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[omega3000]

Someone mentioned in a post about having a pit making it much easier than waiting for a lift to go up and down to work on a car , do you need planning permission to have one and whats the best workable size pit to have ...guessing that some of you have them on here or worked in them 

[RobG]

Someone mentioned in a post about having a pit making it much easier than waiting for a lift to go up and down to work on a car , do you need planning permission to have one and whats the best workable size pit to have ...guessing that some of you have them on here or worked in them 

Wouldn`t have thought so it`s only a hole in the ground. Sizewise I`d go for around 2-2.5mtr x 8-900mm

[omega3000]

Someone mentioned in a post about having a pit making it much easier than waiting for a lift to go up and down to work on a car , do you need planning permission to have one and whats the best workable size pit to have ...guessing that some of you have them on here or worked in them 

Wouldn`t have thought so it`s only a hole in the ground. Sizewise I`d go for around 2-2.5mtr x 8-900mm

Well you know with all the health and safety croonies about you never know ..

[Tony H]

As as i'm aware you don't need planning permission. The main thing to be aware of is the fire hazard make sure that you have a fire extinguisher down there with you and also NEVER have the car you are working on should be left in gear or the hand brake be engaged, so if it hits the fan you can roll the car out of the way to effect an escape. I speak from experience.

[Marks DTM Calib]

From memory, no planning permission required but building regs are (no surpriise when you consider you are digging a hole inside supporting walls and effectively affecting the damp proof course

[cem_devecioglu]

From memory, no planning permission required but building regs are (no surpriise when you consider you are digging a hole inside supporting walls and effectively affecting the damp proof course

needs to be concrete..  must be enough wide to take big parts down , and car can be safely parked on it.. if you will be lonely a mirror may help..

[dad1uk]

Drainage is another problem. We had a rough one built at work and we had to install a pump to keep it empty!
Height is another contentious issue, evryone is slightly different as to the height they feel comfortable working at.
May be worth going to a local garage and ask if you could measure theirs and see if the depth works for you.

[Mr Skrunts]

Drainage is another problem. We had a rough one built at work and we had to install a pump to keep it empty!
Height is another contentious issue, evryone is slightly different as to the height they feel comfortable working at.
May be worth going to a local garage and ask if you could measure theirs and see if the depth works for you.

yes have seen pits fill with water, good idea to build a sump/drainage in one corner and make it big enogh to drop a hippo type pump in to clear it.

Also if you put mains sockets or any for of lighting down there then fir the outdoor types and covered sockets when not in use.

There are so many things you could do whilt digging it thats its worth putting plenty of thought in it. (Like a recessed area to put tools on)

[Mr Skrunts]

Someone mentioned in a post about having a pit making it much easier than waiting for a lift to go up and down to work on a car , do you need planning permission to have one and whats the best workable size pit to have ...guessing that some of you have them on here or worked in them 

Wouldn`t have thought so it`s only a hole in the ground. Sizewise I`d go for around 2-2.5mtr x 8-900mm

I would be measuring the track width before digging.

[omega3000]

A lot more things to consider , thanks for the info ..Who would have though that digging a hole in the ground
needs so much planning  So if the pit was inside a garage you would still get water of some sort seeping in through the pit walls ?

[tidla]

top edge/ width of my pit is 1 metre. the old austin mini sits nicely with an inch to spare on each tyre. 1/3 of the way down it reduces to 700mm.

Depth wise i went for 6 ft. i reduced this using blocks and slabs to a suitable depth for my height which also allows for a measure of drainage without you standing in the damp. A slight slope to one end with another recess/ collection point allows for a pump if you need it depending on local water table.

Length wise i give up at 4m,(dug by hand,recommend a mini digger) which is ok, but put a mig or jag over it and your guessing the last foot or so or turn the vehicle around.

As someone mentioned, allow an area for tools and lighting which do tend to get damaged.

When using, common sense prevails when it comes to naked flames/fuel tanks and fumes.

[horsecow]

They are def a good idea especially if you haven't got the readies for a lift, plus u can always cover it over with boards when not in use and then its not taking up any room!! Water is def a big issue but it depends on your local water table, you'll know once you start digging   

[aaronjb]

A lot more things to consider , thanks for the info ..Who would have though that digging a hole in the ground
needs so much planning  So if the pit was inside a garage you would still get water of some sort seeping in through the pit walls ?

Yes, you'd need an impermeable membrane between the pit wall and outside world, especially if the water table is high where you are.

Or fit a fibreglass pit liner and forget all the headaches - dig hole, drop liner in, backfill with concrete and rebar mesh. Job jobbed (Ok, good idea to run conduit & SWA in there for power & light, too)

http://mech-mate.co.uk/Motor-Pits.html

I have the 2.5m, if I were doing it again I'd go for 3 or 3.5m - basically as long as you can fit in the garage and still have 0.5m at the steps end (or both ends in the case of the 3.5m one).

[redelitev6]

Might be an idea to do a scan just to make sure no services are running through the area , hitting the electric mains would not be funny .

[omega3000]

A lot more things to consider , thanks for the info ..Who would have though that digging a hole in the ground
needs so much planning  So if the pit was inside a garage you would still get water of some sort seeping in through the pit walls ?

Yes, you'd need an impermeable membrane between the pit wall and outside world, especially if the water table is high where you are.

Or fit a fibreglass pit liner and forget all the headaches - dig hole, drop liner in, backfill with concrete and rebar mesh. Job jobbed (Ok, good idea to run conduit & SWA in there for power & light, too)

http://mech-mate.co.uk/Motor-Pits.html

I have the 2.5m, if I were doing it again I'd go for 3 or 3.5m - basically as long as you can fit in the garage and still have 0.5m at the steps end (or both ends in the case of the 3.5m one).

That fibreglass pit liner is a great idea , would save a lot of faffing about