Stump grinder - can it hit pipes etc?

[Squaredy]

I have a couple of tree surgeons coming to my house tomorrow to remove my lovely Apple Tree  and a few metres of Privet Hedge as they have helped to cause subsidence to my house   and I have had to make an insurance claim.  Should I warn them that there are water and gas pipes and electricity cables buried somewhere underneath the tree and hedge or will they automatically check before they fire up the stump grinder?

 

Bear in mind I have no way of knowing how far down the pipes and cables are, and hopefully they are too deep, but who knows....?

[Steve Bullman]

Yes you absolutely should 

[eggsarascal]

14 minutes ago, Squaredy said:

I have a couple of tree surgeons coming to my house tomorrow to remove my lovely Apple Tree  and a few metres of Privet Hedge as they have helped to cause subsidence to my house   and I have had to make an insurance claim.  Should I warn them that there are water and gas pipes and electricity cables buried somewhere underneath the tree and hedge or will they automatically check before they fire up the stump grinder?

 

Bear in mind I have no way of knowing how far down the pipes and cables are, and hopefully they are too deep, but who knows....?

yes, you should tell them.

[monkeybusiness]

Why wouldn’t you tell them (unless you love loud bangs!)? 

[Squaredy]

27 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

Yes you absolutely should 

 

26 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

yes, you should tell them.

 

3 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

Why wouldn’t you tell them (unless you love loud bangs!)? 

Thank you for your replies.  It is not that I would have kept it a secret, but I will not be around when they arrive, and my wife may also be out.  The removing of the tree and hedge is a tiny job so they might be on the stump grinding before we even meet them.

 

What we will do is leave a notice for them warning them about the pipes and cable.

 

On reflection I am surprised the structural engineer didn't enquire about this when he specced out the job.

[aspenarb]

31 minutes ago, Squaredy said:

 

 

On reflection I am surprised the structural engineer didn't enquire about this when he specced out the job.

 

In fairness to the structural engineer its not really his job. Anyone using equipment like this  below ground should carry out their own survey, its not hard to locate phone and electrical cables using a cat but mdpe services like gas and water can be tricky.  reminds me of this thread

 

 

 

 

Bob

[Squaredy]

Well the water pipe is lead, not sure about the gas pipe...

[woody paul]

Why didn't you tell them when they looked at job .

You could drop them a text warning them about it 

 

Edited August 13, 2018 by woody paul

[Squaredy]

1 hour ago, woody paul said:

Why didn't you tell them when they looked at job .

You could drop them a text warning them about it 

 

They haven't looked at the job.  A building engineer assessed the damage to the house, and at the same time condemned the apple tree and part of the hedge.  Then today out of the blue we have a phone call from a tree surgery firm saying they have been instructed to do the tree work and can they come the next day.

 

So we weren't really prepared for this and the only professional who has been to see the job was an engineer appointed by the insurance company.

 

I spent half my evening taking all the lovely apples off the tree in readiness!

[benedmonds]

The sad thing is that there is a large possibility it is not even the tree to blame.. Ime trees regularly removed without any evidence of being the cause..

Edited August 14, 2018 by benedmonds

[woody paul]

I understand.

would not let them be there with out being there my self to be sure about everything they do.