Outside ground level too high? Recommendations

NewtoDIY

I'm wondering whether there are any damp specialists out there that will read this and advise and/or offer opinions on this predicament?

We think that the entire outside ground surface level is too high and has probably bridged the DPC. The front of the house is fine with a surface which slopes downwards away from the house. There are two steps down inside the house as you get to the back rooms and I feel fairly confident that the ground level at the back and sides need to be lowered.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y443/diyuserneedshelp2013/20131027_115103-Copy_zpsf7a9127a.jpg

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y443/diyuserneedshelp2013/20131027_115045-Copy_zps490fe735.jpg

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y443/diyuserneedshelp2013/20131027_115016-Copy_zps6c6670c8.jpg

On one side of the house, there is a concrete ramp (pictures). We were thinking about breaking into this and the rest of the perimeter and trying to install some sort of French drain or gravel channel. My concern is why someone would have made such an obvious mistake with the raised concrete ramp, and whether there are any structural implications? There has been no signs of movement but if I were to dig out a French drain trench alongside the house perimeter and fill it with gravel, could that jeopardise the foundations and cause the house (1890) to move?

Thanks in advance

anotherbaldrick

Are you stating this concern because of signs of dampness on the inside ? Is the DPC level at the top of brick coursing where pointing is a darker grey (Waterproof Cement ?)

First thoughts is I would jet off that moss and try and get brickwork to dry out around the ramp, is it very exposed to the weather in that spot ?

Jaynne

When we brought our house the surveyor recommended a french drain due to the driveway having been built so far. Fortunately it was relatively easy due to it being monoblock but shouldn't be too hard to do the same with the right tools in concrete.

System

Jaynne wrote: »

When we brought our house.

must have been difficult to move that...

op, tbh, it's just a terrible detail, probably done because it was the easiest/cheapest way to put a path in!
A gravel drain would be best way to rectify imo

Jaynne

the_r_sole wrote: »

must have been difficult to move that...

op, tbh, it's just a terrible detail, probably done because it was the easiest/cheapest way to put a path in!
A gravel drain would be best way to rectify imo

We liked the house but not the neighbours

http://realestate.msn.com//slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=13108508

NewtoDIY

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Are you stating this concern because of signs of dampness on the inside ? Is the DPC level at the top of brick coursing where pointing is a darker grey (Waterproof Cement ?)

First thoughts is I would jet off that moss and try and get brickwork to dry out around the ramp, is it very exposed to the weather in that spot ?

There is very mild dampness signs inside this room but probably being kept at bay because of a dehumidifier which runs on auto permanently. The wall was newly plastered and painted last year and there is one spot only about 20cm above the skirting boards which is a bit powdery when I run my finger across it.

At the back of the house on the other side (where there is no ramp), there are definite signs of dampness. I noticed that the plaster was done all the way to the floor (concrete).

Yes I think the DPC is where the darker coloured bricks are but it is hard to tell - that's what I'm assuming. In the photo where you can see the corner of the house, I think the dark bricks are clear on the back of the house and get swallowed up by the ramp on the side.

NewtoDIY

Jaynne wrote: »

When we brought our house the surveyor recommended a french drain due to the driveway having been built so far. Fortunately it was relatively easy due to it being monoblock but shouldn't be too hard to do the same with the right tools in concrete.

I've been thinking this but then also been reading about French drains that should be 1m away from the foundations so as not to compromise them. This seems to defeat the object IMO but because it's an old house with shallow foundations, I don't want to do something that endangers it.

NewtoDIY

There also must have been an original door at this point in the past. This photo shows what must be the original outside step - it's been buried in the tarmac!

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y443/diyuserneedshelp2013/20131028_145106-Copy_zpsa2bdd8f3.jpg

Presumably this means that the original ground level would have been a good 15cm below this step? The only thing is that the garden as it is now is level so I'm wondering if at some point in the past, a previous owner decided that they wanted it all on the same level and without a step-up to the garden?

SailorSam

You would have thought that whenever you bought the house the surveyor would have picked that up and put it in his report.

NewtoDIY

SailorSam wrote: »

You would have thought that whenever you bought the house the surveyor would have picked that up and put it in his report.

I'll have to have another read-through. To be fair, his survey was very substantial and we've now rectified almost all the points in it.

SG27

We have an aco drain that runs around two sides of the house. It channels the water away into the drain. Which wouldn't be too hard to fit something similar there and channel it into your drain in the corner.

We have no DPC at all and no real damp.