Worrying hole in drive appeared....

becks92

Hi everyone,

My mum called me last night in a bit of a panic as a hole had appeared in her drive. She has a tarmac drive that is not in brillian repair as it must be about 50 years old. She has two man holes on her drive.

The hole which has appeared had grown from a handspan to football size within a day, it looks like the tarmac has fallen down and when you look into the hole to the sides it doesn't look like there is anything supporting the tarmac and it must be a good 20 cms deep. Its totally bizarre its like the tarmac slab my mum parks on is a mezzanine level but there doesn't look like there is anything supporting it that I can see.

She has called the council, waterboard and insurance people. The first two weren't interested and the third have said if something external has caused it she could claim.

A friend mentioned it could be a collapsed drain but there is nothing forward or to the side of where the hole has appeared so no idea either a how its been caused or b what to do about it. Mum called me today to say that another hole has appeared at the other end of the drive but its a lot smaller. Needless to say she won't be parking on it now.

Has anyone got any thoughts as to what we should do and why the tarmac is a mezzanine?

Thanks for any and all help

Becks

Inactive

Possibly a badly leaking underground water pipe, following the recent freeze.

swagman

Does she live in a former mining area, or an area where subsidence has been noticed?

becks92

Hi Swagman, no, no mining works within about 20 miles, we know from a neighbour that before it was houses it was a field attached to an Orchad.

Inactive, there is no sign of any pipes broken or complete. Going to have a proper look at the weekend and try and take some pictures but I am at a total loss what to do....

Jue_xx

Don't know for sure, but the roads around here have become a right mess since the recent snow melted. Huge potholes everywhere. Could it have been caused by the bad weather?

Could it be covered by the buildings insurance?

fluffymuffy

My money's on a busted water main. Is the house on a water meter?

maninthestreet

Surely the two man hole covers on the drive indicate there must be some pipework leading to/from both of them??

becks92

Hi Guys thanks for the replys!

damage caused by the weather is an option but would that really cause all the earth under the drive to disappear??

Maninthestreet pipes were our first thought due to the man hole covers but there is no evidence of them anywhere, as mentioned above am going to take a proper look this weekend and try and take pictures. Going to also lift up the stuff thats fell to see whats under it.

Fluffy - no its not on a water meter

Bit of an odd question and please no ghost buster references but who do we call to get the drive sorted?

Thanks Bx

Inactive

I bet you find a leaking water pipe there ..

fluffymuffy

becks92 wrote: »

Bit of an odd question and please no ghost buster references but who do we call to get the drive sorted?

General Builder - with plumbing skills, a bucket of tarmac and a whacker plate.