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Post by rocketmanbkk on Sept 4, 2020 10:48:21 GMT
I’m chasing another 2 walls to conceal pipes, The blocks are hollow when I go into them. Any opinions! I’ve ceased work! Cheers all  |
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Post by woodbine66 on Sept 4, 2020 15:53:16 GMT
I'm no expert, but reading the link below it says to leave minimum 15mm thickness of block between the back of the chase and the void. If you have to leave 15mm, not sure there's enough room to bury the pipes. Reckon some strength (brick and mortar) will need to be put back into that gap afterwards - whatever happens. If it was me, I wouldn't be doing any more without someone who knows advising.
On the positive side, if you need to lose a soil pipe you'll have no bother.  |
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Post by battle1066 on Sept 4, 2020 17:14:11 GMT
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Sept 4, 2020 19:05:21 GMT
I ceased work & have refilled it.
The pipes will have to run externally.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Cheers all.
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Post by crowsfoot on Sept 5, 2020 7:37:01 GMT
I've never even seen hollow breeze blocks like that in the UK before, although I have seen a similar type hollow brick used on the continent. Perhaps it's a southern thing. Just out of interest what year would you estimate the build of the property in question? The quality of thermal blocks now used in the UK is very poor, 30% seem to be cracked already before the plastering covers it up. I wouldn't fancy cutting a chase into those either! You've done the right thing Rocky in stopping the chase - I'd advise telling the owners to loose their 70s obsession with chasing in pipes - it's just not done these days and maybe for a good reason  ! |
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Post by tomplum on Sept 5, 2020 9:03:19 GMT
I've seen those type blocks before,horrble , I think they are called clinkerite or similar, In the '80's the pipes were all surface mounted except for the gas and we chased the 22mm gas pipe in, In those days a lump hammer and bolster was the weapons of choice and because those blocks have big holes built in them it made a mess of the wall and the site manager stopped us chasing in the gas and had the wall construction redesigned so they replaced the clinker blocks with thermal blocks, which are much easier to chase out,
So yea rocky you did right to stop work on that wall, It will need reinforcing now somehow,
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Post by DIYDafty on Sept 5, 2020 14:02:12 GMT
Bloody hell if that was me I'd be stopping too until I understood 100% what the blocks are, what their capabilities are and chasing them etc. As a DIYer I could spend hours and hours reading up on it and asking around but you probably don't have that time and so I definitely think you've done the right thing. Customer will surely need a builder or similar to take responsibility and then if he says "ok....you can go ahead its all on my neck..." then fine.
Out of interest, do most plumbers these days have insurance? I mean what would happen if say half the house collapsed or worse someone got injured, who would pay the bill?
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Sept 5, 2020 15:20:58 GMT
Ive had a builder to look & he says it’s ok, no need to do anything other than sand/cement in. If I’d chased another 3’ he said he’d of had to put something in just in case,
All good. Lucky I stopped when I did.
The house is a 60’s build.
Cheers all
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Post by battle1066 on Sept 5, 2020 18:08:09 GMT
Bloody hell if that was me I'd be stopping too until I understood 100% what the blocks are, what their capabilities are and chasing them etc. As a DIYer I could spend hours and hours reading up on it and asking around but you probably don't have that time and so I definitely think you've done the right thing. Customer will surely need a builder or similar to take responsibility and then if he says "ok....you can go ahead its all on my neck..." then fine. Out of interest, do most plumbers these days have insurance? I mean what would happen if say half the house collapsed or worse someone got injured, who would pay the bill? To make any light of insurance and if you or the customer are covered the only answer is when you make the claim! You may have a bit paperwork what says all sorts but they'll have the last say and getting loot out of them is really really tricky honestly or dishonestly. |
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Post by tomplum on Sept 5, 2020 19:19:41 GMT
I always had public liability and employers liability too when i had apprentices, Its a bit like religion, you know its all bollocks but, if something goes wrong, like you burn a house down, you need someone on your side, I might have told this story before, I did a boiler in a kitchen then about 9 months after, the customer rang and said they had a new kitchen fitted and a fitting of mine bust and the whole kitchen is flooded and the new kitchen is fucked, they demanded my insurance, so i gave them the details, I had sleepless nights for a while, The insurance inspector went out because they were claiming £35,000, They ended up getting prosecuted for a false claim, I could't stop laughing for 6 months, So its good to have should something like that happen,  |
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Post by woodbine66 on Sept 5, 2020 21:34:43 GMT
Hope that's a typo. Another 3 feet? 
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