Are Openreach going to trash my drive ?
Discussion
We're having new FTTP installed, and Openreach say there's digging to be done as they can't get from the manhole to the house using whatever tube the existing copper wire comes down.
This is the setup. Not clear to me if they will go via 1, 2, or 3. If 1 or 2 they are going to be lifting bricks from the drive - is that likely to be neatly done ? Should I offer to get a trench laid myself through the lawn ?
This is the setup. Not clear to me if they will go via 1, 2, or 3. If 1 or 2 they are going to be lifting bricks from the drive - is that likely to be neatly done ? Should I offer to get a trench laid myself through the lawn ?
Not Openreach but a couple of weeks ago I had UK Power Networks dig a trench in my block driveway.
It looked dreadful when up and I was worried but they had another company do the reinstatement and the way its gone back you would never know it had been dug.
The guys doing the work were pleasant etc. No complaints.
Take pictures before, during and after just in case but I think you'll be OK.
It looked dreadful when up and I was worried but they had another company do the reinstatement and the way its gone back you would never know it had been dug.
The guys doing the work were pleasant etc. No complaints.
Take pictures before, during and after just in case but I think you'll be OK.
A lot probably depends on which Openreach civils squad does the job. I had a blockage in my conduit as well, Openreach dug up a section of pavement outside and a patch of grass in the garden. The pavement had a temporary fix put in right away and was properly sealed a few days later, the grass has never quite been right since. It’s pot luck I think really.
I put my own ducting in place on my property , which OPENREACH supplied... I would suggest you do the same... Ask them where they want it run , where the duct is outside your property and decide where you want the external fibre termination ... Also ask them for the ducting , they gave me far more than I heeded and right angle joining pieces . I also ran the fibre tail to to the ONT inside my house , because I have floorboards and a void.
A number of properties in my village had the original copper installed in amoured cable and no ducting , OPENREACH wanted to run overhead with poles and they had to complain and eventually all the properties were ducted underground .
PS If you do it yourself , don't forget to leave a draw rope in the duct
A number of properties in my village had the original copper installed in amoured cable and no ducting , OPENREACH wanted to run overhead with poles and they had to complain and eventually all the properties were ducted underground .
PS If you do it yourself , don't forget to leave a draw rope in the duct
Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Tuesday 5th August 15:04
Newc said:
We're having new FTTP installed, and Openreach say there's digging to be done as they can't get from the manhole to the house using whatever tube the existing copper wire comes down.
This is the setup. Not clear to me if they will go via 1, 2, or 3. If 1 or 2 they are going to be lifting bricks from the drive - is that likely to be neatly done ? Should I offer to get a trench laid myself through the lawn ?
I would suggest they will go for a combination of method 2 and 3 by digging along the footpath and then along the edge of the lawn where it meets the block paving. That way there is minimal disruption to your property and it's easier for them to dig soft . I used to deal the Civils teams before I retired and they mostly will always go for the easier and quicker option .This is the setup. Not clear to me if they will go via 1, 2, or 3. If 1 or 2 they are going to be lifting bricks from the drive - is that likely to be neatly done ? Should I offer to get a trench laid myself through the lawn ?
They’ll go route 2. They couldn’t care less about what they dig up or how they dig it up, all they’re interested in is getting from a to b in as short a route as possible and getting hell out of Dodge as quickly as possible. Many before and after photos will be needed, and then some extra ones that you thought you didn’t need. Subbies working for giant companies with more money than God absolutely do not care one iota about the client they’re working at.
Newc said:
We're having new FTTP installed, and Openreach say there's digging to be done as they can't get from the manhole to the house using whatever tube the existing copper wire comes down.
This is the setup. Not clear to me if they will go via 1, 2, or 3. If 1 or 2 they are going to be lifting bricks from the drive - is that likely to be neatly done ? Should I offer to get a trench laid myself through the lawn ?
The shortest journey through the pavement is their objective. So I would suggest they take the direct route, then immediately go 90degrees to your lawn and then another 90 degrees to the house. That way they get minimum pavement disruption and you get minimum block paving disruption. This is the setup. Not clear to me if they will go via 1, 2, or 3. If 1 or 2 they are going to be lifting bricks from the drive - is that likely to be neatly done ? Should I offer to get a trench laid myself through the lawn ?
They will take the easiest route possible, even if it is a bodge. I've seen some really poor installs, black cables across white rendering, cracked rendering, blown brickwork. Unfortunately they are on a price and on a schedule per day, so they don't care.
Only last week one of my customers asked me to look at his new fibre install. They had come across from a pole but rather than follow the existing copper cable to the top of the gable, they fixed it half way down the gable, as they didn't have ladders to reach the existing. They then ran black fibres down his white wall to knee height and back up again, as they can't terminate fibre whilst up a ladder.
They drilled a hole in the wall which blew and cracked his render for an eye bolt, which they left in place. He had to call them back to remove it.
They left un-cut cable ties and half hammerd in clips which also cracked his render.
They left cut bits of cable and other crap in his garden and out under the pole in the street.
Only last week one of my customers asked me to look at his new fibre install. They had come across from a pole but rather than follow the existing copper cable to the top of the gable, they fixed it half way down the gable, as they didn't have ladders to reach the existing. They then ran black fibres down his white wall to knee height and back up again, as they can't terminate fibre whilst up a ladder.
They drilled a hole in the wall which blew and cracked his render for an eye bolt, which they left in place. He had to call them back to remove it.
They left un-cut cable ties and half hammerd in clips which also cracked his render.
They left cut bits of cable and other crap in his garden and out under the pole in the street.
Edited by megaphone on Tuesday 5th August 13:55
The Three D Mucketeer said:
PS If you do it yourself , don't forget to leave a draw rope in the duct
Slight thread drift.Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Tuesday 5th August 15:04
If anyone finds no draw rope in ducting, tie some string to a smallish bag and blow it through with a leaf blower, works a treat.
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