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

It’s time to start our self build extension! First job is groundworks and removing a 100 year old solid concrete manhole / drainage inspection chamber. In this video I’ll also give you a full run-down of what we’re doing on this extension project and how we plan to manage the build. Enjoy!
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Self Build Extension Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:46 - Build and plans overview
5:03 - What jobs we're doing ourselves
7:42 - Self build tips
11:40 - On-site overview
15:40 - Digger time
21:45 - Hand digging the clay
26:45 - Preparing to break the drain
33:50 - What we found in the old drain
37:00 - All done
42:20 - How much it cost
#Extension #SelfBuild #Construction

[@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

[@eliezer3583]

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

[@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!

[@tonyrhodes484]

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

[@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👍

[@samuelbeckett4632]

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

[@Gerry2210]

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

[@dorotheaisserstedt9238]

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

[@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!

[@suj1945]

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

[@paulmccarthy424]

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

[@dre9r9]

Looking forward to this series, great stuff as always Andy 👍👍

[@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!!.

[@breabeyrouti7834]

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

[@emmatonoose]

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

[@mandyleeson1]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Mandy!

[@135Ops]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Daisy!

[@darren.1]

Great video. Looking forward to more of this series. Thank you.

[@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!!!!

[@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.

[@Leonard_Smith]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

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

[@HIYAharry]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you - glad you're enjoying the vids!

[@Mc674bo]

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. 😀👍👍👍

[@tonygorham]

Making progress now. Exciting

[@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!

[@DjGiluk]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! 👍👍

[@haydenuk02]

Brilliant work and thanks for sharing this with us take care

[@lesgill6817]

Cracking job Marra.

[@motobikesmiler]

Great content really looking forward to the next one as this rear extension you are doing is very much the same as what I would like to do I even have the main sewer in the same place although my inspection chamber is already where you have just moved it too luckily for me great job though really informative 👍

[@Doug....]

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

[@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! 👍

[@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!

[@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.

[@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! 👍

[@lcook0825]

Love your videos. So informative and presented so well.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Larry!

[@stomperthemixer1]

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

[@leelee-gy8er]

Awesome. Love watching vids like this.

[@joeg7537]

Awesome video, can't wait for the next video!

[@gaz740]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Gaz!

[@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! 👏👏

[@paulestherby9351]

Brilliant video! I've been looking forward to your extension build 😉

[@GosforthHandyman]

Lots to come!

[@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.

[@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. 👍😁

[@rudo747]

Pretty straight forward job that mate once you get your founds in ,a good trowel and joiner will sort that out.if you have any steels to go in its a good idea to do them first if you can and it saves a lot of hassle later 👍

[@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!

[@awantamta]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@rayharrison3060]

Awesome video. Currently going through the planning stage, drawings etc. Been following a while. Good luck.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Good luck! It's hard work but hopefully worth it in the end.

[@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!

[@wayneleone]

Brilliant video. Love the sense of humour too.

[@bingtag]

Yes !!!!! The claggy clay is back

[@garvielloken3929]

Dude! Super Thanks for that!

[@Abidsalehuk]

Excellent very well explaint and many thanks for a great info , keep it up.

[@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.

[@lisaferrara8120]

Fantastic job! Your skills amaze me.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Lisa! Many years of getting stuck in. 👍

[@vivienarnold7950]

Excellent idea to retain the side entrance.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, really glad we did that. 👍

[@petermuller4322]

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

[@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. 👍

[@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! 👍

[@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.

[@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 ........

[@barrydoherty636]

Really interesting video, well done.

[@6547803]

Really informative thankyou so much

[@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.

[@Xxxjxxx282]

Few and far between finding videos on waste pipes and inspection chambers. Thanks Andy

[@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..

[@scaffyman406]

Well done!

[@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! 👍😁

[@michaelevans1658]

Nice job Andy , last for years .

[@_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. 👍👍

[@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

[@daveytn]

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

[@kareliask]

Glad to see this one mate.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers - so are we! 😁

[@nickbell8634]

Another great video. Wish I'd had this to watch before I did my extension in 2019. Check regs for footings to inspection chamber. Sure ours(in Wales though) had to have 500mm between! Clay sticking to tools, dip them in water or spray with wd40👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, it ended up being about 500mm anyway. 👍👍

[@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! 👍

[@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 👍👍🍻

[@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! 👍

[@mothman411]

Moving along nicely

[@GosforthHandyman]

Getting there!

[@valentinbelchev3301]

Great job as always 👍👌

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!

[@bigearsandnoddy1]

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

[@Phenrica]

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

[@user-nn5fy2yj2k]

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

[@stuartjones2242]

nice job, hard work but worth it in the end

[@hilmaallen1302]

Good job.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@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. 👍

[@breabeyrouti7834]

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

[@eastfrisianguy]

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.

[@kali6650]

Your a soldier mate,👍

[@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!😁

[@martindunford2291]

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

[@acidlumin]

Satisfying stuff!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@NerdanelWise]

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

[@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!

[@allanmould2633]

Good job mate

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers bud!

[@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!!

[@nigelweaving9045]

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

[@GosforthHandyman]

Lovely stuff!

[@keithl4779]

Another task accomplished!

[@GosforthHandyman]

👍

[@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! 😁