New house problems

Davesnave

brit1234 wrote: »

Where I don't usually like new builds you can't blame the builders for this.

Of course you can blame the builders! They were the bu99ers who drove diggers & dump trucks all over the site, then spread a bit of topsoil, laid turf and hoped that would pass muster.

This sort of thing has been been an issue for years, probably because most people either just put up with it, or shrug their shoulders and sort it out themselves.

Doesn't mean it's right or acceptable.

phill99

The builders a have a 24 month defects liability from the day you completed on the sale. Then there is a 10 year warranty from the NHBC on the property.

Rest assured, however, that the gardens are specifically excluded from both of these and you wil struggle to get the builders to deal with the problem.

VfM4meplse

cattie wrote: »

Practically the whole of London & it's suburbs is built on clay soils to give you an indication of just how common a clay soil is.

However, relatively few have gardens with drainage problems. There's a big difference between a bit of moss on the lawn and a water-logged garden.

prosaver

water-logged garden could cause subsidence

iwilldoitthistime

I had exactly the same problem - my builder wouldnt believe me until I asked them to come and see a hole I had dug to put a plant in. 15 mins after I had dug the hole, it was full of water. I left it for them to see it.

I persevered and they eventually put in a french drain all the way across the top of the garden and down the side to the main drain. then they returfed.

My advice - keep on at them. It doesnt cost anything except your time and will save you hundreds if they agree to do it.

andy.m_2

grow roses, they love clay.

Good luck going after the developer, I think you may struggle, price up a french drain and move the problem next door.

chib

andy.m wrote: »

grow roses, they love clay.

Good luck going after the developer, I think you may struggle, price up a french drain and move the problem next door.

Glad I'm not your neighbour!

mildred1978

We have the same issue at ours. House is 10 years old.

We installed a French drain system a few years back and then had the garden relandscaped after some building works. To have the lawn levelled and replaced cost £1.5k. Having a foot or do excavated, then gravel, topsoil and new lawn would have been £6k.

Davesnave

andy.m wrote: »

grow roses, they love clay.

Good luck going after the developer, I think you may struggle, price up a french drain and move the problem next door.

Maybe. On some sites that might be possible, but one cannot move an entire water table next door!

Drainage isn't something which is best dealt with piecemeal; it would be much easier & cheaper if builders were required to do it as part of site preparation in vulnerable places.

Sugared-frog

Davesnave wrote: »

Of course you can blame the builders! They were the bu99ers who drove diggers & dump trucks all over the site, then spread a bit of topsoil, laid turf and hoped that would pass muster.

I agree. Having lived next to a development site I've seen what they do. For months they go over the land with their dumper trucks, large lorries, cement lorries, telescopic handlers etc whether it is dry or wet. The rubble that builds up around the house gets compacted down. Then as the house nears completion they slap a small amount of soil on top of the rubble and top it off with some grass.

Doesn't matter if it is clay or not - it is a layer of grass above compacted rubble.