Core Drilling Concrete Foundations

[cr0ft]

Hi all. Got to core drill a 4" hole through the foundations under the outside wall of a 200 year old house shortly, to bring the water supply pipe into the house and the ducting and all that stuff. Is a normal core drill going to be up to drilling concrete for a distance of around 12" deep? Or do I need to rent something better? Am looking to purchase a dedicated core drill for masonry/cavity wall drilling but if it can do this as well that would be a bonus!

Also, does anyone have a recommendation on the best core drill bits out there? Don't mind paying more if they last for ages.

 

[Killy Bing]

Hmm, im assuming thats 12 inchs and not 12 foot?

 

[lame plumber]

hire yourself a kango easier in the short term, cores dont like ballast, re whats best all cores wear out just buy what you can afford and bung a hire chare on the invoice when used to cover wear.

 

[Killy Bing]

Or on this occasion hire a core drill +drilling rig 🙂

 

[tamz]

The concrete on the floor will be about 2 - 6" thick and will be easy enough cut with a hammer and chisel or sds max then dig down through the infill which will likely be rubble, ash, soil or whatever.
200 year old houses don't usually have concrete (as you know it) foundations. More likely to be built off stone slabs.

 

[tamz]

Or on this occasion hire a core drill +drilling rig 🙂

Easier hiring a drilling contractor :wink:

 

[Killy Bing]

Easier hiring a drilling contractor :wink:

£££ out of his pocket if he has already given the quote 🙂

 

[cr0ft]

Thanks tamz. How would you drill a 4" hole through them for the service duct please? This will be my first time doing this and I want to make sure I am doing it right.

 

[cr0ft]

Easier hiring a drilling contractor :wink:

Looked at prices and the drilling rig I would need is £200 to hire which seems a bit steep. I need a core drill anyway as I am fed up of drilling without a safety clutch!

 

[lame plumber]

The concrete on the floor will be about 2 - 6" thick and will be easy enough cut with a hammer and chisel or sds max then dig down through the infill which will likely be rubble, ash, soil or whatever.
200 year old houses don't usually have concrete (as you know it) foundations. More likely to be built off stone slabs.

Or in my case straight on top of slate/shillet and you want a kango to break that lot out quickly🙂

 

[tamz]

A drilling contractor will put a hole in for you for under £200 if you ant to go that way but it is not really necessary. You can do this easily enough in a few hours.
Any decent diamond machine will cost you at least £400 for the gun then about £100 for a decent 5" core bit.

 

[lame plumber]

£50 kango hire or less 🙂

 

[jase158]

Core drill just above the foundations, put it in duct and insulation, below is impossible and through you will be there for days. As long as it is protected from frost and damage from rocks etc.

 

[lame plumber]

Core drill just above the foundations, put it in duct and insulation, below is impossible and through you will be there for days. As long as it is protected from frost and damage from rocks etc.

what foundations do you find on a 200 year old house, normally just stamp the soil down, one brick course and up we go.

 

[cr0ft]

Just noticed this website that does the Groundbreaker 3 water meter box. Seems like this is a relatively cheap way to comply with the regulations in that I can bring the water supply pipe up into that in an insulated duct. All I need then is just a small 32mm core drill hole through the back of the box and the outside brick wall to bring the pipe into the building right under the stopcock. Has anyone else used these? I presume that on a new supply the water company will fit a meter anyway these days but I will check with them.

Seems like it would save a lot of hassle tbh.

 

[cr0ft]

Core drill just above the foundations, put it in duct and insulation, below is impossible and through you will be there for days. As long as it is protected from frost and damage from rocks etc.

Won't the water company get anal about that though when they come to inspect? If they are anything like the electrical distribution company here they will!

 

[lame plumber]

theres give and take fm the inspectors depending on their mood, otherwise sign upto water safe and pass it yourself 🙂

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Don't think you are allowed to drill foundations !!!

 

[cr0ft]

I think I will do a cursory dig down tomorrow morning and see what I find. At £100 for the groundbreaker box it seems like a good price for the hassle it saves imo. The box is WRAS approved and it will also make it a lot quicker to connect everything up I think.

 

[cr0ft]

Don't think you are allowed to drill foundations !!!

How else do you bring services into the house underground?

 

[lame plumber]

Don't think you are allowed to drill foundations !!!

why not? how do old properties get new supplies?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

If I remember right from collage , we are not allowed to drill for running Gas . So I assume is to do with anything

 

[EPH]

New houses the supplies are ducted through the slab, a 4 inch hole to the foundations for supplies in an older property I doubt will cause any concern.

 

[WHPES]

I hired a huge powerful thing for drilling cores last year to go through a granite wall for a flue and it was only £50 for the day

 

[WHPES]

PS diamond cores work best if you can flood the cutting surface with water when you are cutting.

 

[lame plumber]

I hired a huge powerful thing for drilling cores last year to go through a granite wall for a flue and it was only £50 for the day

is croppie doing labouring on the side then? 🙂

 

[tamz]

You shouldn't really drill trough foundations ie strip foundations, especially a 4" hole as it can weaken them. Either go under them or through above them.
A floor slab is not a foundation.

 

[lame plumber]

all this assuming there are any foundations there in the first place.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

It could be one of this houses where that had basement floor dug out ! I have seen few in Lomdon where they have made not lift extension but basement extension

 

[Ermintrude]

Spit and a decent chisel. Dig 900mm trench outside and 900mm deep trench on inside and bash chisel through the 300mm of soil under the wall. Fit in a 75mm civils duct and grout it all back in . Bylaws inspector will be chuffed.

 

[lame plumber]

Spit and a decent chisel. Dig 900mm trench outside and 900mm deep trench on inside and bash chisel through the 300mm of soil under the wall. Fit in a 75mm civils duct and grout it all back in . Bylaws inspector will be chuffed.

and amazed!!!!!

 

[jase158]

Spit and a decent chisel. Dig 900mm trench outside and 900mm deep trench on inside and bash chisel through the 300mm of soil under the wall. Fit in a 75mm civils duct and grout it all back in . Bylaws inspector will be chuffed.

Which is fine as long as foundations are higher then 600, not so good if foundation is 750 deep, and from 600 onwards is clay!! I think you have to take practicality in to consideration, if foundation is 750 deep then going above won't be an issue, if it is 300 deep then will be and issue, every house is different, different depth foundations, different size foundations, different soil, different rules

 

[lame plumber]

Which is fine as long as foundations are higher then 600, not so good if foundation is 750 deep, and from 600 onwards is clay!! I think you have to take practicality in to consideration, if foundation is 750 deep then going above won't be an issue, if it is 300 deep then will be and issue, every house is different, different depth foundations, different size foundations, different soil, different rules

its victorian they dont abide to todays standards