Single Storey Extension Stage One Continued...Digging Digging and more Digging!!!

[@thetuesdaywhistler]

Top tip: In the nice and dry get a piece of 2"x1", use your nice expensive tape, measure and mark the depths you want, cut some 6" lengths, nail/screw 'em to it, bingo! Measuring stick! No knackered tape, no more repeated fumbling trying to get the tape to the right length AND chances of miss-measuring greatly reduced! Happy days! Love the vids. PS mark it with "Mr A's measuring stick - don't throw away!"

[@mrboyban]

I can't thing of anything else more pleasant than digging the mud out. It is absolutely so much enjoyment to my broken back.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! I feel your pain!

[@alanmacleod9464]

If the extension is going to be that close to the tree then removing the (now possibly redundant tree) would have been cheaper :) Once the extension has been built the tree will grow further and fill out - it will be very difficult to cut back from against the wall or window. I'll bet after a growing season the property owners will get rid of the tree and take the start of beach hedge a bit further down the garden.

[@whatyousaidbud]

With regards to the tree/distance and depth, have a really good look into what is classed as "the base of the tree" because IT'S NOT where the tree comes out of the ground, it's where it narrows before forming the main trunk, this info saved me 600mm of extra depth near an oak tree.

[@mattjagger4360]

I remember when we used to use polystyrene in clay footings. It was a significant change when we then had to use polystyrene instead.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! What a transition that was! Bet it caused mayhem!

[@peteryoules2207]

Feel for you when I did a wrap around extension the DS made me go down an extra 800 mm on the side wall foundation because the next door neighbour had a apple tree two foot from the boundary so hand dig and extra concrete. Two weeks after this was done the neighbour had the tree removed!!!!!

[@ianbullock5621]

Apparently it’s a little more complicated than the tree being there and root damage or that’s what we were told. Especially on clay where you get heave and shrinkage. If the tree is removed it takes years for the ground to come to its new norm and without the tree there to take up water the clay will eventually heave and put pressure on the foundations. Ironically for us after the neighbour removed their 30 foot eucalyptus which was right on the 10m distance, the new soak away has created swamp like conditions and without the tree to drink the water the garden is always waterlogged outside of mid summer…..btw no live roots were found intruding into the footings. So the building inspector got his way and we have a waterlogged garden for most of the year 😮

[@pmf2910]

Feel your pain son, been their, done that, and worn crapped underpants inside out and back to front. We got ours to what BC said, he came, and told us we needed to go another 300, and conc was coming morning after. Keep ya chin up. We called ours “the pit of misery”

[@abskan4015]

Had the same issue last year. Difference was I had two trees next to the trench dug out prior to inspection. Not worth the hassle.

[@markjarvis5465]

Hope you left a void in your construction for the clay to expand into.

[@ritajames7797]

If that was my house, I would have the tree removed whilst it was still possible to get to it - might decide to plant elsewhere but take it away from its current location. By the time the extension is built, all sorts of problems can arise re trimming it / access to it / possible earth movement etc etc. I would do it now whilst it is reasonably inexpensive and possibly cheaper than all the additional digging you're being made to do due to regulations.

[@Zeus-kj7nn]

All that effort with the three levels, a little gutting the B.I didn't come out yes. No piling, research paid off! Great progress mate. Have a great week. (No 🌧!).

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Zeus, hope you're well mate. Thank you for the comment, although the hope for no rain is a little far fetched! Have a great week too!

[@gwynmorris5852]

Brilliant! thank you for taking the time and helping us.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

No problem at all, Gwyn. Hope you're well.

[@archangel6415]

This brings back my digging out the walls in bolder clay some 10 years ago. I dug out my basement including underpinning the back wall. Water was a horrible issue having hit the table with the first scoop. I dug out a hole next to the 1.8m dig and installed a float pump but even then the clay mud was utterly horrendous. The basement is 6x7m sq. it was thee most difficult job to date and all done on my own at 50 years old. This kind of work in Glasgow is a fight with water all they way till you get the thing filled with concrete. As we were taught in the 70’s at college, water management is the real battle.

[@leafbone1]

It is Polystyrene but a lower density so it compresses during heave rather than push the foundations, been working in silt clay this year very prone to movement season to season

[@richardmessenger9474]

Epic expression on the your face about the clay master not being polystyrene...your expression said a thousand words..😆😆.. fantastic channel on the problems caused by a simple hedge..👍👍

[@notpoliticallycorrect1303]

Our area is 8 ft below sea level,and only half a mile from the sea with a massive freshwater lake the other side of the village. When you dig anywhere below 12"/ 30 CMS, it immediately fills with water,any job requires constant pumping and makes everything a proper mess being stoney clay mixed with flint. Our extension took about three weeks longer simply because of the time it took managing the groundwater and mud,in the area we wanted some decking which was moist even in the summer. Our local inspector with very good knowledge of how the local ground quality so widely differs across our area suggested laying a bed similar to a road construction,as a consequence we we ended up digging down about 2.5 meters and laying over 300 ton of aggregate and sand as a 'raft' to provide a base for the footings,which were precast mushrooms with a galvanised I beam embedded into them to bolt the framework to which then had to have elastomer mountings to allow for movement,they were cheap😯!

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Crikey! Where do you live?

[@crimsonsunshine264]

Scott mills, I couldn’t agree more! 100% right. I miss Steve right😔

[@johncurrie2802]

Great video mate. Very informative. Sounds like you're local to me and yes we like to turn off radio 2 a 2pm nowadays as well.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you John. Yes radio 2 is very nearly dead to us! Oh for the good old days! Where you from then? Thanks again, take care.

[@johncurrie2802]

@@Mr_A_Builders Brownhills walsall mate

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Not far at all mate!

[@MrLeew1234]

this is excellent information well done mate thanks for sharing.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

No worries, Lee. Thank you.

[@joparish1037]

Fascinating video - very interesting and useful information. Just one point though: shouldn’t a trench that deep be shored when working in/near it? I always thought it was anything over a metre needed shoring? Especially when working alone on site this is very dangerous!

[@glongmate3565]

I don't want to seem picky but whilst watching this video, which I find facinating by the way, you kept refering to the Birch tree. I then thought well, where is it. I kept looking but cold not see it. All I could see was a Beech Hedge which is rather different to a Birch tree and would it make a difference to the calculations ?

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! Yeah, it's a Beech and for reasons that I can't comprehend I called it a Birch throughout the entire video! I didn't even know until someone else put it in the comments! Sorry!

[@markdauncey927]

I k ow this is old but if the 'tree' has been removed then it doesnt 'count' particularly if it was as small as this one. Obviously you would have to consider the first remaining tree inthe hedge line.

[@1tonyboat]

One good pull and that bush/tree is out !!!! what a rig ma roll ... ordinary polystyrene and a can of pink spray😂😂 ....but the job has to be done correctly. Well done 👍👍👍👍 plus a subscription....

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! It simply can't be anything over than polystyrene!!! Really appreciate the sub, Anthony. Thank you. Hopefully you'll enjoy our other videos too! Take care.

[@jonp6798]

I work for a large construction company that does a lot of piling. Precast piling is a large house builders staple. It’s certainly not cost effective if you’ve got a small extension on one house though. Great tips on the info to solve the problem. I’ve got some great pictures of a self build bungalow with insufficient footings with a full width crack you can put your hand in after the 2018 heat wave.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Oh really? Our email is in our bio if you want to send them through? I wouldn't mind having a look at those!

[@jonp6798]

@@Mr_A_Builders I will dig them out and email over.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you Jon.

[@michaelstevens3479]

I was made to go !m extra because of a tree type and distance was right but the tree was in a field three feet below us so do roots grow up hill?

[@samsdadalways888]

Great video. Couldn't a section of the beech hedge have been dug out and replaced with a section of fence? Serious question.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Unfortunately the rules are the same for a removed hedge/tree that they are for a remaining one! Sounds crackers doesn't it!

[@delscorey8727]

Get that concrete in .....well done glad it worked out OK.. Good luck for rest of build 👍

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you Del! All the best mate.

[@markjarvis5465]

You pretty much did what i suggested on the previous video. One thing i missed at the time was the claymaster, was going to add it then saw your link to the 2nd video. Claymaster or similar is designed to collapse when the clay expands, leaving a void for the clay to expand in too, because the water taken by the trees stays in the ground. If you dont it will push the wall out. One of the reasons why pulling up the tree just before you dig is wrong, don't do it, the ground needs to expand, it can take several years. Claymaster generally always on the inside, can be used as shuttering. Thickness dependant on clay expansion, needs plasticity index testing. Put the steps in to gauge, the tables are minimum depths. Always consider trees in adjacent land not just within your confines, trees have no boundaries. Listen to the engineers, some interesting reading in the comments. Be careful what you read. Without adequate foundations your structure, road, drainage etc will fail, like the leaning wall in one of your previous vids.

[@olderbutnowiser6701]

I was wondering why that scrawny tree wasn’t just cut down and now I know Thanks Mark!

[@ComeWhatThey]

Good work, can be annoying and stressful to try and stand your ground (no pun intended) but it's best for everyone and best for the customer. Most people would only dream of a contractor like you! Those boards are an absolute joke though. Very much not a fan of regs requiring specific proprietary products, easy for that to devolve into corruption and bribery just to get your product on the list. There are different types of polystyrene (EPS and XPS) but I doubt any of them will hold up over time in those conditions. Even the clay master website only says "resistant to moisture" lol, think you need to be a bit more than resistant to hold up to the water level a meter below ground.

[@Mark-gf7yw]

The difference between pink expanded polystyrene and white expanded polystyrene, is the size of the backhander from Jablite 😉

[@Mr_A_Builders]

I bet you're right!!!

[@amazing451]

Good that you guys found a solution to the problem. Good luck from now onwards, will be watching. 👍

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you Kevin, as always. Hope you're well mate.

[@nigelparkin]

Would the problem have been avoided if the tree had been removed before the visit from the building inspector?

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Nigel, hope you're well. Unfortunately not, the rules are still the same whether the tree is there or has been removed.

[@hellome1508]

I have dug enough footings by hand and really hate it, especially in the cold wet winter, However I think you were lucky, here in the south london area we have clay and chalk, sometimes you get lucky and hit chalk quickly and only have to dig 600 down, but around here they don't let you fill on clay like you have, on some jobs I have had to go down 3 metres until we hit chalk.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Yes mate we weren't too bad really, certainly compared to what you have to do by the sound of it! 3m? Ouch!!!

[@johnf1973]

Just new to the channel, thanks for the very informative videos. Built loads of extensions and haven't came across this sort of problem so good to know.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Morning John, hope you're well. Appreciate the comment mate, thank you. We've never come across this either! Glad you found it helpful, have a great day.

[@benwilkinson5457]

Just come across your videos. Very interesting and informative. Look forward to watching any future videos.

[@m0aze611]

So pleased you found a solution. Everything seems OTT which makes everything more expensive, but on the plus side those who continue to make the rules are kept in employment. Thought common sense would have prevailed 😉

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello MOAZE, hope you're well. I agree with you, it's all OTT and very expensive and there's only one loser...the builder at the end of the day. Yes the customer has to stump up but that can only carry on for so long before potential customers just won't have the work done. Sorry to hear about your son's builder doing a runner, that must have been extremely stressful! Well done on getting it all sorted.

[@robertnightingale4101]

I potentially had the same problem as my footings were within 1m of a leyllandii hedge. Thankfully the ground was sandy so no potential for either shrinkage or heave. Digging to 2.6m avoided. New footings also much more substantial than the original ones for the house.

[@derekearles9844]

My brain would have said talk to the neighbour about ripping 2 meters of the beech hedge out and replace it with a fence panel

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Morning Derek, unfortunately that wouldn't have made any difference to the issue. Yes, it may have pulled the wool over the building inspectors eyes but it wouldn't have solved the issue.

[@petetelfer1482]

Fair play bud you are earning your beans

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Cheers Pete!

[@doityourselfdave]

🤣 "Jablite Claymaster is an EPS (expanded polystyrene) compressible-fill material recommended in decreasing the pressure applied to foundations caused by clay heave."

[@WorldlyInAction]

Really useful video. Is there a chance you can do a video with a few tales of tree preservation order trees being felled what in theory can happen to anyone doing it and in practise how many people get away with nothing ever being said or even found out

[@jaj5532]

Excellent work.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you!

[@mozzer999]

Now that was really useful, well explained. Thanks😉

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Cheers mozzer, appreciate that.

[@simonroberts9759]

Great video. Understandable frustration!

[@Wolveslandscaper]

Glad u sorted it mate 16 grand for a bit of metal they make you laugh sometimes but loveing the progress keep the great work going

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Cheers man, appreciate it.

[@markjarvis5465]

It’s quite a bit more than a little bit of metal. 16 grand is expensive though

[@MrFlynnytwo]

Great vid lad …. Just a small critique…. Just because you don’t understand the why does not make it wrong…. Just saying 😉 I love the content and presentation! SUBSCRIBED as I can learn details… keep the vids long 👍

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Very very true!!! Thank you for that mate and we really appreciate the subscription! Thank you.

[@stevedarcy9542]

Just subbed to your fantastic channel, great content and very informative.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you Steve! Really appreciate that mate. Hopefully you'll enjoy our other videos too. Thanks again, take care.

[@markm7470]

Great video, warts and all

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you Mark, I'll have to get some make up to cover those warts though!!! Have a great day.

[@knightstemplar2437]

yes well that is a lesson learned.. we was doing a footing 1m the next door neighbor's had a massive conifer. if we didn't take it away would of been thousands of pounds because it would of been 2m dig out. so the solution was pay the neighbor £500 and take it away first before B.S inspector dose...

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Morning mate, hope you're well. Be careful there mate as you haven't solved any problems regarding the soil by removing it. I obviously have no idea on proximities etc on your job but removing the tree doesn't mean that the roots don't do whatever it is that they do that causes the issue. The whole thing may be a huge overkill though so hopefully you'll be ok.

[@james1976-nov]

my house is 120 years old and on stepped bricks. Not moved. Regs today are a joke!

[@Mr_A_Builders]

My house is exactly the same mate. I'm in full agreement with you!

[@user-lc7xb5ch5t]

Its the tree's

[@whatyousaidbud]

Yeah YOURS hasn't moved.

[@smithsraf]

If you said the trees are coming out why not take them out before you started

[@Mr_A_Builders]

We didn't know that they were going to be an issue at all, but as it happens taking them out wouldn't have made any difference, the rules are the same whether they are there or if you've removed them.

[@tomoose22]

Hi. Great vid. At 4:08 you mention soil type and refer to the map in section 4.2 of the website. This map is to enable you to reduce the depth of foundation based on the tables due to distance away from London. The website section is labelled Climate. Nothing to do with shrinkage. Soil type has to be determined at site.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Fair play mate, it Iooks like it misinterpreted the jargon but got the correct answer! Appreciate the comment mate.

[@johnbowkett80]

Here in Birmingham its a MINIMUM 1 mtr dig no matter what . 👍

[@johnbowkett80]

@@Mr_A_Builders I knew 'Climate' would creep into it somewhere . 😠

[@Mr_A_Builders]

That's right mate and rarely have we had to below that, we've been very lucky!

[@spencewr3]

Now I’m a massive worrier. Probably not the best thing as a small builder. Obviously you’ve put your quote in that’s been accepted by the customer and the job has started. So who pays for the extra footings work and extra concrete? This always worries me when pricing jobs.?? Any help appreciated. Also where are you located?

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Down my way we price for a metre dig, anything over that is extra and all this is put in the quote. 70% of the time it goes over the metre. A decent Architect woul have surveyed the job and detailed the depths of the dig but at the end of the day you have to liaise with BC so things may change so always cover your srde

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Spens. It's a difficult one isn't it and it's never pleasant going back to the customer and asking them for more money but at the same time we shouldn't have to foot the bill when we're hit by unexpected things like this. You just have to put a lot of detail into the quote whilst not over promising. I have a line in my quotes that reads "this quote does not include anything that is not detailed within it". Also there's a contract with the same line that gets signed. Saying that of course, if you've messed up which I have on many an occasion then you need to hold your hands up. If you're a decent person working for decent people then we'll be ok but unfortunately there's some horrible customers out there that'll want their pound of flesh and then some. Main things are, detailed quote, openness from the start and never forget that they aren't your friends and you don't owe them anything for free.

[@spencewr3]

@@Mr_A_Builders do you use a quoting software for your detailed quotes and contracts? I wouldn’t even know what to state in a contract? Or is there a generic one online you know about that I’m able to download?

[@scottnever8732]

love too know how much extra this all cost to customer?

[@Beefy2203]

On a recent job we had to have 56 piles put in at a cost of £42,000 ex VAT

[@jamieway5379]

Great job mate you just gotta bite your tongue in these situations so frustrating though ,kep up the good work 👌

[@Mr_A_Builders]

You're right Jamie, you've just got to be willing to be told what to do and do it! Cheers mate.

[@FreeThinkingTruther]

That's a stack of work for a poxy 2 meter tree, if it was my extension, my back garden would now be Sans birch tree!

[@doityourselfdave]

Piling quotes vary A LOT. I'm about to do some piling for a single story extension and I've had quotes from £4,000+VAT (Manchester based) up to £11,000+VAT (London based) ..... for the same job.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Yes mate, the three quotes I had for this job were 7.5k, 8.9k and 12k all plus VAT. Big differences and all from local companies.

[@mcc4k]

Why couldn't the tree get taken out?

[@johng.1703]

it is polystyrene, but it will be expanded polystyrene rather than extruded polystyrene. the expanded version is more resistant to water as it is a closed cell variant. same material but very different properties.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Fair enough, John. Appreciate that mate.

[@szabolcsvarga8395]

I may not remember correctly since I've learned it over 25 years ago, but on the continent, this different type of EPS was the result of a development aimed to reduce the need of XPS where the regular EPS is not applicable but the XPS would be overkill and too expensive.

[@davidhall4914]

Could you not have removed the hedge for say 6ft, build your extension, once completed and all passed, plant a new hedge, ive not seen many rules on planting hedges.

[@cdl13]

Would it not be easier/cheaper to remove the tree?

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Craig, it wouldn't have made any difference I'm afraid! The rules are the same whether the tree is there or you've removed it.

[@miksterUK01]

That’s a lot of effort over a bush 👀

[@CrimeVid]

Looks like the end of a Beech hedge to me ! when I were a lad that would have been out of there as fast as my boss could hack it !

[@mickbaker7573]

Totally agree bring back Steve wright bbc radio 2 😮😢😢great vids

[@Mr_A_Builders]

We should start a campaign, Mick! Appreciate the comment, have a great evening!

[@gutsngorrrr]

So out of curiosity, if the home owner had grubbed out all the hedge before you started, would he inspector required the same.

[@JonDingle]

Root Protection Areas and other crazy rules are dreamt up by either jealous regulators or fascists or both? None polystyrene polystyrene is what Claymaster looks to me. Another level of building regs bullshitery. I don't do much work on building properties (I am no builder or such like), but l am working on an underground house and the bollocks my client has had to put up with over the last three and half years has been incredible. Anyway, the property is on its way out of a massive hole now. Structural engineers over engineer stuff too and make mistakes. Great video young man. Good to see that you look into the camera lens when recording and not at yourself on the viewfinder as so many folk do. Worthy of a subscription squire!

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! Maybe a bit of both! Really appreciate your comment and the sub Jon, hopefully you'll like our other videos too. Thanks again, have a great day.

[@michaelcummings4391]

I've seen a lot of trees damaged and become dangerous due to a failure to protect tree roots or observe root protection zones. Cable companies and animal care facilities being two examples which led to tree failure and other people having to pick up the bill.

[@wholesumnutrition2204]

what is the reason for needing a suspended floor now. thanks

[@Mr_A_Builders]

It's all to do with "clay heave", there needs to be room for the ground beneath the floor to move so we need to leave a gap for it to do so. Does that make sense?

[@jjryan1452]

enjoyed the videoes mate keep them coming

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you jj, really appreciate that.

[@awt]

You say it's Birch and Moderate... Isn't Birch at the top of the Low demand column? But it actually looks like a Beech hedge, which is moderate.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Andy, yes you're right. I don't know why but I said Birch and not Beech! Sorry.

[@garycroft8213]

Can't believe the homeowner would keep that tree so close to the new extension. I guess its still factored into building regulations, but as a precaution I'd personally get rid.

[@richardredman3947]

12k plus vat, how deep were the piles needed? And we're they caging and pouring the foundation supplying all concrete etc? Just curious Cheers Richard 👍

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Richard, it's a lot of money isn't it. Yes that was supplying everything that you could possibly think of! The piles were only going down a metre though!

[@richardredman3947]

Was it 12 piles £1000 a pile +vat just a mtr deep. I just feel so out of touch with reality on prices these days. It's a tough conversation to have with the client. I always have a guilt when unexpected costs crop up. Sometimes it pays to slow down and assess your options as you have. Nice save, although I'm baffled the gaffer was neck deep in the trenches 😅 forget radio 2. You should have had a ww2 Churchill speech ringing out 👍

[@Mr_A_Builders]

I don't know the breakdown mate, it was a verbal quote and to be fair to him he advised that it didn't need doing and told me that it'll be far easier to dig it. I don't know anyone who's in touch with the prices these days, every day seems like a gamble. It's not nice is it?!!

[@richardredman3947]

I just feel I've got to sit down and work even small extras out, the days of being able to guesstimate it have well gone. Not that it's good practice in the first place.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

It's getting more and more difficult isn't it. Not too sure what the answer is to be honest, apart from trying to think about absolutely everything and making sure the customer knows that things can/will go wrong. It's not nice at the moment is it mate.

[@petermonk117]

Good video. Thanks!

[@stevenedwards2162]

Just watched three of your building video's, have you ever thought a black cloud is following you 😂,

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! I do yeah! But more often than not it parts and let's the sun through!

[@stevenedwards2162]

mrabuilders. Only joking, just retired after 50 years as a plasterer, have had my fair share of mishaps too, you handle the stresses and stains amicably, enjoyed your vlogs cheers 👍

[@Mr_A_Builders]

@stevenedwards2162 ah cheers man. Thank you for that. Hope you have a long and healthy retirement mate, all the best.

[@stevenedwards2162]

@@Mr_A_Builders Thanks much appreciated, and keep the good work yourselves 💪👍

[@markboden2749]

Hi. Don’t want to sound a know all. But I think that is a Beech tree, not a Birch. Cheers, Mark

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Yes! You're right! Did I say Birch? Bugger!!!

[@davidmarshall5603]

👍👍looking good

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Thank you David, it must be the hair cut!

[@davidmarshall5603]

Not your hair the footings 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Oh.......haha!!!

[@nigeats65]

It's not protected is it like our lovely Heron Gulls....!

[@mreezageeza5936]

I'm really struggling with the fact that you're being made to comply with tree regs when what you've got there is a hedge. That hedge will never have roots big or strong enough to compete with concrete foundations. Admittedly if it was left uncut for 30 years it would turn into a row of big trees, and that would be an issue, but if it's maintained at its current size (as it surely wil be) I just can't see how it's a problem.

[@davebadger100]

It's got absolutey nothing to do with roots affecting the foundations. It's about how much water trees remove from the soil. In highly shrinkable soils such as clay, when there are prolonged periods of drought or low rainfall trees will suck the ground dry. This results in the ground "shrinking" away from shallow foundations causing subsidence. The way to avoid this, is to dig down deep enough to where the water table is unnaffected by changes in moisture content, or to use piles when trench fill foundations get so deep as to be uneconomical to dig.

[@holdfast7657]

@@davebadger100 It's got everything to do with the roots. A tree restricted to a hedge doesn't take as much water as a fully grown tree. Therefore it requires less of a root system, to both provide water and stability. So the calculation table should differentiate between a tree and a hedge.

[@davebadger100]

@@holdfast7657 What are you on about? Read my comment again, its about a tree/hedge draining the soil causing it to shrink away from the foundation removing all support and causing subsidence. Nothing at all to do with roots affecting the foundation.

[@digitalacid]

Chainsaw. Sorted.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! Unfortunately that wouldn't have solved the issue.

[@paulmiller6277]

Save yourself alot of time and money and remove tree / hedge before building inspector comes.

[@mentonish]

These new regulations are probable issued in accordance with pre mix concrete. Having spent all my life in the building industry I have never come across regulation so complicated. It would be cheaper to cut down the trees and then construct a simple reinforced concrete slab

[@billybulmer7386]

Scott Mills? Ha ha. You a Steve Wright fan? Not the same since he has left is it?

[@Mr_A_Builders]

No it is not Billy! No it is not!!! Sad times! Haha! Hope you're well mate.

[@keithallen8096]

Same here radio 2 off at 2pm.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

It's awful isn't it!

[@blandry021]

Get rid of the tree?

[@Dave-uf8ek]

Why didn’t you cut the tree down?

[@Mr_A_Builders]

It wouldn't have changed anything, Dave. The rules are still the same.

[@johnfoster5754]

Why can’t you remove the tree?

[@scottmatthews2589]

Get in there son I don’t miss trench work mate you must be local to me I’m Walsall boy

[@Mr_A_Builders]

I don't miss it either mate, and I'm still doing it! Yes mate, we're not far from you at all.

[@stevensmi1167]

£16-19 grand probably way off but I’ll just wait for the lagging

[@holdfast7657]

Shame that no allowance is made for trees that are used for hedges. There's no way that the root system of a tree that is restricted to a hedge should be calculated in the same way it is if it's allowed to grow to it's full size.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

On the face of it I agree, but this is a subject that far exceeds my knowledge!

[@ritchieblackmore5204]

Why couldn't you have just taken that bit of the tree/that bit of Hegde out?

[@Mr_A_Builders]

It wouldn't have made any difference, Richie. The rules are the same for a removed tree as they are for one that's there.

[@ritchieblackmore5204]

@@Mr_A_Builders oh right, sounds nuts to me but I'm not a builder or expert in anyway, but I'm guessing it's to do with disturbed soil if tree dug out

[@jamesbarr7320]

Instead of stuggling down a small hole to the deepest 1.85 level, first dig out to the highest level first, 1.45 then dig to the next lower level 1,65 and the finally the lowest level in the corner !!!!!

[@KingstonHomeMaintenance]

I just read the data sheet for that claymaster from jablite, and it is a polystyrene. Go figure

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! Well there you go!

[@markbriggs6786]

It’s a hedge , get rid of it and plant again later

[@weareguardians7384]

Pull out the small tree and move it to another location. No more problem.

[@NastaneMyr]

Hi 'Mr A', I've just sent you a direct email as your interpretation of the UK Map chart isn't correct. Sorry to bring you bad news but didn't want you to pour the concrete tomorrow if it's not to the correct depth etc.

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Hello Martin, thank you so much for the email. If I'm wrong then fair enough, but all the information I've given is what the building inspector has given me to work to and he's happy that I've complied and completed everything so not sure what else I can do?

[@matthewharris1510]

It's a Beech hedge

[@Mr_A_Builders]

It is yes, don't know why I said Birch! Must have been the pressure of the camera!

[@sicknote26]

Trees need room to

[@scottnever8732]

love that it not Polystyrene looks like a duck, quakes like a duck its in no way a duck its special and real expensive

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Haha! It's ace isn't it!

[@sicknote26]

About 2k for piling

[@next0845]

I don’t understand this. Surely it’s cheaper to whip out the tree 🧐

[@Mr_A_Builders]

Unfortunately mate that's irrelevant. If the tree was removed then the same rules apply believe it or not. Apparently the roots from a removed tree still act as if it's still there for 3-7 years and it's the roots doing what they do that does the damage.

[@Bruce-qn6ee]

Been there far to many times

[@markbriggs6786]

Take a photo quick before it fills with water and send it in