Conduits to carry potential future works, including lighting and irrigation are an essential part of any Landscape project, yet are very often overlooked by the Designer, Contractor and Client, usually because they have not been considered due to costs or lack of fore thought by anyone.
It is somewhat too late to try to either take up the footpath, tunnel under the walling foundations or mole drain under the driveway without costing a lot of money and aggravation.
By installing sections of 75mm plastic pipe – downpipe is ideal – under the foundations or base material (never set the conduit into the concrete, as this will compromise the strength), from one side to the other, in as many places as you consider necessary, you will save a great deal of grief in the future!
Each pipe to be fitted with colour coded (either different colour or type of string – always use something very strong and durable, such as builder line) set of lines, usually three, with the ends secured with pieces of bamboo cane, terminating just beyond the foundation.
These draw lines may be utilised at any time to pull through pipeworks or electrical cables. 75mm is the minimum dimension to allow three such cables without snagging mid pipe.
A very simple tip, costing very little, but saving a lot of time and money.