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Curb already dropped,
Roughly 3-4 skips of earth to be shifted to get a level garden,
Want a 6x6m gravel driveway with a 7m pathway leading to front door,
All with a block paved edge,
I'll have to take up the existing concrete path next to the house,
A manhole cover shouldn't be to much of an issue?
A digger has to be fun?!
Maybe I should just shift the dirt and then pay for the drive to be installed.
Anyone done this themselves?
Do it!!
I block paved our drive, 72 square meters in total. Smashed up the concerte & dug it all out by hand & moved the 23 ton of sub base with 1 barrow.
Bought the paving second hand off ebay & delt direct with the quarries. All told cost us £800
If you can pile the muck up get it collected. Much cheaper.
Worried at pipelines, cables etc, What can I do to eliminate risk?
Pipe lines you should be able to work out by following your drains, lifting manhole covers. Cables, DNO might have some details, not sure. Worth giving the m a ring. You should at least be able to see where it enters the house.
I'm planning same thing 🙂
I've decided to tackle the back first with similar plans, so I can make any mistakes before getting to front!
I assume you've seen the pavingexpert site?
Cat for the electric feed, gas, well its anyone's guess as those ****ers stick it in wherever they like, water, if you hit that you've ****ed the levels right up! Owt else can be repaired easily but lift manholes and take note of levels and headings of drainage. Fwiw I do this for a living and still haven't personally had any mains, but seeing a man in an open cab 360 getting his fag glowing red via the pressure from a 63mm gas main he'd nicked is still one of my construction highlights!
What can I do to eliminate risk?
[url= http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/excavators.htm ]What the HSE says[/url]
How deep do Gas, Electrics and water lines usually run?
Of course I'll check before starting any work but I'm only taking out a max of 10" of which is protruding from the surrounding level, really a case of leveling things out.
Track out likely route of services using stop cocks on pavement/scars from gas main replacement etc to make a best guess and entry points inside building.
To be safe, assume everything is shallow. Phone line is particularly easy to cut if buried, cable TV is often just a few cm's deep.
Hand dig test holes ideally using a fibreglass/composite spade. You should really use a 'cat and genny' to locate and you may be able to hire them but they won't find plastic water/gas pipe and youll have to train yourself in how to use them...probably a bit OTT unless you plan to bring a mini excavator in.