Can I put some type of grate where they had to put a new gas line in?

Submitted by tlm4594 t3_yie3tk in DIY

Hello. I had a gas inspection and they found a leaking pipe from the road to my house. I had to hurry and hire the only plumber available that was qualified (on a few in my area to do gas lines) bc we had no gas and have a new born. They had to cut our concrete on our walkway to reach the gas line. He said he'd be back to patch the concrete he had to dig up, but hasn't came back as of yet (he still could come, just want to get an idea Incase he doesn't, I like to be proactive).. Right now, it's covered in dirt/concrete mix. I'm wondering if it would be okay to just put some type of drainage grate with gravel on top instead of putting new concrete down and it not even matching the old? Can this be done over a gas line or should it be concrete on top? If it helps, they just ran a yellow new liner in the old gas line.

Edit the guy kept his word and came back! Problemo solved! Thank you all

Pic of drain

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Comments

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Buford12 t1_iui75y8 wrote

I would take the old concrete from the cut to the driveway out and pour it as a single piece. you don't have to do anything. the gas line can be left under dirt.

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hertzzogg t1_iui7vzg wrote

This.

Just clean the slot out to the depth of the existing, place a form board at the end, and then pour fresh concrete. Looks like 2 bags at most. Easy weekend project that'll get you out of diaper changing for a few.

Good luck and have fun!

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tlm4594 OP t1_iui9nci wrote

Awesome. Thank you!

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Razkal719 t1_iuihbx1 wrote

Where the gas line is coming up out of the little trench, put a piece of foam insulation, or wrap it with foam packing material so the concrete isn't directly touching the pipe. The pipe and the concrete will expand and contract differently through the seasons so you want a small gap to separate them.

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tlm4594 OP t1_iuij5xb wrote

Great info thank you.. I will absolutely do this!

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KRed75 t1_iuijs2t wrote

Concrete is inexpensive. Grates are not.

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Beneficial-Shower-42 t1_iuiszbt wrote

I would contact the town to see if they have any regulations for this first. They might check with the gas company. The contractor might get his hands slapped for not finishing the job properly. My town has an app and I can send them a picture from my phone and they respond same day.

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lembo83 t1_iukaooq wrote

I agree, in Australia we have regulations for different depths of pipe, in an area that had traffic going over it it needs to be deeper and backfilled with appropriate material compared to the depth required under a footpath or landscaping. Also, they are strict on the material used in different situations.

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imnotsoho t1_iujjpem wrote

Is the part you want to fill that little strip? Is the greyish thing at the top right of the photo a mat in front of your front door? I am assuming you are not talking about that ~2x6 foot planter area adjacent to the concrete, just the 4 inch wide strip directly in front of the gas meter?

If just the strip, pull out what is there - a claw hammer and hand trowel are probably all you need. Did it the same depth as the remaining concrete, put a board to form an edge at the end and mix and pour some concrete mix. Like one other poster said wrap the vertical gas line to separate it from concrete, even a few wraps of cardboard would do, it will rot away if you can't pull it out. I would put a 4 inch wide line of painters tape on each side of the trench to make it easier to do a clean pour.

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mixedliquor t1_iuicqbm wrote

You can cover it however you feel safe. Some people like concrete because you won’t accidentally strike it. There’s no code that mandates encasement of gas lines so backfilling with other material is OK.

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redirdamon t1_iuiher5 wrote

So you know all the codes all over the world?

Blanket statements like "there's no code" should never be made (or believed) on the internet.

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mixedliquor t1_iuikena wrote

Look, I’m trying to get OP to blow up his house for the reduced price real estate.

Don’t fuck this up for me.

But seriously, I’ve never encountered one AHJ that requires encasement of gas lines. Electric? Yes. Gas? No. NEC specifies burial depths and when it’s acceptable to place under a slab and also allows for a depth reduction if underneath a slab. No NEC code says it MUST be under a slab, as long as the depth is maintained.

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devicenull t1_iujw5mb wrote

How long ago? Usually it's a different contractor that comes back to fix it, and they can take months

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bbrian7 t1_iuk758h wrote

I’d tell them they owe me a whole porch at a bare mine they will fix that unless u requested a service upgrade then it’s prolly on u

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tlm4594 OP t1_iuk92r4 wrote

Unfortunately because it was the line on my property, I had to pay fully out of my own pocket.

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phantomplebe t1_iuj3bk6 wrote

If you do replace with concrete, drill a few holes in the edge of the existing concrete and use a sticks of rebar to tie together the old and new sections

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imnotsoho t1_iujil1j wrote

If he is only filling the 4 inch wide strip that would be overkill.

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NOT000 t1_iujkfzn wrote

they are doing similar work on gas lines here, and they do the cement work as well

i am surprised u have to do your own

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