Removing a 100 year old manhole! (Self Build Extension Part 1)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Follow this project in a bit more detail at: selfbuildextension.co.uk/ 👍

[@scottnever8732]

please remember not everyone has your knowledge knowledge needs paying for

[@roberthardy2013]

My wife and myself at 60+ years old laid a 130 foot long block paving drive because we didn’t want a builder to do our bit of a joint project. I am an engineer and fairly intelligent so looked on the internet for what to do ( thanks Brew Cabin!) and asked loads of questions. It turned out to be fairly simple overall and is still in great condition over ten years later. We even had seven people ask me do quote for their own drives, so just learn what you can, know your own limitations but go for it.

[@scottnever8732]

Totally agree but for those that can't do it it needs tobe paid for

[@jamesbruley2843]

I swear when you sprayed the hose down the pipe and the "water" ran back out, I got a whiff of sewage! The mind is a wonderful thing. New to your channel and I find ir very entertaining, thank you.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you James and welcome on board! 👍

[@wjb2]

Our neighbour did a massive remodel that took from start to finish two years in stages.He is very much like you Andy , self employed so work was done at weekends and summer nights. We were involved from start to finish and was a very pleasant experience. As you say we agreed stuff at the start with him. we’ve been lucky over many years with neighbours and it was a concern to start with, but every milestone he met and reward to us was fulfilled. So lucky another fantastic neighbour.

[@Gerry2210]

You deserve a medal Mr Mac, meticulous in your approach and it pays off. Very much enjoy your videos. Thanks.

[@robcarroll6105]

Amazed by your overall knowledge and confidence . The line from Oliver Goldsmiths poem comes to mind when I watch your vids. “ And all around the wonder grew one small head could carry all he knew”. Top videos mate and all the tips are appreciated

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! Most of the spec for what I needed to do was provided by the water board, so wasn't too bad. Lots of digging!

[@No1roydonselfbuild]

We've started our extension. This is very helpful

[@HIYAharry]

Enjoying following along & getting to see a proper renovation from start to finish!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you - glad you're enjoying the vids!

[@MohammedAli-hw2zq]

Thank you for putting gravel/shingle on around your drainage pipe, that's a proper job done there! Amazing work and great video, good luck with the rest of the extension! 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! 👍

[@vivienarnold7950]

Excellent idea to retain the side entrance.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, really glad we did that. 👍

[@martindunford2291]

Totally agree with Philip....astonishingly accomplished work in every respect. As I've said before, if only all artisans and trades were as thorough and dedicated.. and he's a tasty percussionist to boot! Also huge shout out to Mrs mac....Young Andy is a very lucky guy but I think he knows that!!!!

[@135Ops]

Lovely job and a great team effort from all of the Mac family.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Daisy!

[@njuham]

Having watched all those Mersey Rod drain unblocking repairs videos I was able to follow your general philosophy of this project fully.

[@johnavery15]

Those Mersey Rod vids are so addictive.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Haven't seem those! Will have to check them out!

[@johnavery15]

@@GosforthHandyman The channel name is "The Drain Unblockers". There's nothing more satisying than a blocked drain being cleaned.

[@andrewheron7395]

What an absolute legend getting stuck in to that level.

[@martynbuzzing3327]

Just found your site. I’ve been checking other guys doing self builds and getting a lot of information for when I do my garage conversion. Thanks👍

[@dorotheaisserstedt9238]

Bloss gut, dass Sie so gründlich arbeiten. Alles Gute weiterhin !

[@colinmottram6885]

Yeesh - grotty pipes man! I'm willing to bet that the guy who inspects the pipes is the same guy that has to clear them if they fail! Top level dry-boke from Mrs Mac! Well played though mate - especially the hand-digging; I'm only 35 and aching after lifting/insulating the floor under my house. It's a lovely feeling though; knowing that the hidden parts of a build are done properly. Well done!

[@mollyrockers2401]

Excellent Mr. Mac, you are one heck of “ an all rounder “ and a lovely bloke ‘t boot ‘. Best wishes to you and all your team and thanks for sharing, even though it was a (crap) job ! You take it all in your stride and I am well impressed with your skills. If a jobs worth doing ……….

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! Sometimes I get a bit impatient with it all... but Rome wasn't built in a day n'all that. 👍

[@susanjones7872]

I enjoy your videos Andy. Learn a lot from them. I loved Mrs. Mac's sound effects when you were cleaning out pipe. I'd do the same thing! Thanks for sharing!

[@mandyleeson1]

UGH! Nice job, Team Mac. I do admire that whatever you do is thorough and properly done. ✊👏🏼👍🏽

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Mandy!

[@eliezer3583]

You are brilliant. This is by far the best on KZbin. Keep up the great work.

[@notreallyhere1136]

Been looking forward to the extension starting. This is going to be interesting. Thanks for showing us the bits we don’t usually get to see

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Hope you enjoy it!

[@darrenchadwick-c5t]

Very nicely filmed you have put loads of small details in it. Nice bloke to watch

[@reginaldcrudstump383]

I found this really interesting and hats off to you for not bring frightened to get your hands dirty - literally!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Nothing phases me now... but I'm not sure I could do Drain Addict's job. 👍😁

[@johnavery15]

Excellent job as always Andy. Having the right tools and equipment is half the battle.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Defo! The breaker has been a great investment. 👍

[@johnavery15]

@@GosforthHandyman I needed a breaker for some fence post concrete and then a floor. It was cheaper to buy one (and resell it) than hire one.

[@JJ-zg1hh]

Well planned and well executed. A real pleasure to watch. First class. Far better than the cowboy drainage "experts" I've used in the past.

[@v88krb]

Well done Andy, I did a similar job many moons back and a JCB took a chunk out of the drain and we had to put it right in pouring ran and our good neighbour refrained from flushing the loo for a day. I am glad you kept those smells to yourself!!.

[@smncowardyahoo]

Awesome !!! At first i thought Gosforth !!! ) That's just up the road from Barrow (where i live). But it's Gosforth near Newcastle. Anyway this series is perfect as got a similar project lined up ........

[@stewartmcardle8149]

As is probably the norm, your dad was spot on...if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well and preparation is the key.... well done (Mr Tidy) Andy and Junior

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Stewart!

[@hardlyb]

I hope when we build our next house we can get some of that 100-year-old concrete for the foundation.

[@robgullen]

That looked like fun, and satisfaction with a great job . . . . just a bit surprised you don't have a set of drain rods . . . I have 2 sets, not used often, but when they are it makes life easy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Nope, never owned a set! 👍

[@freetolook3727]

@40:20 Tip #45: Lay a cheap tarp down over the lawn before laying dirt from excavation on top. Makes it easier to move dirt back off the lawn while protecting the lawn to a certain degree.

[@GosforthHandyman]

All the grass is coming up anyway. 👍

[@_tmmy_]

Love watching the drainage videos! It may be a disgusting job that no one really wants to do but it’s extremely satisfying seeing repairs being done and unblocks. Theres a channel called ‘The Drain Unblockers’ aka Mersey Rod and the videos are highly addictive. Hope the extension project comes along nicely and we get an update video soon :)

[@GosforthHandyman]

I need to check this out! Also have a look at Drain Addict. 👍👍

[@davidscarr168]

Cheers for this video Andy, have a similar job to do my self, remove and build over old inspection chamber and tie in with 4” clay outside proposed foundations. And only problem I have is clay system is totally encased with concrete. So stihl saw and breaker at the ready, tho I did find some internal connectors to fit the encased stuff. But your video means I can sleep now! 👏👏

[@petermuller4322]

great job. „I love it when it just slides in“ really made my day 🤣🤣

[@johnmit]

Oh this brings back some delightful memories of our own rear extension - except the sewer pipe was a little larger at 21" internal diameter. Along with the similar problem of an inspection chamber covered in grass that wasn't supposed to be there. We had to get a patch installed because the water board were concerned about a hairline crack near the crown on a section we were going to build over (as it's classified as a critical sewer given the size). And yet further upstream under public land there is an area of significant tree route ingress (which is blocking the sewer by ~50%), which they claim is completely fine. I have no idea how they managed to say that with a straight face.

[@breabeyrouti7834]

Gosh you are an amazing human for cleaning out the sewer pipe

[@eastfrisian_88]

25 years ago, the drain pipes at my grandpa's house stank, it was very hard to bear in the kitchen and laundry room (especially in the summer). The water company has also examined the pipes and said it was all super in order. Since the old septic tank should be filled in a garden renovation (was used at times when the construction area was not yet connected to the sewer system), he renewed the pipes. Same result, the pipe sat 80% tight with stinky gloop, that stank beastly. My grandpa called the sewage association, let himself be connected to the responsible clerk and yelled at him for ten minutes (I was 8 and learned a lot of new swear words hehe) and filed a complaint 🤣The neighbors took care of the problem themselves. So unfortunately it's not better here in Germany.

[@krisgair5863]

You tube keeps suggesting all of your older videos weather ive watched them or not, so iam just re watching them :)

[@colinmiles1052]

Great video - thanks. Good practical advice to those wishing to undertake such projects. Wish I had the benefit of this 30 years ago when I did mine!

[@samuelbeckett4632]

Clear, concise & unambiguous; many thanks. This is perfect timing as I hope to be starting mini next year; BIG thumbs-up

[@breabeyrouti7834]

Oh my gosh that's seriously hard work. Great job!

[@awantamta]

Absolutely amazing . Well done , but you know what you are doing.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Probably one of the most unpleasant jobs so far. 👍😁

[@tonygorham]

Making progress now. Exciting

[@tlangdon12]

Some great tips at the start. I thought the idea of making sure the neighbours got some benefit from the work was a great idea.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Tony! 👍

[@gaz740]

Cracking job that Andy. Well done (and Mrs Mac and Junior too)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Gaz!

[@izalman]

Great video... gone into a lot of detail and prep.. Old adage springs to mind, Fail to prepare - prepare to fail... Couple of points, respiratory PPE a must when doing any cutting of brick, concrete or fired clay materials. Silicosis is a killer. As for the sitting water in the drain, I'd have got a local jetter man out to clear it and camera it. Get a copy of the CCTV survey then in the event of any issues in years to come, you have the evidence - you did it right. Wise investment at an important time, never mind what the local water board said, especially after your alterations..

[@Leonard_Smith]

Excellent. Very descriptive and helpful for anyone contemplating their own ground works.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Hopefully it's an eye opener! 👍😁

[@lcook0825]

Love your videos. So informative and presented so well.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Larry!

[@clivemarsden5655]

Look forward to watching this go forward. Been there with my local water board....ended up digging down myself to find the totally knackered clay pipe letting rainwater into my cellar. Good luck with the build but I reckon with your skill set it'll go well👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Clive and glad you got sorted with yours!

[@daveytn]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, exactly my cup of tea (not what was in the pipe though!)

[@freetolook3727]

@39:07 That's why I leave the water running while I wash dishes or brush teeth in the kitchen and bath sinks. It helps flush the drain pipes and help keep debris from piling up in the drain pipes.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Same here!

[@wayneleone]

Brilliant video. Love the sense of humour too.

[@lesgill6817]

Cracking job Marra.

[@martindunford2291]

Just got to the blocked sewer !!!! His water board on a par with mine!!

[@bingtag]

Yes !!!!! The claggy clay is back

[@DjGiluk]

Great presentation as always Mr Mac! Keep doing your thing 👍🏻

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! 👍👍

[@doityourselfdave]

I just did the same job, but mine was 1200mm deep. What an absolute ball ache - but satisfying that I did it me'sen.

[@davidjma7226]

Thanks I really enjoyed this and learned a lot - watching from sunny Muscat, Oman. Hope the current cold snap is not holding you up too much.

[@tonyrhodes484]

Top video, warts-n-all. Love your way of working and the explanations for why. Good luck with the footings.

[@paultay23]

Nice one Andy, Mrs Mac and Junior Mac (nice clay knob) I really enjoyed that and you did your normal thorough job.. You could have done with me helping as i have no smell sensation at all. Cheers Paul

[@emmatonoose]

Yes- very tidy at the bye! Well prepared and very well done!!

[@1x3dil]

Must just say well done , our last house had drain problems with a boundary hedge roots running down inside the drain . Had to replace most of it with PVC . You never know what you will find in a project especially with an old property . But as you have proven with your project you can improve the situation for everyone’s benefit . Best wishes and kind regards to you and your family. 😀👍👍👍

[@nigelweaving9045]

Well done, there's nowt worse than other folks effluent. Your planning was meticulous and obviously needed.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Lovely stuff!

[@Doug....]

Nice tidy job. I like to see diy builds. Good luck with the rest 👍👍

[@michaelevans1658]

Nice job Andy , last for years .

[@chrishughes3405]

I remember the first time I used breaker for the whole day. Could barely grip anything the following day.

[@NerdanelWise]

This project is so fascinating to watch! But I don't mind being unable to smell it.

[@jaymurtagh]

Wow , that looks like a great job, and should pass inspection easily. Bit of hard graft to get it done. But looks A1. Good luck with the inspection , and looking forward to your future videos on the extension phase.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup, all passed inspection! Cheers! 👍

[@racinghome657]

I bet you didn't know Stevie Wonder was doing inspections for the local water board, until this fun job.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I know, tell me about it! They weren't here for long. 😂

[@johnokane5526]

You should send the part with the drain too the waterboard and ask them how is that clean 🤣 brilliant videos on the house keep them up

[@LeoInAMillion]

Great video, amazing how you can make even the crappiest subject seem interesting 😉🤣

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha thank you!

[@stomperthemixer1]

Wow amazing job Andy and one for someone with a good gag reflex. great job as always. loving the series.

[@rzholland]

Nicely carried out job my man. Yes it was pretty claggy wasn't it. Surprised they let you change pipe size without any access to it, personally I would have run the 6" right down to your new access chamber. I hate to say this, but when I was running a refurb job on a quite posh restaurant in the Kings Road, we did a very similar drain job through the middle of the kitchen while they were still cooking, stepping over the trench!!

[@michaelsherer9879]

Very nice work sir you made that look easy . I work in the civil construction industry in New Zealand and I know that it’s not easy , well done 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Michael! Yeah, there was a LOT of footage edited out. Takes a while! 👍😁

[@Phenrica]

A set of drain rods with the screw attachment are very handy 😉

[@belltond1527]

Please can you do a video on the asbestos. Thanks

[@GosforthHandyman]

I don't know much about it! Just paid to have it removed. 👍

[@christineandtonyhowland3476]

Good job, well explained. Interesting you said the new inlet was for rainwater. Here in the south we are not allowed to run rainwater into the main drain, it has to go into a soak away.

[@GosforthHandyman]

All combined sewers on this street so no need. I think if I remember rightly the soil isn't great for soakaways here. 👍

[@dan7777]

Here's hoping you didn't go all Oregon Trail and die of dysentery before you got to see your work get signed off! Honestly top work mate and you're a top bloke. Been watching since I was randomly recommended your garden makeover video in one of your other houses. I've watched every video in your archives since then and learned loads. All aided by my Gosforth Handyman tape measure of course 😂Hard to believe I've seen you hanging pictures and random silicone tutorials now you're retrofitting sewer upgrades and self building an extension. Best of luck mate.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ah wow! Thank you! It's been quite a journey! 😁

[@roscopeco2000]

Good advice, i run a planning/B regs business and i always tell clients once you have planning drawings show them to both neighbours. Its not the end of world if they object but its much more smoother if they on board. I might have missed you mentioning party wall agreements. These also help keep everyone on board and happy. PS love the way you say book, its you add some O's in the middle bOOOOOk 🙂

[@johnberkley6942]

Northern pronunciation of double-o is quite consistent. i.e. boots, moon, soon, etc. The only exception appears to be blood... some of the Scots have that one covered as well.

[@roscopeco2000]

@@johnberkley6942 yes sounds interesting to a southerner like me , I like the way Scots say "murder"

[@jonathanleonard1152]

It is good to notice on the mockup at the beginning that buildings on both sides have had extensions already. These neighbor build outs will let GHM fit in. I like that you are keeping equipment access to the back yard through the garage.

[@garrywalker8714]

Excellent video, great pre-planning and so clearly explained but please get some better gloves for messing about with drain gunge Andy!🤣🤣🤣 I got some rubber gauntlets that go up to my elbows for about £6 from a local independent DIY shop but I would've got complete arm cover gauntlets for £11 if they'd have had any in at the time. It just makes dealing with drains so much easier. Well done mate!😁

[@bigearsandnoddy1]

Hiya G.H. Excellent Video job good job so please keep them coming GL&HF coming from Dulwich London England(✌PEACE✌

[@hughtattersall7583]

Great job Andy, Toolstation are very useful , tap tail adaptors 15mm x 3/8!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup! Been there too with the 3/8 connectors - Grohe?

[@hughtattersall7583]

@@GosforthHandyman yup, followed your advice!

[@wilyc0y0te]

Great video. You mentioned asbestos…where did you find it (ceilings panels, insulation, walls (old plasterboard, artex, etc.), and how did you handle the removal?

[@roberthardy2013]

Use Denso tape round the jubilee clips and other things you want to remove easily - oil rig equipment uses lots of it.

[@jamesdyas542]

I have an old pair of electricity boards rubber gloves for doing such things. There like a much thicker and bigger marrygold and up to the elbow. Think you can also get them on eBay. Excellent videos thanks.

[@oldtimefarmboy617]

If you run heavy duty house wrap across the bottom of your suspended floor it can hold the insulation up and prevent sagging, vapor seal the floor from any moisture from the ground, as well as drafts from the vented below floor space.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I think the building regs recommended route is rigid PIR with battens. 👍

[@cleanadrainltd1246]

Not a bad effort at all mate well done. We done a similar job before Christmas to this other than it was a 6” running main and 1.6m deep on our channel 👍👍🍻

[@scottnever8732]

Are you taking into account what goes on behind the scenes? There are materials to be sourced, plant to be arranged, labour to be arranged, the initial time taken to cost your job( its not a 5 minute job) cost of handling materials eg getting materials from one place to another.

[@marcusd2380]

Before u fill in around the man hole put a slow 90 bend on one of the inlets and bring a riser pipe up and back fill. And when u need to connect the drain water to the man hole at least the pipe will be easy to dig to with out going to deep. Just forward thinking

[@GosforthHandyman]

It would interfere with digging the footings. 👍👍

[@SheddyIan]

Great video, I've been watching the whole series since you first looked around the empty house. Just wondering, could that drain be surface water? ie possibly going to a water course, and not intended for washing machine & dishwasher? Especially as you said there wasn't sewage as such.

[@paulmccarthy424]

Great work Andy , looking forward to this project 👏👏👍

[@suj1945]

Amazing work. Great to see what this stuff looks like and what it's like to work on.

[@garvielloken3929]

Dude! Super Thanks for that!

[@TomasKempny]

seeing that much stuff in old pipe, i would dig and replace the wholo thing that is going to be under my new kitchen, so i do not need to do it later.

[@Graham_Langley]

Wish those ceramic cutters had been a thing 25 years or so ago when I had to deal with a broken Hepsleve clay drain from the soil stack under the kitchen floor slab. Had to use a hired wheels-on-a-chain cutter, which I'd never used before, at arms length and if it hadn't worked first time even more of the slab would have to have come up.

[@allenwaters3945]

You seem lucky with your water board. When we moved an inspection chamber we had to use their recommended contractors and the inspection chamber had to be brick built.

[@highlanderspb]

These is something oddly satisfying in the drain cleaning footage...

[@GosforthHandyman]

👍😁

[@michaelmoran6861]

Really enjoyed this video. Not sure if it was as good as the curtain rails fitting video. 🤣🤣 Seriously though good video from start to finish. Cheers for sharing Michael (from Scotland)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha thank you!