Extending House Over Manhole Covers/Drains

Ed_Zep

Hi,

I'm thinking of adding an extension to the bungalow I've just bought but it would be going over a manhole cover and a drain.

Would the drain have to be re-routed around the extension?

Any ideas if it's even feasible or should I just not bother?

Thanks,
Ed.

macman

You'd need to inform the utility company, and they'd almost certainly want it rerouting.
Is it your own drain, or shared?

Ed_Zep

macman wrote: »

You'd need to inform the utility company, and they'd almost certainly want it rerouting.
Is it your own drain, or shared?

Thanks. I think it's just mine.

PaulCooper

I did this a few years ago, no problem. The best way to do it is put a sealed cover where the manhole was (within the extension) Also position a rodding point outside the extension, so if the worst happens, you can get a rod in there without having the flooring up. Not too much of a big deal
Paul

00ec25

PaulCooper wrote: »

I did this a few years ago, no problem. The best way to do it is put a sealed cover where the manhole was (within the extension) Also position a rodding point outside the extension, so if the worst happens, you can get a rod in there without having the flooring up. Not too much of a big deal
Paul

you did then, you cannot now

it is now against building regulations to have a manhole inside a residential building. The drains must be rerouted if a manhole is still required.

Davesnave

Building regs change, so it will have to be moved.

How easy that is will depend on a number of things, but if you are extending, you'll have a digger and you may be able to build over the drain, especially if it's all yours and not shared.

Ithaca

You can often build over the sewer line itself, and relocate the manhole cover. But this will need permission from your water company and it will all need to be fully documented if you ever come to sell the house.

You will probably need to arrange and pay for a CCTV survey of the sewer line before and after the build to prove you've not damaged it, and the water company will probably specify certain building techniques (e.g. using pea gravel to infill around the sewer pipe, certain standard of lintels etc).

Ed_Zep

Thanks everyone.

The mention of the CCTV survey of the drains made me smile ruefully, as I had one of those when buying the house. Very expensive for someone just sticking a camera through some pipes, so to speak.