I am thinking hard about digging a trench from the house to the garage. I need to run a water line bad so while I have it dug I am going to add a CAT 5 cable and TV cable. I already have plenty of power and a phone cable out there. Also I have a wireless intercom from the house to garage so I don’t need that. I will be renting a trencher for prob a day, the trench will be approx 4in wide and 3 feet deep. The path from the garage is about 70 feet.
If you all knew me better you would see that I have to over think everything for a few weeks first
Is there anything tips you all have or I should add while I have my beautiful lawn dug up?
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
I would also run some gas line and speaker wires too. You never know if they may come handy.
Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bill 97 SS#1422: Is there anything tips you all have or I should add while I have my beautiful lawn dug up?
Go to your local Gov't and check into what permit(s) are needed. I think the minimum you need is a plumbing permit, but they may require an electrical permit for the intercom wire. The intercom wire will most likely need to be in conduit and have a certain amount of spacing from the water line. Ask the local jurisdiction if they can run side by side in the same trench or if they need vertical separation. The water line will need to have a trace wire on it, also. Also, make sure you do a utility locate before digging. It's usually a free service and you can find it in the phone book.
Will you be digging this by hand or will you rent a small trencher/backhoe. Ask Steve da Wrench about that part.
Good luck!
Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on :
Yup, check codes. Every where is different. Here, we have to have lines at least 18" deep and a water line might even be 48!!!!!!! Forst line, ya know! Can't have a water pipe freeze!! We also have something called dig safe. It is illegal I think to do any digging with a machine without having them check first. Even if you KNOW there is nothing there.
I think he said he has wireless intercom so he doesn't need an intercom wire, but even so, there are rules for this type of thing and they varu depending on where you live. Nothing is ever easy!! Absolutely have a pipe in since you are diggin a trench anyway and have a pull wire in there to make pulling anymore wires through easy. You never know what the future will bring!
Posted by Steve da Wrench (Member # 1301) on :
I second Dan A and HTWLSS opinions...........DEFINATLY call for a utility locate.......you dont want to hit anything underground. The service is free(at least around here). Check with your power company, they can probably direct you to who to contact for a locate of ALL utilities. Let us know how it goes! Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Conduit I think is fairly inexpensive, so I would install two, one plastic and one metal with drag lines while you had the whole dug. There are no doubt any number of things you may want to run to/from the garage in the future.
Posted by Bill 97 SS#1422 (Member # 253) on :
Thanks for the tips all, I was going to make all the calls for ANYTHING that may be buried in the yard before I started, also going to check with the city to see about the code and to see if there is any permits I need to do this..
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
As others said, and I'm sure you will, check all applicable codes (primarily for the water line, and the 'before you dig' type of laws) The water line will (obviously) need to be below the frost line, ...could be around 48". As DaddySS mentioned, conduit is cheap (about $3-4 for a 10' length (Home Depot). Run a piece 2-3" in diameter(which is a bit larger than you need) to contain your CAT5 and cable lines. The conduit is a bit larger so you can add whatever at a later date. Have a string to pull the cable pull for the lines you are puting in now. Leave a line(string) in the conduit to pull any future cables. Minor stuff, ...It may not apply, but just so you know, there are different "schedules" of PVC conduit, such as "schedule 40" and "schedule 80", ...codes (if applicable) will determine which one you should use. Also available at Home Depot, is this Yellow Goop stuff (I forget the name) specifically made to 'lubricate' the cables for pulling through conduit. Definitely worth the few bucks it cost...
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