Drains are Pains

Hi everyone,

As the title says drains are pains. I have applied to Thames water for their permission to build over/next to the main sewer and rain water drain. The sewer was shown on the drawing but unfortunately the rain water wasn't as we did not realise we had it until we started to clear the site. Due to this Thames water have refused permission to build unless we supply new drawings with the rain water drain on it. So the architect has come back today to amend the drawings.
As always there is a concern, and I am sure it will cost more money, this being that you are not allowed to have a foundation 600mm from a public sewer. Our foundation strip is currently 800mm away from the main sewer, but only 550mm away from the now found rain water drain. If the rule of 600mm has to be adhered to with the rain water drain then I will have to change my foundations to piled which will need to be calculated by a structural engineer (this will cost money!!) and will also hold up time for the build. So I am hoping that the rainwater drain is not classed as a sewer and everything will work out .

Keep you all posted.

Garry & Christine

P.S. Plan to start on the removal of the chimney stack, spoken to the council and they are happy paid and sent in the building notice, I have bought the gallow brackets and now just need to convince Christine that this is the right thing to start doing. Will update ASAP.

Planning Permission

I have just found out today that we have received planning permission so we can start work once the right quote comes through the door!!!!

A big hole

I have been really busy in the back garden. I finished filling the skip and this was picked up on Monday last week. As I was off on holiday last week my plan was to dig out the earth under what will be our new dining room, the plan is to use this space for storage e.g. garden furniture, bikes, spades etc. With an empty skip and a spade in my hand I began to dig out this hole. And a huge hole it turned out to be!!! I have filled up a full 8 yard skip with all the earth. I would have liked to have done more but the weather last week was absolutely awful. So when I get my camera back (Christine's dad has borrowed it) I will publish some pictures of my new hole.

I have also used my time off work to start getting quotes for the work to be done. I have got three companies to price up the whole building (well the footings, brickwork and loft, but only a the shell so I can do as much myself as possible) I has also have another three companies to quote for the footings and 3 brickies for the brickwork, I will fill you in with the cost when the quotes start hitting the door mat. So without the pictures you will not really understand what I have done.

Garry & Christine