Cost of digging a trench for cable

cornburn · Jan 7, 2011

Wasn't really sure where to put this! I need to get a trench in for a cable, 13 metres will be cutting through tarmac and approx 30m just soil. I'm weighing up whether to hire some kit from TP and do it all oursleves (2 of us) or get a company in. Problem is most of the companies I've seen advertising also lay cabling so I don't want them trying to steal the job!

I looked at the mole thingy as an option but same problem, most of the companies will want to do the whole job and it's not a fancy driveway or anything so thinking easier just to cut the tarmac out? Not that I've cut through tarmac before.

Anyone done anything similar themselves or paying someone else?

Paul.M · Jan 7, 2011

I can see your problem cornburn trying to keep the job if you get someone else in to do it. Maybe an option to approach highways agency lads on the road and ask if they want to do it on the weekend. Tell them the info as above without them viewing the job so they don't know the address and try to steel it from you and get a day rate off them. Other than that its an expensive trip to the hire shop and order some tarmac to be delivered. Good luck.

IQ Electrical · Jan 7, 2011

cornburn said:
Wasn't really sure where to put this! I need to get a trench in for a cable, 13 metres will be cutting through tarmac and approx 30m just soil. I'm weighing up whether to hire some kit from TP and do it all oursleves (2 of us) or get a company in. Problem is most of the companies I've seen advertising also lay cabling so I don't want them trying to steal the job!

I looked at the mole thingy as an option but same problem, most of the companies will want to do the whole job and it's not a fancy driveway or anything so thinking easier just to cut the tarmac out? Not that I've cut through tarmac before.

Anyone done anything similar themselves or paying someone else?

We use a local landscape gardener for any trenching and lifting/relaying of paving slabs etc. Might be worth trying a couple, it's a bad time of year for them!

Paul.M · Jan 7, 2011

Good point IQ. Just had another thought, what if you get a none refundable deposit from the customer and put it down to the laying out for goods and ground force you have to pay for? Each way you win and I don't think the customer will go with someone else if already paid a couple hundred quid.

cornburn · Jan 17, 2011

Thanks everyone. I'm looking at hiring something from TP and will get a price over the phone for someone else to do it. Can't get a penny up front unfortunately as is an LA job. I could have them dig the trench but they'd sub it out to someone else for £2k no doubt and want to take it out of our bill

saveloy · Jan 17, 2011

cornburn said:
Thanks everyone. I'm looking at hiring something from TP and will get a price over the phone for someone else to do it. Can't get a penny up front unfortunately as is an LA job. I could have them dig the trench but they'd sub it out to someone else for £2k no doubt and want to take it out of our bill

Typical. Try getting the council to do anything without having to pay IN FULL up front first. Yet when you work for them they want it all done first before paying you 6 months later. Glad I don't have to work for the ----ers.

cr_sparky · Jan 17, 2011

hire a mini and do it yourself,they are very easy to drive and great fun.

cornburn · Jan 18, 2011

Had thought about that, wouldn't a mini digger make a bit of a mess of the tarmac though? I guess you'd run a big push along cutter along first then pull the muck out afterwards with the digger

Knobhead · Jan 18, 2011

Go for the landscape gardener. There’s water, gas and sewers down there, if they did them up it’s there problem.

edrobbo8 · Jan 18, 2011

cornburn said:
Had thought about that, wouldn't a mini digger make a bit of a mess of the tarmac though? I guess you'd run a big push along cutter along first then pull the muck out afterwards with the digger

You should be able to cut it then you may have to break it up with a hydraulic breaker, and dig out with mini digger. But again could get quite costly to hire. Your best bet is if you know anyone who works for a company that may have the kit required to help you out, such as landscaper or worker for highways as mentioned before. The chances of hitting services underneath could be minimised by using a CAT device, but again these sometimes won't pick up water pipes / gas pipes.....common sense and always scrape with the digger bucket and don't go smashing into the subsoil with the bucket!! Where abouts in the country is it? (I'm not looking for the address but just for an idea of people in that area with the kit!!!)

i=p/u · Jan 18, 2011

how deep the cable have to go? 600mm???

TPES · Jan 18, 2011

I've read 400mm somewhere, can't remember where I'd read that.

There isn't a set depth is there? Isn't 600mm the norm?
I think sometimes this can be way over the top depending on the ground surface and it's use, down to common sense I suppose

mechelec · Jan 19, 2011

If you do do it yourself get service plans from gas, electric, BT etc they are free. use a c.a.t and hand dig to prove location. If it is on private land I think it is up to the person ordering the work to supply them? A bit like it is the property owners responsibility to warn of asbestos in a building.

i=p/u · Jan 19, 2011

well like in the original post , couldnt he just bury the cable 100mm in tarmac and then deeper in the field

cornburn · Jan 24, 2011

Sorry guys have been a bit slow on this thread! Trying to get plans off the County and hopefully have found someone trustworthy with a mole to sort the Tarmac bit, we just need a minidigger for the grass then. Was thinking burying at about a foot under the Tarmac to avoid anything else down there, can't see a problem with this as it's data but will see what he mole guy says. Can go deeper in the soil if we have to. At least jobs not on til the summer so should be nice out