French drain

Annie1960

Do I need to get building control involvement or a building regs certificate for a French drain? The surveyor suggested this before I purchased my house recently, as there is a little damp at the back of the house because the patio is a little higher than the damp course, and rain water splashes onto the back wall.

Furts

Under no circumstances should the patio be higher than the dpc. But it is up to you on a french drain - do not involve Buiding Control. If you did they might condemn your patio levels.

DRP

I had a similar issue with a block paving drive at the front of the house i bought.

I removed the block paving about 25cm from the house, dug down to reveal the DPM (actually a bitumen layer as is a Victorian/Edwardian house), then edged it with those rope edging stones from b and q to tidy it up.

I didn't inform building control - i don't think it is really relevant to them.

Still not sure whether to fill the bottom of the trench with decorative chippings, cement screed, or put a leaf-prevention grate along the whole thing.

Annie1960

Thanks.

I have instructions from the surveyor about the dimension, shingle etc, I was just not sure about building regs involvement.