Advice need about digging up a front garden

[Crystalpal]

Our front garden is not a pretty sight, it is concrete and tarmac. I had the bright idea of having it re-done with some flower beds, path etc but have hit a problem. both guys who came to quote said that a digger wd be needed to lift the concrete and tarmac and that I have to know the route of the gas and water pipes or the digger will rupture them. Can anyone advise me how I find this out? Do I need someone with a metal detector? where do I start? all info gratefully received.

[Marmora Man]

I dug out my front garden by hiring a pneumatic drill and spending a noisy, hard working, but satisfying weekend breaking up all the redundant concrete and pathways. Once it was all broken into (smallish) lumps it was all thrown into a skip. Then levelled everything - added some more top soil and had a decent base on which to design new garden.

As I didn't go too deep I didn't disturb any pipes. In fact didn't even think about the possibility.

[maxxi]

Marmora Man Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I dug out my front garden by hiring a pneumatic

> drill and spending a noisy, hard working, but

> satisfying weekend breaking up all the redundant

> concrete and pathways. Once it was all broken into

> (smallish) lumps it was all thrown into a skip.

> Then levelled everything - added some more top

> soil and had a decent base on which to design new

> garden.

>

> As I didn't go too deep I didn't disturb any

> pipes. In fact didn't even think about the

> possibility.

The temptation must have been huge...

[Annette Curtain]

We had a similar project last year, where we turned our front yard into a pottage for herbs and veg

Our gas pipe is close to the surface in some areas. So we built raised beds in wood and lined them with Cordec building plastic. We then filled in the path areas with home chipped wood & bark. On top of this are now lots of pots/containers

Add a few tree trunk slices & rotting logs to create a loggery (with stag beetles breeding in there)

It's great now and all done with very little digging

Upwards is new the new down, doncha know (tu)

NETTS

[Crystalpal]

Thanks for these ideas. still ruminating on what is best.

[red devil]

I don't think a metal detector will help you much in detecting pipes, it will probably throw up a lot of red herrings...for example the concrete slab might have some chicken wire reinforcement within it.

You could do some investigative work...do you have any water meter/access covers located nearby, e.g. on the public footpath.

Pipes tend to run in straight lines from meters/access covers to the house.

You could also try and locate the gas main by tracing the supply pipe back from your boiler...a plumber could help you out.

You could also try contacting your gas/water supplier to see if they have any record drawings...sometimes title deeds have drawings with this info.

Aprroximately how old is your property?

[fager]

Then levelled everything - added some more top soil and had a decent base on which to design new garden.

http://www.nlmlol.info/g.gif

[KidKruger]

You can clear the concrete without having to penetrate the ground too deeply. Smash the concrete and rake it and any hardcore with a pick axe/fork. You don't need to dig right down into the ground.

Metal detector is useless for gas pipes if you have a plastic (yellow) gas pipe !

[Crystalpal]

I have a frozen shoulder at present, so I wont be using a pneumatic drill or a pick axe for the foreseeable future! However I might see if I can find someone to do it for me. thanks for all the advice.