That looks like hunching and not part of the main part of concrete which looks to have some sort of finish on it, the hunching should come up with a pick axe. Just be careful when prying up the concrete.
I'm no expert either but I would say this looks as though something stood on the concrete and then haunching was put around to secure it. Haunching is the ridge of concrete and is laid to support something that stands upright to stop it moving e.g. the side of a kerbstone, the edge of block paving. If there is any part of this where the armoured cable is not then I would try the hammer and bolster and see if you can prise some off. Work at the base, where the haunching joins the concrete slab. It may come away relatively easily or it may be stuck fast. Also, check you fuse box to see if you can identify the feed to the armoured cable and switch it off when working on the area, just to be on the safe side.
You’re absolutely right: there was decking laid on the concrete and the ridge ran around the side to support it. I’ll turn off all the electricity while I’m at it tomorrow just in case I damage the cable. Thank you very much for the advice.
"I got a builder in yesterday to take up decking which he did, and then
left. When I rang him he said that he won’t be able to come back for 6-8
weeks."
It's common practice with less honest builders to start several jobs at once so that they don't lose the jobs to another builder. Do enough that the customer is committed and come back later - hopefully.
Sorry about the delay: it took me over a week to build up to actually braving the queues to get into B&Q for my bolster but I did it!!! My neighbour’s nephew, God bless him, helped me with the concrete bit (well he did it all the concrete ramp thing to be honest!) and he tacked the cable onto the shed because no matter how hard I hit the clip things all I did was bend them. I couldn’t run the cable around the house because there was a drain in the way so I just buried it under the stones and covered the exposed bits with ready mixed concrete. Delighted isn’t the word!!! Next job is to fix the underneath of the shed because it has exposed blocks: sure now that I know how to mix concrete I’ll nearly chance that myself! Thank you all so very much for all the help: I thought I was going to end up in therapy with the stress and frustration of it.
It's common practice with less honest builders to start several jobs at once so that they don't lose the jobs to another builder. Do enough that the customer is committed and come back later - hopefully.
I think to be fair ... current circumstances, where the Lockdown has prevented most builders from getting on with the jobs they have booked into their diaries, have put many in a very difficult position and they are working like mad trying to please everyone ... having been involved in running a building business, I can well imagine what the phone calls from customers must be like at the moment 🤯
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Sorry about the delay: it took me over a week to build up to actually braving the queues to get into B&Q for my bolster but I did it!!! My neighbour’s nephew, God bless him, helped me with the concrete bit (well he did it all the concrete ramp thing to be honest!) and he tacked the cable onto the shed because no matter how hard I hit the clip things all I did was bend them. I couldn’t run the cable around the house because there was a drain in the way so I just buried it under the stones and covered the exposed bits with ready mixed concrete. Delighted isn’t the word!!! Next job is to fix the underneath of the shed because it has exposed blocks: sure now that I know how to mix concrete I’ll nearly chance that myself! Thank you all so very much for all the help: I thought I was going to end up in therapy with the stress and frustration of it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.