Residential build

Thank you, yes we’re trying to be as understanding as possible but it’s taking its toll and our dog or even one of us could have been serious injured or even killed yesterday. We were lucky. There is no solid hoarding. Nothing against our hedge and they’ve put a bit of broken heras fencing in a gap where they’ve removed the hedge. We’ve had to put up extra stock fencing within our boundary to keep our dog in where they damaged our old fencing too. We’re trying to be patient, but it’s not great!

Thank you so much. They have got toe board up but that doesn’t seem to be stopping much. I will ask him to put netting up and speak to the HSE if he still doesn’t think it’s necessary. Thanks for your help

Mr Punter, See above, this is not the case, we absolutely are getting debris this side regularly, Yes I’m aware the sparks from the angle grinder are from cutting metal. This has also been used at ground level right next to our hedge where the sparks are spraying through by around 1.5m. Presumably netting would trap at least some of the dust and particles from the block, brick and tile cutting though? It absolutely is coming this way - we also live in a narrow valley with quite a strong prevailing breeze in this direction.

Equivalent of around 10 concrete blocks landed on our side of the boundary yesterday. The whole apex of the roof gable wall came down in the wind.

Hello, We have had a number of quite serious issues caused by a neighbouring development. Including cosmetic plaster damage from piling, serious flooding and subsequent silt deposits across our gravel drive on a number of occasions caused by developer blocking a storm drain that runs through both properties, flooding issue is now resolved thankfully. We accept we will need to sort the damage from these two problems ourselves. However, after an incident this week where a newly built second storey concrete block wall collapsed and fell through scaffolding into our property, I’d really like some advice. Fortunately no one was hurt, they apologised, quickly cleared up the rubble on our side and did some temporary repairs to damaged fencing etc My question is, the scaffolding is approx 2m from our garden boundary line and maybe 4.5m from our house gable end. It runs along a side access footpath (owned by us) that we regularly use. The builders use circular saws on the platforms to cut concrete blocks, they cut foam insulation up there and I’m guessing will also start cutting the roof and wall tiles up there also. Even before the wall collapsed, we’ve had sparks from angle grinders flying into our garden as well as general build debris, insulation foam and a lot of block/brick dust flying over here. Can we request or insist they put scaffold netting up to minimise this for the rest of the build? Or is it at their discretion? Many thanks in advance

Thank you. Yes we have lots of pictures and lots of videos of cups with liquid in to show the level of vibrations. However because we had no warning (I suspect intentionally) and our home is quite a complex structure of different materials (Sandstone & Lime mortar, some brick and half tile hung externally) and the shape internally has many different joins), it’s been difficult to record everything. Inevitability, we’re finding cracks that we hadn’t spotted before. So far nothing we can’t just suck up, but we’re obviously fearful there is damage occurring to structure we can’t see. Particularly when they hit the bed of Sandstone beneath the properties repeatedly! Thanks for your feedback though 👍

We’re not trying anything on and I’m not trying to get the site shut down, we’re pleased it’s being developed as has been derelict for years. But piling this close to our home and the associated vibrations are alarming. So I’m just trying to understand if the developer is taking all the precautions he should be to prevent damage to us and if there is anything further I can or should be doing. And where we stand if we do start to notice damage occurring. English isn’t the developers first language, so it’s also quite difficult to have a complete conversation and my Latvian is rubbish! I have taken lots of photos and I’ve also pointed out any existing cosmetic cracks we do have to the developer, so he understands we’re not trying anything on.

No it’s compression piling not screw piling. It’s a huge weight being dropped from several meters up into steel tube to drive it into the ground. They are piling just over 6m from our house wall.

Sorry no, the nearest piles are just over 6m away we think. I have put in writing that I’m concerned about the level of vibrations and let them know about the construction materials and age of our house too.

Thank you. I think it’s called compression piling? Big cylindrical weight being dropped down a tube from a height? The nearest piles are approx 6m from the house. Thanks for the tip. 👍

Thank you this makes a lot of sense. We’ve had no monitoring equipment offered. I put a number of glasses of water in various areas of the house and filmed them during impacts. And have taken photos of all the walls/floors etc The deeper the pile gets the worse the shocks are and as you’ve mentioned, when they hit sandstone, it’s particularly bad - they seem to do about 8 test drops when they hit rock to see if it will brake or go further. It does make you feel very helpless and unable to protect your own home. The contractors are not very engaging and suspect pretend to not understand English when it suits them. I’m hoping most of the piles near our house have been done now, so hopefully the worst is over but think there are a couple more very near the front of our home still to do.

Sorry the closest pile is approx 6m from our gable wall, not less then. I’m not trying to stop the works but I’m concerned that they’ve gone ahead without warning or any checks on the structure of our property, particularly considering it’s age. It’s compression (I believe it’s called) piling - a large cylindrical weight is being dropped from several meters down a steel tube to drive it into the ground.

Hello! Looking for some advice, a development of two new detached houses has started in the neighbouring plot to us. They are having to put a lot of piles in before they can start building. Piling into sand, with clay pockets and lumps of sandstone. Our home is an older (100-ish yrs) 3 storey semidetached cottage, built with brick, sandstone and lime mortar. We’re on a base of greensand and very little in terms of foundations under the old part of the house. We added an extension on the end nearest the development 14yrs ago which does have 1m deep concrete foundations also. They are putting piles in up to 6m from our home. It’s been going on approximately 2 days now and the vibrations are pretty spectacular. We had no warning they were starting and when I approached with my concerns, they told me it was normal and unless I had items jumping off shelves, it would be fine…. Advice please! Local building control aren’t interested as this development is registered with an independent firm a good distance from here. I’ve take photos of our walls and floors etc but feeling quite concerned as the whole house bounces with every thud and they have a lot to do. Should a survey have been done on neighbouring properties before they started?