ToughButterCup

Thats exactly what our local retired SE said as he watched me struggling to stack a load of slippery plastic pipes. He visits the site regularly ("Most over-engineered house I've ever seen") He asked whether clay pipes are still available - since at his place there is a drainage problem. To my suprise you can still get them.

I'd like to get our wet room functioning: I have got most of the 'gear' - and I think there's a good chance I can get hold of the rest of the internal stuff I still need. So far so good. Its the externals of the foul drainage to the digester that concerns me. I've got most of the necessary bits: but its the bedding sand and shingle that I haven't got... and probably cant get either, though I keep trying. The plan: Lay the pipes, make the connections (without the correct bedding or shingle cover) leaving the pipes exposed, Test, make good if needed Use I will be shuttering the trench and making sure that the trench is self-draining (in the case of heavy rain). Then when everything gets back to normal, make good as necessary and ring the BCO lady for inspection; very very nice lady. ?‍?

Whats the issue? I assume you already have some form of foul drainage in place. Correct? Do you need to maintain the tank? If so, just do it.

Oooopp North, well, West Lancs, some trades seem to be staying home (roofers), others not. So, you can plan for them to come, but even more than usual, plans need to be flexible. No materials are being delivered here. Mind you, I have a 5 tonner (digger) delivered today. Digga porn - proportional controls, auto-hitch, auto-throttle, heater, cup holder, vibro-massage seat: unbelievable amount of material shifted per bucket, smoooove as a baby's Botticelli.

Bingo. Its what the professionals call Learning Style. Learning Style is a bit like The Three Butts. We all have one, I can see yours, You can see mine, You cant see your own. I once taught a group of Americans, and out of sheer mischief, decided I'd get their attention by using that little ditty. It worked well I seem to remember

@Russell griffiths gets mad.... ?

Yeah, that's right he was on here overthinking how to do it wasn't he? ?

Fred Dibnah is up there looking down on you with a big smile on his face. I fancy he's fondly remembering the times he used to get his missus to rag that old Series 2 Landy's clutch while dropping another 100 foot chimney. Mind you he didn't use chains, he used to make his own rope out of Afghan Hounds hair sourced from the local Pooch Parlour. Still, he taught you the technique : get yer missus to do the dangerous stuff while you stand back with the camera. Top stuff! ☺️ He's proud of you son. Whattcha gonna do as a encore, eh? 'Nuvver chimney nearby maybe?

FOUL! Refereeeeeeeee , I wuz robbed.......

He's right, for the wrong reasoning. ? Gimme my star pal, an' I wan' it now.....

30 Show your workings: (ppphhhhhhhh) 3 pairs of shoes = 30: one pair =10 2 blokes + 10= 20: one bloke = 5 2 cornets + a bloke = 13 , one cornet =4 10+5*4 (BODMAS) = 20+10 =30

I hope this helps you to stop overthinking old fella......?

Lack of local experience. For the word ... ceramic... substitute any build material or method that's even slightly outside the range of experience of local tradespeople and, based on my personal experience, you will hear a continuous sucking of teeth akin to a bad dose of tinnitus. As you might expect I am very keen indeed to see your project succeed. I nearly chose your preferred build method too. Good luck. Ian

I sympathise. By chance I'm struggling with the same stuff, without the pressure issues. And need answers to the same questions. Your discomfort at dealing with water supply mirrors mine. To me it's full of arcane nonsense, organised by people whose main concern was their own convenience. Break the problem into bits. You can't find a check valve for 32mm MDPE. ..... because they don't exist or because they can't be supplied? What happened when the taps failed? How did they fail? I've heard of Pressure Reduction Valves (know sod all about): is that a thing worth thinking about? The sprinkler system needs a ' ... temp on/off ...' system. Help us with a bit more detail, please. Slowly slowly catchee monkey. ?

I'm in competition with @pocster for Eeejit-Of-The-Year Award. I've left @Russell griffiths far behind, flailing in my wake: overthinking some more stuff I expect. I've just realised that I now need to dig a drainage trench before it starts to widdle down with rain - and fill up the trench more than it already has done. Mind you the water table has been higher, and we do have gentle slope on the site. And thats a significant blessing, I know. Hmmm, 'nother weekend lost then. (I'll have a ripped torso soon ?)

The mesh is brilliant stuff, as long as you don't have to dig through it. It's function is to reduce the amount of MOT1 needed to underpin the raft. I can't remember what the numbers were, but it made financial sense to buy 100 square meters of it This is the stuff. You need an angle grinder to cut it. This is a good example of how powerful the stuff is.

The wailing and gnashing of teeth when my digga left the premises only got worse when I realised that Hartley Hire (good mates to me) were shutting up shop - no diggas for hire. The BH member who stole my beloved digger - you know who you are, (Sue) - should give it me back: pronto. I didn't mean to sell it. It wuz an accident. Honest.? I need to dig the trenches for our foul drains. But no digger. Or prospect of a digger. Just a day's work with a 2 tonner. Poo. Back t' 'drawin' board then. Dad was one of the Bridge Masters who were employed by the Local Authority while the M5 was being built. He was permanently banging on about coffer dams. Very focused on digging deep holes for bridge paprapets. Dimly, I seemed to remember something about digging deep holes in sand - like they have to do everywhere in Berlin. Its tricky, dangerous work. I recon the invert for our foul drain is about 1300mm down: not that far. But far enough if the bloody trench keeps falling in. I don't mind spade work, but a weekends' work was disappearing before my eyes. Damn. And then I remembered the key term: timber shoring, or even close timber shoring . Quick google and then this You beauty. Here's the trench without shoring Can't photograph a sore back: but it's sore. Monday afternoon I notice the edge is starting to cave in - collapse. So this is what did .... I've yet to dig towards the house (as opposed to along the side): thats where I'll need the close timber shoring. I'll post some pics tomorrow. Yes, I have blisters on my hands. Big girl......

Well, at least you had the guts to try....

That'd be Jet LUBE Plus wouldn't it , sir?

Strikes even me as a simple way of turning 'delicate' into frazzelledDave

Looks like a Field Mouse ? Our cat just plays with them. Very annoying

Whatever the delay, every single one of them can be put to good use. They are all annoying. I have, slowly oh so slowly, learned to harness the irritation.

If that's the case, then silence is the most powerful response.

Ask an SE. That's the trouble with asking interesting questions ... when you do, the first impulse is to do it the same way as before. And the next to deflect responsibility for the answer to an expert. Try it?

Yeah, but did you shine the laser down the pipe - like Sean in the video? Such a brilliant little idea - makes it really easy to get the level of the gravel right...... Watch Seamus and Sean in action at speed ....