13-07-12, 11:09 PM
Thanks for all the input.
Trying to figure this out.
I think I'm going with option 1 - French drain style. Yesterday I was for two, today I'm thinking 1 :book
What I'm thinking now - as I dig.
I'm going to tank the wall. More expensive but easier than re-pointing. No there's no DPM whatsoever, and though I've no way of telling for sure, it's unlikely there's a DPM through the concrete base either - if there is it's breaking down.
So if I dig down right to the bottom of the base for the porus pipe (laid on top of a few inches of chip), which is just there to connect with the proper drains at the front of the garage, any build up of water pressure should go to the drain and not draw through the base. At the moment it does draw but only after very heavy rain.
Then line the back of my trench with heavy barrier cloth (will let water through but stop soil getting down to my drain). Fill trench with cheapest available chips (I'm told these are available by the tonne fairly inexpensively) Maybe some more cloth on top, some soil and slab it with a few inches gap to the garage.
I'll get a builder in to do the tanking, fit the drain, do the slabbing etc. I'm just getting the cost down a good bit by doing initial donkey work. So I'll check all this with the builder and get a quote.
Purplebear7 - There is a line of small drain holes lower down on that wall. But I've never seen any water coming out. Plus a drain has been installed for the guttering of the wee conservatory. Now if it's been done right there should be a French drain or similar running from the lawn to the conservatory drain (maybe, maybe not!). Now I know from digging my trench the soil is holding a lot of water, but in the 18mnths I've been here, so far there's been no serious water logging. And it rains a lot here in Ayrshire!
But anyway a longer term plan is to knock that silly wee conservatory down and build a decent sized one or maybe sun house. So you can be sure, now I think I know about drains, there'll be a proper set up when that bit of land is re-landscaped to take the new sun house (if I find the cash) and even if I have to dig it myself.
Once again thanks for the input. And if I'm missing some do let us know. Much appreciated.
There is guttering to drain on the garage. Which reminds me, it's about time I invested in a big ladder and did all my gutters!
We did have a dry spell recently, and almost got the garden hose out, but then the rian came again. Dry spells here are very rare. I think our last hose pipe ban was 1976.
Trying to figure this out.
I think I'm going with option 1 - French drain style. Yesterday I was for two, today I'm thinking 1 :book
What I'm thinking now - as I dig.
I'm going to tank the wall. More expensive but easier than re-pointing. No there's no DPM whatsoever, and though I've no way of telling for sure, it's unlikely there's a DPM through the concrete base either - if there is it's breaking down.
So if I dig down right to the bottom of the base for the porus pipe (laid on top of a few inches of chip), which is just there to connect with the proper drains at the front of the garage, any build up of water pressure should go to the drain and not draw through the base. At the moment it does draw but only after very heavy rain.
Then line the back of my trench with heavy barrier cloth (will let water through but stop soil getting down to my drain). Fill trench with cheapest available chips (I'm told these are available by the tonne fairly inexpensively) Maybe some more cloth on top, some soil and slab it with a few inches gap to the garage.
I'll get a builder in to do the tanking, fit the drain, do the slabbing etc. I'm just getting the cost down a good bit by doing initial donkey work. So I'll check all this with the builder and get a quote.
Quote:The low wall in front of that lawn has no (low level) drainage 'holes' in it that I can see .. so the water can't get away by flowing out from the area.
Purplebear7 - There is a line of small drain holes lower down on that wall. But I've never seen any water coming out. Plus a drain has been installed for the guttering of the wee conservatory. Now if it's been done right there should be a French drain or similar running from the lawn to the conservatory drain (maybe, maybe not!). Now I know from digging my trench the soil is holding a lot of water, but in the 18mnths I've been here, so far there's been no serious water logging. And it rains a lot here in Ayrshire!
But anyway a longer term plan is to knock that silly wee conservatory down and build a decent sized one or maybe sun house. So you can be sure, now I think I know about drains, there'll be a proper set up when that bit of land is re-landscaped to take the new sun house (if I find the cash) and even if I have to dig it myself.
Once again thanks for the input. And if I'm missing some do let us know. Much appreciated.
Quote:or, better still, in to a tank so you can water the garden with it?
There is guttering to drain on the garage. Which reminds me, it's about time I invested in a big ladder and did all my gutters!
We did have a dry spell recently, and almost got the garden hose out, but then the rian came again. Dry spells here are very rare. I think our last hose pipe ban was 1976.