Help New patio and damp course

TCPPC
TCPPC Posts: 142 Forumite
Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
Hi

ive just had a new block paving install. the slope starts at 100 -120mm from ground level to damp course.

the contractor says its okay but i read that minimum is 150mm. what should i do? i dont want any damp issue later on.

another way i was told i can get away is, to remove the first brick from the wall and create a channel alongside the wall with stones acting or aco channel drain to act as drainage?

how do you upload picture?
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Comments

  • Lorian
    Lorian Posts: 6,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Post a picture.
  • konark
    konark Posts: 1,260 Forumite
    4 or 5 inches below dpc is fine, I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Apparently it's 6 inches because the rain can occassionally splash up that high when it hits the flags!
  • TCPPC
    TCPPC Posts: 142 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 21 June 2015 at 9:27PM
    http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2iari9v&s=8
    sorry you might need to change the view a bit
    the dark brick and sand is ground level
  • andrewf75
    andrewf75 Posts: 10,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Sounds to me like they have cocked this up. 10-12cm is not going to cause an issue because the nature of regulations is such that they are over-generous

    But someone - like a surveyor when you come to sell - may pick up on it and it might cause problems.

    150mm below damp proof course is pretty basic stuff that any contractor should know and follow.
  • Gordon_Hose
    Gordon_Hose Posts: 6,259 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    It's not likely to cause any damp issues in your house, but it may be brought up on a survey when you come to sell.

    You can either ask the contractor to do it as per the reg and lower it 30mm, or install a french drain full of pea shingle.
  • TCPPC
    TCPPC Posts: 142 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 22 June 2015 at 6:02PM
    just a quick update.
    i spoken to the surveyor they advise it wouldnt be a major no no but just not ideal, as long as the water is running away from the house and doesnt cause any dampness.

    ive ask the contractor to use a plate compactor to try and lower it a bit more which hopefully wont be long. as the weather is just not suitable for paving at the moment. this is my last resort if dont work im not sure what to do.
  • TCPPC
    TCPPC Posts: 142 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    i presume he had to just get the sand in for the rest of the area and even if it lower by 1cm.

    if worst case i will remove the bricks lay for the first 2 layer and put gravel in

    or raise the damp course, i measure the wall. its 200 cm so hopefully not too expensive if needed?
  • TCPPC
    TCPPC Posts: 142 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    do Darth Vader

    whats the best options if your opinion?

    with the gravel i thought that can act as a barrier to prevent it moving as its not a high traffic area. small patio most likely to be use by the cats more than human ready.
  • tony6403
    tony6403 Posts: 1,257 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You could just apply some water seal to the course of bricks above dpc. E.g.
    http://www.thompsonsweatherproofing.co.uk/products/product.jsp?id=1
    Forgotten but not gone.
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,064 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    TCPPC wrote: »
    do Darth Vader

    whats the best options if your opinion?

    with the gravel i thought that can act as a barrier to prevent it moving as its not a high traffic area. small patio most likely to be use by the cats more than human ready.

    You'd just get the contractor to re-bed the new edge in mortar. It's not a huge deal.

    They'd need to cut the blocks to form a clean edge anyway, or create a new edge if you'd had soldiers put in around it. You wouldn't want to just remove random blocks - it would look unfinished.

    I don't think it's high enough to the DPC to bother. It won't affect house value - and if it's running away from the wall, a french drain sounds like overkill.

    Don't expect much from the compactor. If it drops much, it won't have been compacted correctly to start with.
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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