Utility Company may want to dig-up my driveway..

[Bowler]

As the “Occupier” I’ve had a letter today from National Grid Gas, saying (words to the effect of) that they will be carrying improvement works to the gas main and that, amongst other things, they want to replace the gas supply to my house.

Assuming they choose to do this, they will need to dig up by block-paved driveway. I am fairly sure that if they (ie their fixed price contractors) do this, then the driveway will not be left in the same state as it was beforehand.

There is a contact number for me to call if I have any concerns, but assuming they want to do this, then what do I need to tell them in advance to protect myself from a potential long-winded argument about “making good”


?

TIA

[Jasandjules]

By making good I am afraid I don't think they will need to make it look like it did (not 100% on that), but I think they can just slap tarmac on, regardless..

It doesn't hurt to ask them nicely for details of what they will be doing and how they will repair it though.

[robinhood21]

They might use one of those underground boring machines so as not to disturb the block-paving.

[Bowler]

Having tought about after posting, I've realised that "my property" starts at the border between my driveway and the footpath. Therefore, if my side needs replacing then, it will be my problem. Won't it?

Anyway, all views welcome on this.

Cheers

[skip_1]

robinhood21 said:

They might use one of those underground boring machines so as not to disturb the block-paving.

No chance, as connection to shallow. Have you any grass where they can divert the route?

Also if your drive is block paved it'll be replaced not tarmacced.

[andy400]

robinhood21 said:

boring machines

Yawn...

[convert]

Something similar happened to my sister in law a few years ago.

The gas company were doing some work to repalce her neighbour's supply, and inadventantly disconnected her supply.

As a result she was left without gas for nearly a week. They had to run a new supply to her house, again this meant that they had to dig up her block paving. Chimps would have done a better job.

Their version of making good didn't leave her drive anywhere near the condition it had been in. They also left a hole in the wall of the house where they ran the new supply through. the hole was at least an inch and a half larger than it needed to be.

Took months to get them to put things right, and that only happened due to the intervention of our local MP.


My advice would be to take photos, and left the company know that you expect it to be returned to the exact same condition.

[Jasandjules]

skip_1 said:

Also if your drive is block paved it'll be replaced not tarmacced.

Ah, that is good news. I would agree with the poster who said to take some photos of the driveway etc.. before they turn up as well.

[Bowler]

convert said:

Something similar happened to my sister in law a few years ago.

The gas company were doing some work to repalce her neighbour's supply, and inadventantly disconnected her supply.

As a result she was left without gas for nearly a week. They had to run a new supply to her house, again this meant that they had to dig up her block paving. Chimps would have done a better job.

Their version of making good didn't leave her drive anywhere near the condition it had been in. They also left a hole in the wall of the house where they ran the new supply through. the hole was at least an inch and a half larger than it needed to be.

Took months to get them to put things right, and that only happened due to the intervention of our local MP.


My advice would be to take photos, and left the company know that you expect it to be returned to the exact same condition.

Sound advice. Thanks

I suppose the easy way is to write to them before anything happens telling them what I expect (ie written record).

[Ganglandboss]

A while back I came home during the day to find two blokes digging up the drive. When I asked what they were doing, they told me they had carried out a CCTV inspection of the drains and found out the gas pipe that had been installed using a mole had gone straight through the foul water drain. I told them they must have discovered this earlier so why was I not told. A bit later I heared them furtively sneaking a note through the door. It was a standard A4 form with dates etc written in biro. The information on the back said that they are required to make good to the same standard. As our drive is fked, we now have a 600 X 600 mm square patch of concrete with an alsatian's paw print in it!

[tlracing]

On your point about whether the gas main is your responsibility on your property:

I'm pretty sure everything up to the meter is theirs, so you should be okay.

One piece of advice: Once they've done, make sure they fully test that you have a good, sound & reliable supply back. A few years ago, after Transco had done some 'improvement work' where I lived, the gas main to my house was contaminated with water.

This caused no end of problems with the cooker & boiler, ultimately damaging the gas valve & thermocouple in the latter due to water vapour ingress.

[steve_amv8]

Bowler said:

I suppose the easy way is to write to them before anything happens telling them what I expect (ie written record).

I'd include the photos in the letter, making the pics as clear and detailed as possible, and emphasise that you expect it to look the same and to the same standard (sub-surface, etc) and for them to confirm in writing that this will occur.

[tank slapper]

We had this done last year, along with the rest of the area. They came and disconnected the meter, and fed a new plastic pipe up inside the existing iron one from the street. No digging was required apart from any access in the street. They did all the houses at the same time and the gas was only off for a few hours.

[skip_1]

steve_amv8 said:

Bowler said:

I suppose the easy way is to write to them before anything happens telling them what I expect (ie written record).

I'd include the photos in the letter, making the pics as clear and detailed as possible, and emphasise that you expect it to look the same and to the same standard (sub-surface, etc) and for them to confirm in writing that this will occur.

Definately do the above, and have a chat with the lads, after all they're just doing their job, not purposely digging up your drive to wind you up.
Hopefully you'll get a good gang, we're not all lazy couldn't care-lessers!

[Deva Link]

We had it done and they used a mole so our propert was fine.

They did make a complete mess of the tarmac'd "pavements" though where they dug holes yo make the connections to the main and didn't put back the edging of the grass verges so they've collapsed into each other. Looks terrible.

[philthy]

steve_amv8 said:

Bowler said:

I suppose the easy way is to write to them before anything happens telling them what I expect (ie written record).

I'd include the photos in the letter, making the pics as clear and detailed as possible, and emphasise that you expect it to look the same and to the same standard (sub-surface, etc) and for them to confirm in writing that this will occur.

I'd also insist on a site visit by one of their representatives to agree that condition, and sign a declaration to the effect.

[Deva Link]

philthy said:

steve_amv8 said:

Bowler said:

I suppose the easy way is to write to them before anything happens telling them what I expect (ie written record).

I'd include the photos in the letter, making the pics as clear and detailed as possible, and emphasise that you expect it to look the same and to the same standard (sub-surface, etc) and for them to confirm in writing that this will occur.

I'd also insist on a site visit by one of their representatives to agree that condition, and sign a declaration to the effect.

You lot are from another planet, aren't you?

[philthy]

Deva Link said:

philthy said:

steve_amv8 said:

Bowler said:

I suppose the easy way is to write to them before anything happens telling them what I expect (ie written record).

I'd include the photos in the letter, making the pics as clear and detailed as possible, and emphasise that you expect it to look the same and to the same standard (sub-surface, etc) and for them to confirm in writing that this will occur.

I'd also insist on a site visit by one of their representatives to agree that condition, and sign a declaration to the effect.

You lot are from another planet, aren't you?

Nope, just pissed off getting fked over by utility companies. If they don't agree, tell them to fk off.

[Dogwatch]

tank slapper said:

We had this done last year, along with the rest of the area. They came and disconnected the meter, and fed a new plastic pipe up inside the existing iron one from the street. No digging was required apart from any access in the street. They did all the houses at the same time and the gas was only off for a few hours.

Same here 18 months ago - in February! House was Very Cold to put it politely as the gas was off all day while they worked along a section of about 12 houses. Plastic pipe run inside the existing '50s steel one all the way to the meter where the bloke fitted a collar with a nipple over the old pipe, produced the father of all mastic guns and squirted a huge gob into the annular space between the old and new pipes. It's to stop gas seeping up the old pipe into your house if the street main develops a leak.