If contractor digs and breaks work another contractor has done, who is responsible?

Did he have a way of knowing it was there?

Did you sign a contract? If so, you better read it, if not I wouldn't pay the repair work.

1) depends what the contract says

2) depends on if the field drain pipe was installed in the correct location and if it’s shown in the drawings

3) depends on if the electrical contractor had access to all below grade drawings depicting potential interferences

But since this was just a home gig there probably wasn’t a good contract that governs this situation, probably no drawings and y’all are probably going to be arguing over $1500-$2000 at most

Why was he digging so hard he broke it? I’m also confused on what he was doing? Was this a new build? What was he trying to hook up underground?

811 only works for municipal side of utilities. Not for private side of utilities.

Power to the meter. Anything after that is private
Water to the meter. Anything after that is private
Sewer stub up from main “aka house connection” everything after that is private

Regardless, contractor damaging line is responsible for repairs

Contractors are stupid sometimes.

Years ago when I was working for a commercial GC I had a little concrete company my boss loved. The guy did shoddy work on anything aside from sidewalks. Had him pour a 6’ elevated handicapped ramp. His forms gave out on the vertical wall and the top was about 3’ wider than the bottom. Looked like shite. Had to tear it all out and redo it.

Dude sends me a bill for both pours. I called him and told him I wasn’t paying the first invoice because he screwed it up and I had to have it redone.

He tells me “You pay me to pour concrete. I poured concrete.” I told him “No, I pay you to pour concrete correctly. You only did that once.”

The nerve of people right? Dude hounded me for months and then stopped. Never filed suit. We had a contract and we had a worksmanship clause in it. I knew we were clean. I paid him for the second pour and deducted the extra concrete I had to buy out of his payment. But that was one of those that’s always stuck with me.

If you didn't tell him where drain field was, how was he supposed to know? I mean if he hit your irrigation lines, would you expect him to fix those as well?

quote:

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How do you determine where things are underground on your property?

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By using what is called a T-Probe and either a hammer or a mallet. You pound a metal stick into the ground to see if you get any resistance. Very inexpensive and quick to do in shallow soils.

Simply put, the electrical contractor cut a corner.

811 Will not locate sewer as its not able to be located with the equipment they carry, also by digging without locates in any regards by law he is in wrong. secondly if the pipe was not damaged upon his arrival but was damaged upon his leaving then you have him by the nuts to do as you please. Its only a question of how far he wants to take it before he bends the knee.