Have some leftover shingles from the garage build in process. Plan to run underground electric and water to the garage,, neither in conduit. Someone suggested putting the leftover shingles on top of the utilities to 1) protect from rocks with the backfill and 2) as an added barrier to any future diggers. Any reason not to?
shingles in underground utility ditch?
- Thread starter lqchar
- Start date
larry4406
Well-known member
Sure bury your trash. No sense in proper disposal or use of proper caution tape for buried utilities.
Sorry don't want to sound like a a#%hole. Someone in the future will
think they are digging up trash then zap. There are reasons there are standards.
Sorry don't want to sound like a a#%hole. Someone in the future will
think they are digging up trash then zap. There are reasons there are standards.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
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Aceman
Well-known member
I can't understand the thought process leading to not using conduit and running direct burial wire(that is prone to failure), but then taking the time to put shingles on top of it.
Use conduit, bury caution tape 12" above the utilities if you think you need it and be done with it.
Everything else is half ***.
csp
Well-known member
Horrible idea!
And how in the world do u run water to a structure without conduit?
You've never heard of direct burial water supply line? It's done every day on countless thousands of buildings.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
Teck is a material used in Canada, not common in the US.
I kinda figured. I'm in Canada, Teck is everywhere. It's great, code legal almost everywhere and you can literally drive over it and it'll survive for a long time.
csp
Well-known member
Well duh. So you were attempting to be funny with the conduit comment?
You must not be aware that there are instances where pipe is pulled through an actual conduit. Not all pipe used for water line is rated for direct burial.
Direct burial water supply line? Is this a fancy term for K copper?
It's one that's allowed for direct burial. Another comedian I guess.
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Brian_WK
Well-known member
Horrible idea!
And how in the world do u run water to a structure without conduit?
Aqueduct system...
Putting shingles on top will leave voids below until the ground settles around it i would think.
I say keep the shingles. Fill with correct material.
Brian
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checkthisout
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2008
- Messages
- 5,232
No, that's fine.
The ideal backfill for a utility trench is building waste..preferably that which contains nails and is tough enough so that it causes bridging and voids but will rot in future so that the voids settle in.
Utility witchers are most successful when the utility trench has settled so they tip backwards a little when stepping out of the depression causing the rods to point inwards.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
I like to use large jagged rocks as my fill over wiring in the ground. It makes plenty of the voids you mention, as well as being nice and heavy to help keep the wire from moving to much. The rocks usually settle nice and tight in the ground around the wiring...
Jim
Wanted to consider all aspects so I appreciate the comments. The water and electric are rated direct burial and yes, there will be caution tape and tracer wire in the trench as well. We are rural, family farm, no inspection. "Proper disposal" would mean burial at a landfill so if they could be usefully buried here, it would seem preferable over adding to landfill. So that's the IF. The possibility of creating a void and settlement seems like a valid concern but we are talking just a few leftover new shingles - probably just enough for one shingle thickness in the trench. So while the consensus seems to be its a bad idea, I'd like to better understand the reasons.
matt_i
Well-known member
If you have brand new shingles why not either save them for future losses (blown off, damaged shingles), or sell them back to the place where you bought them, or sell on craigslist so someone can build a shed.
In my mind, all of those are preferable to creating your own personal landfill area.
In my mind, all of those are preferable to creating your own personal landfill area.
I would bed any direct burial stuff in sand and cover with sand so I wouldn't to worry about rocks. Take the shingles to the dump.
Yes those are great ideas if there were excess full shingles. However, these are the scraps from the new roof. Could take to the dump but would rather see them serve a purpose. I have heard they might be good to lay under a road.
matt_i
Well-known member
Donate to school so they can build birdhouses. Shingle scraps are good for creating a nice roof for the birds.
toplessHO
Well-known member
use them along a fence line to control weeds