Decking over manhole!

Hi guys,

I am at serious panic stations currently. I am in the process of selling my house, and one of the enquiries is over the fact that 'no pipework has been built over'. Now the problem is I am a total prat, and I built my decking 18 months ago and built it over the freaking manhole cover in my garden.

Now, I didn't concrete or joist over it, just laid the planks over the top, with a cross beam resting on it, and screwed them down...however I was a total prat and didn't check to make sure Thames Water was happy with it. Now I have rung their customer service department and spoke to a women who said it wouldn't be a problem, as long as it was removable should there be a problem with the drains (that's what she did) ....but that I need to speak to their building development team to confirm. Now I checked on their website and they only seem to refer to large permanent structures and then £1000s worth of inspections & certifications required.

Now, with the enquiry I have to answer 'yes' to building over it obviously, but if I put an explanation of 'access via 4 removable decking boards (numbers 4,5,6,7 from fence) screwed into place covering it' am I likely to be totally shafted by them? Anyone think of a wording to make it seem less of an issue? Should I take photos and detail the manhole & planks covering it, send them the photo I took showing the joists around it?

Will their solicitors go back to the purchasers and ask them how they feel about it, or is it a black and white case of he built over it therefore remove the planks and shove them up his ass until wood chips come out?

bollocks :(

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8qhs8f7d5...416_200029.jpg

A mate had a similar problem, don't know if it will work for you, but he just cut a hole over the manhole cover and put a big flowerpot in it. Looked quite good actually, but it was a big deck and where it was didn't affect the supports.

All going to come down to how hard it is to get to. If it's 2 mins with a screwdriver, I doubt it would be a problem and you can call it removable in good conscience, but if half the decking has to come up to get a man down there, that'll be a problem. As always though, solicitor will be best bet.

It will be 4-5 planks to be removed, each one held down by around 8 screws and then just a basic cross brace between two of the joists again screwed in with 4 screws. With a drill & screw bit it will take 15mins to remove.

I am tempted to try and get a carpenter to meet me at the property and quickly knock together a proper access port and keep quiet about everything except 'use access port'. Huge amount of hassle, and cost and delays everything by an easy 2 weeks! :(

If it\'s that big a deal you could just build a frame around the manhole cover and have it removable, it\'s nothing that a hour and some 2x4 wouldn\'t sort

I had to do this in order to allow access to one in my garden

I would ideally like to avoid that, just as its a 5 hour round trip to get back, via a storage place to pick up my tools buried deep within!

Any suggests on wording a response? I was thinking...

\'\'Decking built around man hole, with access hatch built in. Accessed via removable planks 5,6,7,8 from fence\'\'

I\'d lose the "access hatch" portion, as there isn\'t a hatch of any description. Just describe them as removable planks.

I built an access hatch by diverting the joists/support around the man hole cover so there is nothing \'semi-permanent\'\' over it, just a few screwed down planks. Still think it\'s a risky description?

Well, hatch usually means trapdoor, i.e. hinges. At least it does to me.

EDIT: OED tends to agree

Yeah I think hatch is going to be very risky, it implies some kind of door not something that needs to be removed with tools.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andehh

I would ideally like to avoid that, just as its a 5 hour round trip to get back, via a storage place to pick up my tools buried deep within!

Any suggests on wording a response? I was thinking...

''Decking built around man hole, with access hatch built in. Accessed via removable planks 5,6,7,8 from fence''

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tbh, spending half a day correcting it vs 2 weeks + wasted and a lot more cost involved

I'm away this weekend, and plans next weekend. All my tools etc are also in storage so would take me several days to try and get to it.

Will ring around and see what people say tomorrow, if it is likely to really rock the boat ill have to dig em out and see if I can fit it in next weekend. :(

Ring round some friends, I'd be amazed if you don't know anyone who has appropriate tools. Then as others have said cut the planks round the cover, frame up both sections for support, and you've got a removable cover.

Although, tbh, the rest of the pipework (sewer, or whatever it is) has still been built over, whether the cover is removable or not - if they need to work on the pipes at any point they'll have to pull up the whole deck anyway...

I have spoken to Estate Agent & Solicitors and touch wood, they think it's fine. The buyers have transferred their money & signed off their contracts and made it clear they want to be in before the end of the month, so touch wood they wont kick up too much of a fuss over this.

It is a very deep man hole, so if they ever needed to work on the sewer the decking would be the least of their worries IMO.

I have asked the Estae Agent to contact the buyers direct to see how they feel about it, I know they adore the decking (big decision maker for them) so I am hoping they wont request me to cut a big square in the middle of it!

I will keep you guys updated! :)

well if they know the location and it is screws and not nails i doubt it's an issue, after all you used screws so if needs be the decking could be lifted so it is not permanent ;)