Cost for trenching water pipe.

[Aw Building & Groundwork]

Looking to pick peoples brains. We are currently on a large conversion job (part q ). Industrial unit into domestic. It’s transpired that the existing water main is not going to be able to cope with demand. So we are left looking to get a new 63mm supply in. I have no experience of trenchers would this be an easier option than with the digger. It’s mainly through 2 ag fields approximately 2000m run to the road. We have just put in a new electric supply at 1m depth and it was hard digging. Just wanted a rough idea of price, jobs near Rugby if anyone is interested. Thanks.

 

[Furniss]

Mole would be cheap but might struggle if its really hard going

 

[Aw Building & Groundwork]

Mole would be cheap but might struggle if its really hard going

Yes I thought the same honestly the ground is like rock. It’s really dry and compact. Out of interest how far can a mole go between access holes?

 

[Furniss]

Sorry I mean mole plough - not a grundomat.

 

[Scoff]

Whenever I've moled I do dry runs 1st,you know what your up against then.

If anyone was crossing my fields with a pipe I'd insist on it being dug so I could see if any drains had been hit.

 

[Antony Holmes]

Yes I thought the same honestly the ground is like rock. It’s really dry and compact. Out of interest how far can a mole go between access holes?

A mole plow can cope with hard clay it will just be a bit slower going a case 860 vibratory plow can cope with some hard going as long as it is not solid rock depending on where you are will depend on how the price works out mole plow may not be the easiest piece of plant to get hold of.
you will need a hole once every 100m to joint the pipe with 63mm pipe it is best to fushion weld the couplers if you ar going to use compershion fitting get slip couplers you may have to order them a lot of suppliers dont keep them in stock. i assume this is a private supply so you do not need to do the job to the water board specification if not mole plowing can not be used

 

[Antony Holmes]

case 860 mole plow puling in 63mm main along with power cable for a pump

 

[Mogman]

How about an agriculture pipe trencher would leave an open trench so if you hit any land drains you could dig down to repair them, if it was my job I’d buy this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRENCHER...902392?hash=item2869b10bb8:g:PXsAAOSwAwFaoZn0
For £3k do the job then sell it on well to be honest I would keep it

 

[Mogman]

This one is even better and cheaper
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/trencher/173570986772?hash=item2869a31314:g:dRoAAOSw8U9btfWM
........get it bought

 

[V8Druid]

Looking to pick peoples brains. We are currently on a large conversion job (part q ). Industrial unit into domestic. It’s transpired that the existing water main is not going to be able to cope with demand. So we are left looking to get a new 63mm supply in. I have no experience of trenchers would this be an easier option than with the digger. It’s mainly through 2 ag fields approximately 2000m run to the road. We have just put in a new electric supply at 1m depth and it was hard digging. Just wanted a rough idea of price, jobs near Rugby if anyone is interested. Thanks.

Alex @Op_Alx24/7 has just completed a very similar job AW ... he'd probably give you some ideas and tips

 

[Left hooker]

Don't forget clorine treatment for any thing over 50m

 

[Aw Building & Groundwork]

This one is even better and cheaper
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/trencher/173570986772?hash=item2869a31314:g:dRoAAOSw8U9btfWM
........get it bought

Thanks for the reply I’ll have a word with the customer. Any idea what you could expect to do in a day with a machine like this ?

 

[fred]

This one is even better and cheaper
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/trencher/173570986772?hash=item2869a31314:g:dRoAAOSw8U9btfWM
........get it bought

not sure that would do the depth, water pipe has to be 700mm minimum in the ground.

 

[Big Jordy]

For 63mm main has to be a minimum of 30 inchs deep and like lefty says has to be chlorinated at every joint or fitting and be best fusion welded as said but with fusion stuff make sure you abide to cooling times on the fittings.. im not sure about england or scotland or wales but water main needs marked with tape now... plus its going to need a t piece of whatever main your taking your supply from so handiest option all round dig it and be done with it.. just speaking from experience..

Jordan

 

[fred]

2k is a long run!

Could the trench have the electric and telephone/fibre optic cable in it as well ?

A good weeks work with a mini for sure with all that jointing.

 

[JD450A]

Chain Trencher. Think it's about £2.50/m last time we had one in, will piss it but need to know if there are drains etc.

 

[Aw Building & Groundwork]

2k is a long run!

Could the trench have the electric and telephone/fibre optic cable in it as well ?

A good weeks work with a mini for sure with all that
We have already done the electric much shorter run back to the pole. Nothing else to do just the water.

 

[Aw Building & Groundwork]

Chain Trencher. Think it's about £2.50/m last time we had one in, will piss it but need to know if there are drains etc.

The drains are my concern. Easier to spot and repair if we trench it with the digger it just looks a mammoth task. These jobs always come along when you’re flat out

 

[sjs5060]

Ask the local land drainage contractor, he'll have a trencher and be used to spotting drains in the trench. Probably cheaper than what's been quoted also.

Ste

 

[Op_Alx24/7]

In good clean ground with a 3-5ton want to be digging and lay 180-230m a day, a trencher of a good size will piss 500-600m a day in good clean ground no rocks, any rocks or stones and you’ll be cursing it