Pipes under a driveway

We recently had a new driveway installed and the company destroyed our waste pipe accidentally causing thousands of pounds of damage. They are refusing all responsibility, saying that it was our responsibility to tell them we had clay pipes. Unfortunately, we didn't know we had clay pipes, but I think, since they are a driveway company, that is something they should've noticed or kept an eye out for, especially since they redid our manhole cover. Or am I wrong?

16 Answers

Joao mendonca
0 Reviews
As a customer point of view your right, since renewing a driveway or other reason the builder or company in question must looking for drainage points, slowly get the job done digging or anything else by hand will broken any pipes
22nd Sep 2021
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Artom Builders
2 Reviews, 100% Positive
If they’ve redone your manhole cover then they’d have had a strong indication in the direction and depth of these pipes, therefore you would proceed with caution in this area.
14th Sep 2021
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Dynamic Developments
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Hi, it should be down to the contractor to excavate the area taking caution, if they damage or burst anything during the excavation then the blame falls on them, they should be covered with liability insurance to cover the cost.
28th Sep 2021
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Dig it building and landscaping
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
I've done alot of paving and driveways if I ever break any drainage while digging out I always repair the pipe which is what you should expect from anyone else really
15th Nov 2021
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poppy build
5 Reviews, 80% Positive
My questions are why have they gone down to waste pipe level when installing a driveway? And why wouldn't they repair it at the time because to be honest yes it's annoying but it's not that hard to get a length of plastic pipe and a clay - plastic connector.
7th Oct 2021
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No you are not in the wrong any damage carried out by a contractor and damage is caused whilst carrying out works should be rectified by the contractor
4th Nov 2021
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Amberley home improvements
2 Reviews, 100% Positive
Before you dig a drive way up you survey the area, when digging with machines you have eyes looking at the ground and above for power or pH lines.
31st Jan 2022
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EPF IMPROVEMENTS
4 Reviews, 100% Positive
Any damage caused by the contractor is the responsibility of the contractor.
25th Jan 2022
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Asm driveways
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Yes it is something they should have noticed even more so replacing the mh cover
11th Mar 2022
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Allseasongarden
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Who ever don’t work on it drive way it’s their responsibility to keep an eye out for. Any thing that’s under the ground at least for their own safety
10th Jan 2022
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No you are right by thinking they are responsible for keeping an eye on it as they are digging down they show have found where all the pipes go and what lines are for what. It is the responsibility to repair any damage done to your property that they where working on
3rd Jan 2023
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Yes it’s all down to the person who done the work on the driveway they’re the ones who ripped it out they would of seen it it was live or not and if it was live then it’s down to them to replace it you can’t just go round digging things out the ground thinking there old
14th Jan 2023
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It’s the company’s fault if they claim be a driveway company then then they should know there will be waste pipes underground ground clay or plastic you can judge we’re the are by the pips going into the ground and we’re the waste grid I on the street 9/10 times these pipes will run under the driveway and be made of clay if it’s waste these don’t have a clue what there doing when there digging out
6th Mar 2023
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23rd Jun 2023
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Csufanni gardener
0 Reviews
Yes that’s right
21st Mar 2023
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Hi mistakes can happen
Maybe you or the builder didn't no that there was going to be clay pips

The builder should have been more careful when digging the driveway

The builder should have fixed the pipes before continuing
That's what Public liability insurance is for
Every builder should have it when doing this work
He sounds like a cowboy to be honest
How could you finish the driveway knowing that you have done serous damage
3rd May 2023
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