The Big Dig (in Woonsocket)

They've dug out the front yard, and the job turned out to be a bit bigger than expected; they had to jackhammer up the basement as well, so as to completely clear the pipe out from both sides.

Fortunately it isn't going to cost any more. I'm taking photos, and will try to post them later.

The Big Dig (in Woonsocket)

They've dug out the front yard, and the job turned out to be a bit bigger than expected; they had to jackhammer up the basement as well, so as to completely clear the pipe out from both sides.

Fortunately it isn't going to cost any more. I'm taking photos, and will try to post them later.

Excavation photos

Rather than do a long post, here's a link to some photos from the excavation today. Plus a couple of close-ups of bugs that happened to be near me; fair warning for entomophobes.

Hmm. I should explain some of it.

They put a trench box in after they dug the hole; that's a heavy steel box, designed to keep dirt from collapsing in on them when they're working in the hole.

They ended up digging through the basement floor as well, and replaced some of the pipe that they put in three years ago; the new pipe is blue. All of the cast iron is completely gone, except for the part that's leading up to the main drain from further back, of course. But that's completely fine.

They added an outdoor clean-out. That's the blue pipe you'll see sticking straight up; it's about 8'6" tall, if you're wondering, just tall enough to reach ground level. It allows the drain line further out to be cleaned more easily. With any luck we'll never need to use it, though.

Excavation photos

Rather than do a long post, here's a link to some photos from the excavation today. Plus a couple of close-ups of bugs that happened to be near me; fair warning for entomophobes.

Hmm. I should explain some of it.

They put a trench box in after they dug the hole; that's a heavy steel box, designed to keep dirt from collapsing in on them when they're working in the hole.

They ended up digging through the basement floor as well, and replaced some of the pipe that they put in three years ago; the new pipe is blue. All of the cast iron is completely gone, except for the part that's leading up to the main drain from further back, of course. But that's completely fine.

They added an outdoor clean-out. That's the blue pipe you'll see sticking straight up; it's about 8'6" tall, if you're wondering, just tall enough to reach ground level. It allows the drain line further out to be cleaned more easily. With any luck we'll never need to use it, though.