water pooling round my front door

KaratePigeon

Over the last few weeks we've noticed that in wet weather there is a big puddle, 1-2 inches deep water collecting outside the front of my house right in front of my door. We are the end terrace and on a bit of a slope with us at the lowest end.

It might be a coincidence but a few weeks ago my next door neighbour cleared out their overgrown garden and replaced it with membrane with wood chippings on top. Do you think the water could be running off this towards our house? Should the membrane not be water-permeable (and wood chips a bit absorbent?)

I will speak to them nicely, just wondered if this was the likely reason before I go asking them to do something about it - and if so what do I suggest? (Neither of us wants to spend much money as we've just accepted an offer on our house, and theirs is on the market, but I don't want to just leave it)

What else could be causing it? I know our guttering needs cleaning out as I can see little plants growing out of it (!) but it doesn't seem to be related. Drainage is generally poor round here, clay soil and loads of leaves this time of year blocking up all the drains

bris

It's doubt full, even with their water running in your direction it should not pool. Water will settle at you door regardless as rain gets everywhere and if you have a dip then it will settle in this dip no matter what your neighbours do with their garden.


It's more likely that the ground has undergone a bit settlement recently causing the ground under your front door to dip slightly.


You will need to bring it back up to it's normal level, how you do this will dependon the type of path you have at your front door.

KaratePigeon

Thanks for the reply. Bit worrying if there is settlement? this area does have some subsidence issues

The path is just concrete slabs, shall we try and lift a couple and put some sand or something underneath?

KaratePigeon

https://photos.app.goo.gl/znK32tju4RdGDzQB2

Tried to add a photo. It's hard to see as the water is so clear, but there is about an inch of water over the concrete. I've been sweeping away the water onto the lawn but it keeps coming back, even when it was a dry sunny day yesterday. It's also unusually clear so I'm concerned it's coming from the water supply somewhere.

I'm not sure what that cut-off grey pipe is for, with the cable going down it, but the water seems to be coming up through it.

Any thoughts? should I try and dig down and see what's going on (I've got no idea what to look for?)

sevenhills

KaratePigeon wrote: »

Tried to add a photo.

404. That’s an error.

KaratePigeon

sorry, edited the link, hope it worked

EssexExile

The grey pipe is for telecoms, water shouldn't come up it.
There's no way we can tell where the water is coming from but looking at the mortar by the brown downpipe is been wet a while.

KaratePigeon

Ok I will call someone tomorrow - builder rather than a plumber? who fixes that kind of stuff? If it turns out to be coming from my neighbour's property (the puddle is mostly on our side but does go over the boundary a little bit) are they under any obligation to pay for some of it?

Aylesbury_Duck

Have you spoken to your neighbour about it? They may agree to go half on the initial investigation.

DaftyDuck

For this reason alone

. as we've just accepted an offer on our house

You would be very wise not to approach the neighbour, and not to call a builder. Yes, investigate further yourselves, but approaching a neighbour might just initiate a dispute you'd have to declare, and what will the builder find?

Think carefully before you act....

Frankly, I would loosen the gravel where your bin is, give the water somewhere to drain. Oh, and clear your own gutters!

Slinky

Where is the nearest underground BT box in the street. We had a new BT landline put in to our house, in a different position to where it was previously. There is a problem with the nearest BT box not draining properly. Whenever they do any work there, if you look down the hole has a lot of water. After the new line went in when it rained, we started getting water pouring out of the top of the grey tube as it was lower than the BT box. They came back and sealed the entrance to our tubing at the box end with mastic and it stopped it.

If you've got water coming out of that tube, call BT and get them to get Openreach on the case.

And clean your gutters. If you don't, expect your purchasers to start looking for other stuff you've neglected.