Drilling a home in neighbour’s driveway

[ZoolInMyFridge]

Our recently bereaved neighbour is very vulnerable and we have offered to help her out. Her gate is sticking, and it needs a drop bolt installed. This will involve drilling down into her driveway. We’ve offered to do the job - and we’ve drawn pictures/diagrams to show we need to drill into her driveway. She wants us to do it, but I’m still not sure she understands? Do we do it, or tell her to ask a professional?

What makes you believe she doesn't understand?
I understand she's vulnerable but assuming you know her, in what way does this prevent her from comprehending?
If anything, her asking a professional would put her in an even worse predicament. Thinking Mr Cowboy might convince her the gate needs replacing. Not every tradesmen or even most of course...but those who are seem to have a knack for finding the most vulnerable...

@IliveonCoffee I think English is her second language. I think - if our fix doesn’t work - she’ll see us as damaging her driveway. She recently complained to us that her window cleaner had scraped her car (we could see any marks), and that the pigeons were destroying her fence (we’d put a bird feeder up in our garden).

*couldn’t

She already thinks a cowboy has conned her when replacing the gate lock (the lock is fine) - she just can’t open the gate because it’s sticking (hence the drop bolt).

I wouldn't get involved if I were you only because if things go wrong you'll be to blame

If you do go ahead, and I wouldn't personally, make sure she signs a disclaimer. Would be so easy for a family member/friend to claim you've damaged a pipe or something running under the house which has caused problems inside the house. If you do go ahead, take photos/video for your own protection. If she doesn't fully understand and is already accusing people of damage this could be a whole world of pain.

How will a drop bolt stop the gate sticking ? I also wouldn’t do it as it’s bound to be wrong and bound to be your fault .

I probably wouldnt either, only because there could be unseen problems and it will be your fault. What if the drive cracks? I only say this as both myself and DP have recently done jobs for our elderly DMs and both have now started telling people that we have 'broken' things. We havent, but, its their perception.
Its almost got to the point where we are thinking, never again, they can pay someone!

I think - if our fix doesn’t work - she’ll see us as damaging her driveway
If you don't know 100%that this is the solution don't go near her drive.
I can't see how a drop bolt will do anything for a gate that is sticking are you sure it isn't a hindge problem?

No good deed goes unpunished!

Thank you!! Urgh, perhaps we shouldn’t...Double gate. Basically she can’t open one gate because as she moves one gate, the other one sticks to it. The drop lock will stop this gate from moving with the other gate. DP feels confident that it’s a super simple job, will work - and will only effect one small brick rather than a slab... However I’m the one who has the verbal conversations with her - and it’s almost like an attention seeking/persecution complex? But she has no-one, I feel extremely sorry for her, we want to help. Of course we are not charging her for any of this - and DP is v good at DIY....

I might get DP to get his drill, and clearly demonstrate what he is about to do before doing it...and if she screams, we stop!

No good deed goes unpunished!

This, I'm the first to help anyone who needs it but I've had to learn to rein myself in when it's obvious there's potential for it to backfire and this is one of those situations.

There may well be a reason she appears all e. Possibly no, but there could be if she is of an accusatory nature.