Can a jackhammer damage foundations?

Phil4432

So I thought I'd put this question to the board;
Have a neighbour who'd getting his pathway done.  That involves smashing out the existing concrete with a jackhammer.  The pathway is on their land, but directly next to the wall of my house.

I know its a pretty regular and normal job, but is there anything I should be concerned about in terms of damage to my foundations and/or wall of my house?

Cheers.

twopenny

I'd be interested in the answer

I had a neighbour and the jackhammer from across the road was making my house and windows vibrate throughout. I had a friendly word and they reduced or did something so that this didn't happen.

Bit scary at the time and that was at a distance and a smaller job.

roddydogs

No, a jackhammer is not powerful enough, you do mean the handheld variety?

Phil4432

roddydogs said:

No, a jackhammer is not powerful enough, you do mean the handheld variety?

Can't see it, but can safely assume a man is holding it to operate it.

FreeBear

Phil4432 said: Have a neighbour who'd getting his pathway done.

  The pathway is on their land, but directly next to the wall of my house.

Unless your foundations are very close to the surface and in extremely poor condition, a jack hammer is not going to cause any damage.

When your neighbour has the path relaid, make sure it is at least 150mm below your DPC and try to persuade him to leave a 150-200mm gap between the wall & path and fill it with gravel - Both of these measures will prevent any damp problems forming in your house.

greyteam1959

Did he have a test & trace done before he started ??
Hope your services don't run under his path.

Ganga

I also hope he has used a Stihl saw to cut the concrete adjacent to your house to preserve the integrity of your wall/house

Phil4432

greyteam1959 sa

Did he have a test & trace done before he started ??
Hope your services don't run under his path.

No, he didn't.  And my builder informed me tonight that he shouldn't have been using a jackhammer there, as its over clay drainage pipes.  In order to remove the path, he would have been placing the chisel right against my wall also.

Doozergirl

Phil4432 said:

greyteam1959 sa

Did he have a test & trace done before he started ??
Hope your services don't run under his path.

No, he didn't.  And my builder informed me tonight that he shouldn't have been using a jackhammer there, as its over clay drainage pipes.  In order to remove the path, he would have been placing the chisel right against my wall also.

They are, at least, doing you a favour by removing anything against the wall.  As Freebear said, make sure that what goes back is not the same level of damp risk! 

Phil4432

Doozergirl said:

Phil4432 said:

greyteam1959 sa

Did he have a test & trace done before he started ??
Hope your services don't run under his path.

No, he didn't.  And my builder informed me tonight that he shouldn't have been using a jackhammer there, as its over clay drainage pipes.  In order to remove the path, he would have been placing the chisel right against my wall also.

They are, at least, doing you a favour by removing anything against the wall.  As Freebear said, make sure that what goes back is not the same level of damp risk! 

What was against the wall was concrete, which was at a gradient and moving water away from the house towards the drains.  Now all rainwater is sitting right next to my house, about 1" deep.  If any of that water penetrates my property, it will freeze.  We have more rain forecasted for next week, I doubt he'll be able to do whatever it is they are planning to do. 

Doozergirl

There shouldn't really be concrete against the house at all.  To the contrary of what you say, it's water that freezes in the gap between brick and concrete that could damage the brickwork. 

As long as the water there now is 150mm below DPC, it shouldn't penetrate anything.  Of course correct drainage is important and that is why Freebear's post is so pertinent.  Most people don't seem to know about what he's saying.  Landscapers are terrible for taking paving straight up to the walls.  I have to keep my mouth shut on Instagram every time I see a renovator's lovely new patio about to breach or breaching the DPC.