Can You Concrete Over a Drain?

You can concrete over a private drain that serves only your property, but there are important considerations and risks. If the drain is shared or public, you'll need a 'build over' agreement from the water company before any work can proceed. Building over drains without proper precautions can create serious problems when repairs are eventually needed.

What to Look For

• Private drains serving only your property: generally permitted but risky
• Shared or public sewers: requires a Build Over Agreement from the water company
• Building regulations apply to any structure over or near drains
• Access for future maintenance must be maintained (manholes, rodding points)
• CCTV survey usually required before a Build Over Agreement is granted
• Failure to get proper permissions can affect future property sales

How We Diagnose the Problem

Before concreting over any drain, we conduct a CCTV survey to assess the pipe's condition and confirm whether it's private, shared, or public. We provide the survey report needed for Build Over Agreement applications and advise on access provisions for future maintenance.

How We Fix It

If the drain is in good condition and properly constructed, building over it is usually straightforward. If defects are found, we recommend repairing them before building work proceeds — it's much cheaper to fix a drain before concrete goes over it than after.