" thick concrete slab surrounding the nearby patch (I know as I dug a portion of it for the groundworker, and yes he used whatever fittings he had available as he was ****ed he had to do a backdrop for the BCO)

As it was a £400 job for a small pipe run, i'd really like to avoid having to pay several times that to make up for what they have bodged, given it was a completely bricked and functional drain before they took the breaker to it.

Any options for "patching" it for the time being?


*Edit, is it possible to remove the riser without the dig? Given it's 470 cm for eg can you slide in a 450 riser? - Probably a stupid question but worth asking!
**Edit Edit - I even had a 117mm cutter 6 feet from them but they had already taken the hand saw to it by the time I realised.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Oh crikey, it's deeper than it looks then! If BCO is happy with it as is, then go to Plan B. I'd drop some concrete in behind to fill the hole, make it a dryish mix and you should be able to pack it in and smooth it off without it falling into the chamber. (Do it in layers if needs be.) Risers have ridges on the outside for strength, unlikely to be able to pull the existing out and drop a new one in without difficulty.

Backdrops serve a purpose, if you've soil going in from that run, it'll make an unholy mess in the chamber falling in from height, and probably block the chamber before too long. Using a backdrop to bring the flow into the channel avoids all that.

 

[bernardgreen]

Might be a good idea to cut a disc ( from scrap plywood ) that is a close fit in the chamber. Put it in the base of the chamber to prevent debris that falls into the chamber from getting washed into the channels.

Put three or four holes in the disc for ropes so it can be lifted while staying level to bring the debris close to the surface for easy removal without having to go head down in the the chamber.

 

[CheeseyD]

Oh crikey, it's deeper than it looks then! If BCO is happy with it as is, then go to Plan B. I'd drop some concrete in behind to fill the hole, make it a dryish mix and you should be able to pack it in and smooth it off without it falling into the chamber. (Do it in layers if needs be.) Risers have ridges on the outside for strength, unlikely to be able to pull the existing out and drop a new one in without difficulty.

Backdrops serve a purpose, if you've soil going in from that run, it'll make an unholy mess in the chamber falling in from height, and probably block the chamber before too long. Using a backdrop to bring the flow into the channel avoids all that.

Might make a temporary shield using some plastic just to prevent any mix falling inside the chamber.

Might be a good idea to cut a disc ( from scrap plywood ) that is a close fit in the chamber. Put it in the base of the chamber to prevent debris that falls into the chamber from getting washed into the channels.

Put three or four holes in the disc for ropes so it can be lifted while staying level to bring the debris close to the surface for easy removal without having to go head down in the the chamber.

Good job I like to live dangerously!

About time I learned to play with concrete I guess.

As they say.. pay cheap, pay twice.