LESLIE: Marvin in North Carolina, welcome to The Money Pit. What can we help you with today?
MARVIN: I’m going to install three-quarter-inch PEX pipe on my well out front …
TOM: OK.
MARVIN: … and run it in two directions and I’m going under a driveway on each side of the well.
TOM: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
MARVIN: And I’m going to run it about 15, 18 inches deep.
TOM: Mm-hmm.
MARVIN: And what I’m wondering, is that pipe going to be OK just in the ground? Now this is just a gravel-topped driveway.
TOM: No, if you dig the trench out and run it under the driveway – and you said you’re 15 to 18 inches deep – as long as you tamp the soil over it …
MARVIN: Uh-huh.
TOM: … I don’t think you’re going to have any problem. That’s pretty strong pipe and it’s not easy to crush it.
MARVIN: OK. That’s what I …
LESLIE: But then it’s soil over the pipe and not directly gravel, correct?
MARVIN: Right, it’s soil. It’s …
TOM: Right. It’s 15 to 18 inches deep in the soil.
LESLIE: OK.
MARVIN: It’s pure sand over it and just, you know, a little bit of gravel on top of the driveway dirt. But …
TOM: Well, you know, if it’s sand and it’s real malleable …
MARVIN: Uh-huh.
TOM: … it could be a problem. But if it’s tampable and you can compress it, I think it’s OK. If …
LESLIE: Could you switch out some of that sand for that sand that’s mixed with concrete that’s used in like southern areas where the soil tends to be pretty moist?
TOM: You may be able to just tamp that area with, you know, more of a gravel mix. But the key is you want to make sure it’s tamped really well. If you get a solid tamp then you’re not going to have a problem.
MARVIN: OK, good.
TOM: Alright?
MARVIN: Apparently then the soil kind of disperses the way?
TOM: Yeah, exactly.
MARVIN: OK. That’s what I was hoping you’d say.
TOM: Alright, Marvin.
MARVIN: Alrighty.
TOM: We’re happy to help you out. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
Leave a Reply