[Romeo Void]

Our builder dug footings today for our deck. I was watching out the window with my children, like you do, when I saw the digger bring up a load of dirt with shards of clay pipe. They stopped and had a quick look then kept going. I decided to head down and ask what was going on (the main guy wasn't there, his sidekicks were) and they told me it was fine, an old pipe, nothing to worry about. So I didn't.

Luckily it rained a little this afternoon so when I popped down with my children to have a look, I saw water pooled at the bottom of the hole. Not all the holes, just the one with the pipe. So I got suspicious and did a little test, I ran the tap for our laundry tub and sure enough the water started to swirl in the hole. I've let him know and he's coming tomorrow to have a look.

Is this something that he now has to suck up and fix because he broke it? Or am I going to get stuck with paying for this? I fear it's going to cost a bit as the pipe is well over 1m down and they're going to have to break up our concrete driveway to get at it

[liveworkplay]

Their problem entirely.

[TheWanderer]

If I were you I would quickly work out which pipe he hit. It could get messy real quick if it is a sewer line that is used by more than one property.

Go here http://1100.com.au

Set up an account and search for your property. You will get emails from utility providers with underground assets running through your property. It shouldn't be too hard to work out which pipe was hit. Print the map and show your contractor.

[Romeo Void]

Ok I've had a look at our plans and it looks like it's a combo drain with next door! We're uphill so I don't know if they will be affected. And I don't know if it's sewage or just storm water, I'm waiting for the water to drain out so I can flush and test.

No one is allowed to poo for now!

[TheWanderer]

Count yourself lucky... We have a sewer main that services half our suburb running through our báck yard. If anyone hit that that we would really know it.

If its a small drin pipe, a plumber should be able to fix it easily enough... They should pay though.

This post has been edited by TheWanderer: 11/12/2012, 06:34 PM

[Romeo Void]

I've checked and it's definitely a sewer.

No one allowed to poo in our house tonight! Lucky my sister lives next door

I don't think it's going to be easy TheWanderer, it's about 1.5m down and they've opened a 50cm hole in our concrete driveway to dig. I can't see how they can get down to the pipe without tearing up a big chunk of our driveway.

Oh well, it could have been much worse. They were due to pour the concrete footing tomorrow. Imagine if they'd poured all that concrete THEN we worked out the sewer was blocked?!?

[Chubbles]

I wouldn't be so sure they have to pay. Depends on what the terms and conditions are. A different scenario but when we had a tree stump removed we were aware of a pipe under the ground and it was in their terms and conditions that if they were to hit such pipes it is my responsibility not theirs.

[Mrs Mel]

How did you go with the builder OP?

[Romeo Void]

He came around this morning with a plumber and they discussed it at length. It appears the builder is going to fix it himself (under guidance from the plumber) tomorrow. Apparently because the footing for the deck is positioned directly over the pipe he has to do some load shifting business around the pipe.

Not sure what to make of it all.

[FionaM]

OP i would be interested to hear how you went.

we are having our bathroom renovated at the moment and i notice a hole in our hallway that wasnt there yesterday !!