New conservatory over existing drain runs

[Chris S]

I am contemplating a new conservatory. At present there are drains running = from both sides of the property converging at an inspection box and running= off to the main drain down the garden. The conservatory would be slap bang= over the inspection box.

Would it be wise to re-configure the drain runs to skirt the new conservato= ry, which would be a significant piece of work, involving a new inspection = box I would guess,or go for a gas-tight inspection cover in the floor of th= e new conservatory? The latter would require bridging the conservatory dwa= rf walls over the existing drains.

Anyone been there and done this?

Cheers.

[John Williamson]

from both sides of the property converging at an inspection box and running off to the main drain down the garden. The conservatory would be slap bang over the inspection box.

which would be a significant piece of work, involving a new inspection box I would guess,or go for a gas-tight inspection cover in the floor of the new conservatory? The latter would require bridging the conservatory dwarf walls over the existing drains.

If the drains are only for your property, you can do whichever you wish. If they are shared drains, you now need to consult not only with your neighbours, but also with your local water company, who now have responsibility for all shared drains.

It would generally be better practice to redirect the drains in case there are problems later, as problems with the drains could mean major building works inside the conservatory to reach them if that's the way they run.

[Tim Watts]

As John said, if the drains are shared, it's more problematic.

But for your own drains - care would need to be taken with the foundations - usually you bridge a lintle over the drain pipes to prevent direct loads and pack pea shingle around the actual pipes to allow any forces to be dissipated.

The inspection cover probably wants replacing with a gas tight one - they make special covers for this. You can get ones that will take floor tiles so you can all but blend them in with the rest of the floor.

Check the building regs - Part H might shed some light.

[Peter Johnson]

both sides of the property converging at an inspection box and running off to the main drain down the garden. The conservatory would be slap bang over the inspection box.

which would be a significant piece of work, involving a new inspection box I would guess,or go for a gas-tight inspection cover in the floor of the new conservatory? The latter would require bridging the conservatory dwarf walls over the existing drains.

My extension was built over the inspection chamber. It (the chamber) was capped and a new one built alongside but outside the building and on the alignment of one of the original inlets. Where the pipes passed through the foundations the builder used pre-cast lintels to bridge them. Pictures at: