Concrete path causing damp

Odster

Hi there,

I've got a problem with damp walls and rotten joists in our hallway, by the front door. Outside there is a concrete path leading up to the front door which appears to be bridging the gap between the ground and the damp proof course of the house.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to solve this? I'm considering drilling out a channel so there's a gap between the house and the concrete plinth. My only concern is that there's a gas pipe that lies across the top of the concrete, then into the house. If I remove some of the concrete, the pipe will not be resting on anything so could be vulnerable to damage.

I'm wondering if there's any other damp proofing option that would involve keeping the concrete in tact?

ormus

you could remove some of the concrete path and apply some DPC (ie bitumen), from the DPC line to under/below the path level.
and then repair the concrete path.

re the gas pipe. i would fix it to the wall too. or alter it to below/inside the concrete path.

Odster

ormus wrote: »

you could remove some of the concrete path and apply some DPC (ie bitumen), from the DPC line to under/below the path level.
and then repair the concrete path.

re the gas pipe. i would fix it to the wall too. or alter it to below/inside the concrete path.

that sounds like a good option. I could easily set the pipe into the concrete when I restore it after damp proofing.

thanks

ormus

good.
remember to sleeve the gas pipe.
ie place it inside another pipe, 15mm inside a 22mm.

esubbs

Hi there, another option would be to create a channel to a depth below the DPC and fill with shale or other gravelly material. This then drains to below the DPC but would still provide some support to the pipe...

Odster

ormus wrote: »

good.
remember to sleeve the gas pipe.
ie place it inside another pipe, 15mm inside a 22mm.

yes of course, will do.

Odster

esubbs wrote: »

Hi there, another option would be to create a channel to a depth below the DPC and fill with shale or other gravelly material. This then drains to below the DPC but would still provide some support to the pipe...

yes, that was along the lines of my initial thought. I worry that a gravelly material may not offer as much support as it currently has, particularly as it runs along the front door so it gets a lot of traffic.