Quote for drain repairs -is it expensive?

enrique66_35

Hi all,

We recently had an badly blocked toilet stack ("water") backed up from ground level to the pan connector which Dynorod were able to clear with the jet hose. Straightforward enough except they had to run the hose in from the top of the stack behind the toilet because the soil pipe (old cast iron) runs straight into the drain below under concrete with no access point.

There's water seeping around where the pipe meets the concrete so it's clear there's a break/separation under the path which needs fixing long term to avoid future blockages. I had Dynorod quote to dig up the path and install a new AJ and PVC pipe back to the existing stack - €3,000 + VAT!

Is this on the high side or am I undervaluing the level of labour involved here?

K.Flyer

enrique66_35 wrote: »

....
quote to dig up the path and install a new AJ and PVC pipe back to the existing stack - €3,000 + VAT!

Depends on a couple of factors,
How deep is the sewer pipe under the concrete path.
Are they running a new stack all the way up the wall, passed the gutter height, and making new waste connections from the w.c. and other waste pipes.

enrique66_35

For completeness sake the detailed quote was
Item 1: Stack to Shared Drain: Excavaio
- We recommend the replacement of the entire section of pipe from the rest bend at the base of the stack
to the shared drain. We propose to construct a new manhole at this location using a PVC AJ (150mm).
- A scan of all underground services will be carried out prior to excavation for safety reasons
- The area for excavation will be set out and marked
- The works are will be cordoned off
- The concrete footpath will be saw cut and broken out using kango equipment
- The stack pipe will be cut using grinder above the rest bend and an appropriate adapter used to
connect same to a new section of 100mm PVC pipe
- The shared drain will be exposed by hand and an opening created on top using consaw.
- A bung will be inserted into the upstream side of this section. The pipe will be cut and the AJ base
installed using appropriate adapters to connect to the Clay pipe on either side. The base will be
installed on a base constructed with compacted stone
- A new section of 100mm diameter PVC pipe will be installed at the correct gradient from the stack to
the new AJ.
- The trench will be filled with pea gravel to a level 100mm above the crown of the pipe
- The excavation will be backfilled to ground level with appropriate material, compacted in 150mm layers
- PVC risers will be used to extend the AJ to finished ground level and a round ductile iron manhole cover
will be installed.
- The concrete footpath will be reinstated as per existing
- The works area will be tidied
- All waste to be removed off site for disposal

enrique66_35

K.Flyer wrote: »

Depends on a couple of factors,
How deep is the sewer pipe under the concrete path.
Are they running a new stack all the way up the wall, passed the gutter height, and making new waste connections from the w.c. and other waste pipes.

The sewer pipe is under about 2-3 inches of concrete & I would think loose stony soil (based on prior experience of digging in the garden.

They are not replacing the existing stack, they propose to cut the existing cast iron pipe at or close to ground level and join it to the new PVC there. That will be the only waste pipe feeding into that AJ.

RJF

How far away is the shared drain?
Is the extent of the work on private or public property or both.
Is there reason to believe the pipe run between rest bend and shared drain is compromised other than near the rest bend.

enrique66_35

RJF wrote: »

How far away is the shared drain?
Is the extent of the work on private or public property or both.
Is there reason to believe the pipe run between rest bend and shared drain is compromised other than near the rest bend.

Shared drain is about 2 or 3 feet away, sorry I don't have an accurate measurement.
It's all on private property - right outside the back of the house - the public drain runs along behind the houses about about 4 feet from the house.
No, I could see on the camera inserted upstream from the main access point that there is no sign of damage where it meets the main drain.

RJF

From the description of the job I would expect to pay between 700 and 1000 euro so in my mind it is overpriced.

mad m

You have a description of what's needed to be done, get at least a few different quotes.

enrique66_35

Contacted a few other companies but reluctant to give even a ballpark indication of cost despite detailed explanation of required works, they (understandably) want to come out and see it. Can't decide if I should just bite the bullet and go with the above quote as they can start the work next Thursday instead of waiting around another week or two while I get various guys out to look at it.

Slightly concerned due to the amount of leaking water at present that potential damage is being done to foundations/potential for another blockage. Any recommendations for a company in the Cork area to get this sorted quickly (& cheaper than €3K) ?

K.Flyer

If I was you I would be a bit more patient and get your alternative quotations.
For that money I thought they would replace the stack as well.

enrique66_35

Thanks for input fellas. I've made contact with a few other companies to see what the general cost is like, will update with quotes when and if I get them as may be helpful to someone else in future...

Tom44

K.Flyer wrote: »

If I was you I would be a bit more patient and get your alternative quotations.
For that money I thought they would replace the stack as well.

Dito,
Call out others to see the job first (it's free) for a reliable quote.
It's not a big deal.

A strongly worded quote is only details and the bottom line.

the_pen_turner

i find the quote very odd. why did they explain it so much. surly they could have said it all in a few sentences. like fit aj ,fit new stack, make good concrete etc

Calahonda52

enrique66_35 wrote: »

Contacted a few other companies but reluctant to give even a ballpark indication of cost despite detailed explanation of required works, they (understandably) want to come out and see it. Can't decide if I should just bite the bullet and go with the above quote as they can start the work next Thursday instead of waiting around another week or two while I get various guys out to look at it.

Slightly concerned due to the amount of leaking water at present that potential damage is being done to foundations/potential for another blockage. Any recommendations for a company in the Cork area to get this sorted quickly (& cheaper than €3K) ?

I don't like the smell of this:D
Can you post some pictures off the setup?
are u certain that the water is coming from the ground and that there is not a crack in the CI stack above ground level.

Re the seepage: is it there all the time or only when you use the toilet.
Re further blockage, just keep the input to what it should be
no nappies, baby wipes, ancillary female equipment, ancillary family planning equipment and such likes: not saying for a moment that this is happening, a lot depends on the age profile of the occupants: especially with teenagers and young adolescents.

Don't be concerned about foundation damage, if its just the seeping sewer no worries

edit: I have seen cases where the seal at the top where pipe comes out of wall is broken and water weeps down the back of the pipe onto path.....

enrique66_35

Calahonda52 wrote: »

I don't like the smell of this:D
Can you post some pictures off the setup?
are u certain that the water is coming from the ground and that there is not a crack in the CI stack above ground level.

Re the seepage: is it there all the time or only when you use the toilet.
Re further blockage, just keep the input to what it should be
no nappies, baby wipes, ancillary female equipment, ancillary family planning equipment and such likes: not saying for a moment that this is happening, a lot depends on the age profile of the occupants: especially with teenagers and young adolescents.

Don't be concerned about foundation damage, if its just the seeping sewer no worries

edit: I have seen cases where the seal at the top where pipe comes out of wall is broken and water weeps down the back of the pipe onto path.....

I'm certain the water is seeping out at ground level (checked the stack higher up and was dry).
There's a damp patch running away from the stack to the garden that eventually dries out if the toilet isn't used. There is also a visible trickle or water running out from the base of the stack after a few flushes.
Yeah it's only myself and the missus and we've always been careful not to put anything down other than the usual although I've been especially paranoid about not flushing too much tissue paper at once since the blockage!
As mentioned above I can see from a visual inspection that there doesn't appear to be a leak at the joint above and can't feel any water running down the pipe so I believe there is no leak above ground level. The engineer from Dyno-rod agreed for what that's worth...

enrique66_35

As promised the situation with other quotes requested -
Dyno-rod - see post 1
Sub-struck - on annual leave until Aug 2 so no quote possible
Cork Drains - sent details of Dyno-rod quote (minus price) as requested on phone - have not received any contact since (Friday morning).
Munster Drains - requested quote through contact form on website - no response.
Countrywide Drains - requested quote through contact form on website - no response.

Decided to contact a general builder I'd used in the past for other work, mainly just to get an opinion on the quote above as I trust his judgement and he's calling to view the job this week. Unless he quotes me off the wall I think I'll go with him as I've been very pleased with his past work. I didn't contact him right away because I wasn't sure it was something he'd take on.
I'll update with quotes if I get them.

Thanks for everyone's input.