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What a nightmare - utility company tearing up MY lawn!

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DA Quality Lawn & YS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Guys,

Talking my OWN lawn here - absolute nightmare.
Just topdressed and overseeded my front lawn this fall, to where next season she would be lookin good.

THEN, come to rudely find out that, due to the new home being built across the street from me, the gas utility will have to run a line from the house UNDER the street and 10 feet into my yard. I was so ticked about that, after I put $$ and sweat equity into the lawn this fall. Unfortunately, no way around it, utility company says I could get fined for 'obstructing' their work if I don't let them run the line. Good grief.....

At any rate, as any utility will do, they will tear the heck out of my lawn and leave a rock-laden dirt pile behind. What do you guys propose I do with that mess yet this fall? Should I level it and dormant seed so I will have something early next spring? Or just rake up as good as possible and re-sod next spring?

The utility company WILL re-seed the torn up area for me BUT you know what that means (throw some cheap seed on the dirt from Home Depot or something). So, I will probably be footing the bill myself because I am picky about the products used to restore my lawn.

Any thoughts.....?
 
#2 ·
Dig the hole yourself. Use a sod cutter to remove the sod. Rent a mini ex, put the dirt in your dump trailer. When they're done cover it back up and replace the sod.

Should be relatively simple for a landscape contractor.

Lay down 3/4 ply around the trench for them to work on.
 
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#3 ·
DA Quality Lawn & YS said:
Guys,

Talking my OWN lawn here - absolute nightmare.
Just topdressed and overseeded my front lawn this fall, to where next season she would be lookin good.

THEN, come to rudely find out that, due to the new home being built across the street from me, the gas utility will have to run a line from the house UNDER the street and 10 feet into my yard. I was so ticked about that, after I put $$ and sweat equity into the lawn this fall. Unfortunately, no way around it, utility company says I could get fined for 'obstructing' their work if I don't let them run the line. Good grief.....

At any rate, as any utility will do, they will tear the heck out of my lawn and leave a rock-laden dirt pile behind. What do you guys propose I do with that mess yet this fall? Should I level it and dormant seed so I will have something early next spring? Or just rake up as good as possible and re-sod next spring?

The utility company WILL re-seed the torn up area for me BUT you know what that means (throw some cheap seed on the dirt from Home Depot or something). So, I will probably be footing the bill myself because I am picky about the products used to restore my lawn.

Any thoughts.....?
Click to expand...
in my area, they do a good job cleaning up after themselves. New topsoil and seed. Just give them the seed you want to use. Not much of a problem here.
 
#4 ·
same thing by me, they leave a big mess, i replace a 20ft by 150 ft section in my backyard a few years ago, last year the gas company came to replace a line in the street behind my house, well they tore up everything, parked their equipment on our yard and even dumped gravel and sand on it to. called the town and they wouldn't do nothing cause their is an easement
 
#5 ·
The only do as well as they do because of - courtesy. That is not your property when a utility runs through it.
How many feet from the center of the road does the state own, in your state?
 
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#6 ·
I say just let them do their thing. Like Hanau said, cut out the sod where they are going to dig and replace it when their done. I wouldn't go as far as digging the hole and all of that nonsense but I would at least cut the sod out. You also might want to contact the county you live in because around here they sub out all of the soil work and seeding to a LCO, they might give you some cash if you tell them you will fix they mess yourself (it save them from sending another crew out).
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Danscapes said:
I say just let them do their thing. Like Hanau said, cut out the sod where they are going to dig and replace it when their done. I wouldn't go as far as digging the hole and all of that nonsense but I would at least cut the sod out. You also might want to contact the county you live in because around here they sub out all of the soil work and seeding to a LCO, they might give you some cash if you tell them you will fix they mess yourself (it save them from sending another crew out).
Click to expand...
Good thoughts guys. I agree I won't be digging the hole, I don't want to get another earful from these jokers. I could cut the sod out though, would take me like 15 minutes and I would get to keep my sod. QUESTION - since it is like almost December here, the sod probably will not take again anyway, right? (it HAS been a warmer than normal November). So, whats the use of saving the sod if it won't make it thru the winter??

Also, these utilities are A JOKE - running a gas line 15 feet from your front window thru your lawn. Put the dang thing on public property for peats sake.
 
#8 ·
DA Quality Lawn & YS said:
Guys,

Talking my OWN lawn here - absolute nightmare.
Just topdressed and overseeded my front lawn this fall, to where next season she would be lookin good.

THEN, come to rudely find out that, due to the new home being built across the street from me, the gas utility will have to run a line from the house UNDER the street and 10 feet into my yard. I was so ticked about that, after I put $$ and sweat equity into the lawn this fall. Unfortunately, no way around it, utility company says I could get fined for 'obstructing' their work if I don't let them run the line. Good grief.....

At any rate, as any utility will do, they will tear the heck out of my lawn and leave a rock-laden dirt pile behind. What do you guys propose I do with that mess yet this fall? Should I level it and dormant seed so I will have something early next spring? Or just rake up as good as possible and re-sod next spring?

The utility company WILL re-seed the torn up area for me BUT you know what that means (throw some cheap seed on the dirt from Home Depot or something). So, I will probably be footing the bill myself because I am picky about the products used to restore my lawn.

Any thoughts.....?
Click to expand...
Take a picture blow it up to 8 by 10, attach it to a letter informing them that this is what you want your lawn to look like when they are done. Give the PIC ( Person In Charge ) a copy and send a copy to thier higher ups. You have a resonable expectation that your life will not be disrupted to make anothers better. Make a point of that.
 
#9 ·
my experience in doing this type of work I will say the peoples yards that are good to work with and get along with get a great job done, the people that want to be a-holes about get it done. Work with them and you will get it back in shape, screw with them and you will be on hear fussing more.
 
#10 ·
DA Quality Lawn & YS said:
Good thoughts guys. I agree I won't be digging the hole, I don't want to get another earful from these jokers. I could cut the sod out though, would take me like 15 minutes and I would get to keep my sod. QUESTION - since it is like almost December here, the sod probably will not take again anyway, right? (it HAS been a warmer than normal November). So, whats the use of saving the sod if it won't make it thru the winter??
Click to expand...
At least try to cut and save the sod. After they are done re-lay. If it dies it will be at the minimum ground cover and help to blend the yard together for the winter months so you don't have an open sore in the lawn.(it will all be brown anyways)

In the spring, overseed over the sod and you'll be good to go.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
JB1 said:
my experience in doing this type of work I will say the peoples yards that are good to work with and get along with get a great job done, the people that want to be a-holes about get it done. Work with them and you will get it back in shape, screw with them and you will be on hear fussing more.
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If you knew how they treated me you would be calling them the a-h not me.
They were complete jerks, I don't allow that on my property, yelling at me on my own lawn.

I think I am going to keep the sod and just roll er on when they leave.
I can't wait till there done and out of here, good riddance.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
VO Landscape Design said:
Same type of thing in my front and side yard. Looked like crap when they were done. Tried to fix as best I could but now the ground sinks in different spots. They didn't fill correctly.
VO
Click to expand...
I fully expect this type of shoddy work to occur, thats why I am going to save the sod and at least have some cover up over the winter.

I just don't understand how a homeowner can have a marketable property, and a utility can come and tear up the land and leave it in a state less than that which previously existed. THEY are cutting into MY potential sales price by doing that. PLUS, I will have to foot the bill to repair the damage because these people can't be trusted to properly repair damage for which THEY caused.
 
#15 ·
Save your self a lot of greaf let them do there work make them do a good clean up let it settle over the winter and fix it your self you will be happier
I use to be a utility contractor and have been though this many times i have dug up more yards than you can shake a stick at
GOOD LUCK
Charles Cue
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Guys, if I can ask - if I am to remove the sod, how wide of swath should I cut out to allow for the digging. In other words, how wide do they typically ruin with their digging? (utility is digging down a residential gas line and connecting with the gas main which runs thru my yard - T connection).
 
#17 ·
Go to your gas meter with a small trowel. Scrape away enough dirt to expose the PVC coming out of the ground. What diameter is it? That will dictate trench size.
 
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#18 ·
i had this happen a few year s back with the water co. they ran new main accros the street(thank god) and ran all new up to the meter in my yard. i just had them leave a nice pile of good dirt in place and told them i would fix it myself. they were more than happy to do so as it would save them time and money. all worked out well and you could never tell in myyard, cant say the same for everyone elses yards!
 
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#20 ·
I am so glad I don't live in the city. I could not tolerate some city worker coming onto my property with a foul mouth and a chip on his shoulder. I am very easy to get along with and feel that I am willing to work with people who are willing to work with me. City workers often times are the ones that have no personality at all.

I am helping my brother in law this week finish his basement in Grand Rapids, MI. I have never met better city inspectors than these. Very helpfull and loaded with common sense, at least the three guys that came here were great. I wish that were the case everywhere.
 
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