New driveway sinking!

evoke

I had a new driveway installed late last year so it's only around 7 months old.

The installers put in a soakaway and there is now a small dip at approximately that location. I think this has been caused by me parking my car around there and leaving it for up to a week at a time. However, obviously, the driveway should be able to take the load of a standard car!

The dip is about 2-feet in diameter and has at the centre by about 2 inches so far.

The soakway had a 3-inch concrete 'lid' put on it before the sand and driveway blocks were laid.

I'm hoping it's not going to sink any further and was wondering if it is possible to do a local repair as it's a small dip in 100 square metres of driveway.

I really don't want the whole driveway relaid!

societys_child

If it's block paving, simply take up the sunken area, add a bit more sand and re-lay the blocks.

Freecall

I certainly don't see how you have 'caused' the problem.

If it's only 7 months old I would get the installer to come back and take a look.

Mr_Ted

Sounds like settlement but this shouldnt happen if the paving is laid correctly and a substantial compacted sub base is laid for the sand to be laid on?

The contractor should still be liable!

Adding more sand wont help as this will settle also, the layer underneith is what needs repair, and it should be able to do this in the localised area!

ian103

how was the soakaway constructed? if it was a concrete shaft of about 1m diameter with a circular concrete lid, this lid normally has an opening of about 600x600 for a manhole cover to fixed onto.

Radsteral

on my neighbourhood, se12, suddently a fella arrived to lay a driveway, and then he was all over the place.
being a builder myself, i resisted temptation for the price of 2700 to dig concrete of my 7mx12m driveway and install the stones as it seemed a bit less than half price and the sppeed they wwere working...1 driveway finished in 2 days

i was one of the few left on the street without doing it and gladd i didnt. 3 months now, the 2 neighbours already got belly up surfaces in 2-3 places .. i hope its not the same fella that installed yours

evoke

ian103 wrote: »

how was the soakaway constructed? if it was a concrete shaft of about 1m diameter with a circular concrete lid, this lid normally has an opening of about 600x600 for a manhole cover to fixed onto.

From what I gather it was just a big hole filled with half-bricks and the pipes leading from the Accodrains emtied into the hole. The top had a 3" concrete slab laid onto it before the sand and paving blocks.

So, probably not constructed properly so my car caused the ground to sink slightly.

There is no hope of getting the installer back as we had a falling out with them.

macman

Why? They are still liable, whether you fell out or not. Small claims process if they won't remedy the defect.

ColinFishwick

I agree with macman they are still liable. I would write to them offering them a chance to rectify this problem first. You might need a independent report to prove poor workmanship some where down the line if you go to small claims court