GnatG

Wonder if anyone on here can help....

If part of the verticle soldier course (set in concrete) for a horizontally laid block driveway is removed, could this cause the blocks behind it to slip forwards causing loss of intergrity to the driveway?

A txt diagram:

=======================
======================= <--- horizontal blocks
=======================
¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦*********¦¦¦ <--- soldier course (*** indicates blocks and concrete removed)

Cheers.

Edit: Forgot to mention that the level of the course removed is at the bottom of the slope, approx 1.5 ft slope top to bottom.

ap0gee

It would depend on how long you want the blocks to stay put, what the blocks are laid on, what's on the blocks, and whether what's on the blocks will move...

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cheezemonkhai

The biggest question is how big is the person you killed and want to bury?

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ap0gee

As long as they don't have any prostethics or gallstones, it's the John Haigh technique every time for me...

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GnatG

They were laid on top of a crushed concrete sub base and bedding sand, according to Marshall's specifications. B*****d water company dug up part of the drive without informing me first, and I'm doubting a repair will be sufficient. Obviously want it sorted asap as I need to park 2 cars on the drive, but I'm not paying for somebody else's c**k up.

GnatG

No comment!

ap0gee

If you're going to be driving cars on and off it constantly, I give it a couple of days max before the blocks on the leading edge of the repair shift. It needs to be put right ASAP...

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cheezemonkhai

Agree you need those blocks there really.

If they are on your property then they have to replace them anyway.

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GnatG

Thought as much. Now I have to convince the legal experts....! The water co. were going to use sub-standard contractors to do the work, and they seem unwilling to admit any liability! I just want to get it sorted ASAP using the same company that laid the drive for me in the first place (with the water company paying for the priviledge).

ap0gee

As it goes, this:

Paving Expert - Block Paving - Edge Courses

might put things into perspective...

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GnatG

That's what the company that laid the drive for me said. Said he may have to come back regularly if he tries repairing, as the blocks could shift every few months. Ideal scenario is a new drive from scratch, but could use some of the old blocks if they're not damaged. What a pain.

heresmo

I'd say have a word with a Marshall's engineer. Clearly the blocks are (were) set in there for a reason. Hopefully they might be able to give you a tech spec to present to whomever you are hoping to claim against.

Regards
Mo

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GnatG

Spoke to the guy that wrote the Paving Expert site a few minutes ago! What a nice man he was. Agreed with the advice you gave in your previous post. You could get a job as a block layer!

cheezemonkhai

If those stones were on your property and they have not replaced them, then IIRC that's criminal damage.

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heresmo

Well, sort of, or not, as it wasn't damage caused with intent. If I'm not mistaken, pipes that carry public services carry a right of access (could be wrong here). In practical terms, it's more likely to be a case of finding the easiest route to get through to the right person to talk to to get it sorted and if that fails, then consider a potentially costly legal route.

I know nothing though, so feel free to ignore this.

Mo

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GnatG

I won't ignore you because what you say is correct. It's exactly what a friendly policeman told me. The pipes do carry a right of access, but only if the correct notice is served to the property owner first (IIRC 24 hours for a major burst/leak, 1 month for a minor leak, 2 months - as in my case - for other non urgent work). I was not served any notice before the digging commenced (nor after it had finished!). The water peeps are not playing ball. So, sadly, it's the legal route I'm progressing down, and if it becomes public so be it. Having investigated the way they carry out the works, there are ways of doing this (using a mole) which would dig to a substantial depth below the drive so as to not cause any damage. But that's obviously too simple for those "luddites"...... All to resolve a bad water pressure problem which still exists.

GnatG

The criminal damage occured when somebody used one of the blocks to smash the rear windscreen on my car.

simonsheil

As you say for non urgent works you should have been notified in writing that they are going on to your land. I'm guesing the pipe runs close up the edge of your property and the contractor got carried away and took out part of your drive, could probably go down as unexpected which shoudl cover them.

Obvisouly it is up to the water company to replace them, however, they have a right to rectify the works.

In terms of a mole in a residential area its preety mcuh a no no as far too much risk of hitting other services.

vindaloo

IMO....

Whenever the ground is excavated, it needs time to re-settle after being filled in, even if compacted with a thumper to start with. If the area is subject to traverse by people, it should be "finished" and flat. Usually, that means they'll cap it with tarmac. If they leave it sticking up and someone falls over, they're liable as they disturbed it.

You want the ground settled before beginning any remediation work for your driveway or it'll settle oddly.

J.

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tippo1983

if the blocks are replaced within a week you will have no issues.

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cheezemonkhai

Wonder if you could claim that off them since they left a brick unsecured and knew that if it wasn't down a scroat could potentially come and do it.

No idea, but worth asking.

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GnatG

Been more than a week unfortunately....