Building regs - who is to blame?

bouicca21

Is it the extension that is the problem or the patio breaching/being too near the dpc?

Davesnave

cjbroadway wrote: »

The patio was built against the wall and filled with soil. As a result the kitchen is now filled with mould and damp. We have since dug this out and putting in a drainage system.

Patios don't need building regs.

There might be a significant problem with any type of extension wall if the DPC is compromised by soil and hardcore being piled against it.

You should find that once remedial action is taken, things will improve. There are millions of people living contentedly enough in houses without cavity walls.

societys_child

No answer on when the extension was built?

It does sound like the patio above the dpc has caused your problems.

cjbroadway

We think the extension was built 15 years ago. I completely agree that now we've taken the patio away it should resolve. I was just hoping - as it has all been really expensive that we could try to get compensation from either the solicitor or the surveyor - I think, from reading all the responses that we were a bit ridiculous not checking it all ourselves. We are just new to it all and should probably have read more about buying homes! I will do in future though!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply.

AdrianC

Removing the patio wasn't needed - just clearing a gap between the patio and house, and getting some way of getting water away.

Lift the nearest slabs, dig a trench, install a French drain (porous membrane, perforated pipe, gravel) taking it out to the nearest soakaway or surface drain, relay slabs, perhaps with a bit trimmed off the end, depending on the exact layout. A day at most.

Hoploz

Sounds like you've done the right thing - you've identified the actual cause of the damp problem and sorted it.

I would be wondering why the surveyor didn't pick up the fact that the patio was built too high causing damp, rather than the way the extension was built.

But it's just one to notch up to experience really.