issue with new build

knightstyle

Just read this with interest, hope it all works out OK for you.
Have the other drains from the house been checked? Sometimes they join up to a common outlet pipe.
Plus what is the recommendation regarding all that foul water contaminated ground under the house? It may dry out but Will you have a foul smell when there is very heavy rain?

Zales200483

On Friday, external company will be attending with endoscopic camera, i will make sure everything is checked.
I spent 2 hours on phone, Council, yorkshire water, so far noone can advise me who can assess the level of contamination. I managed to arrange to have council building control officer to contact me on Monday to hopefully offer some advice.
The saga continues....

Furts

I think, and there are many posts to fog my memory, your drainage was from a kitchen sink. If so, this is almost clean water and will break down over time. Basically, contamination is minimal. However, there are greater concerns.

Think of a washing bowl of water suddenly swirling out from under your floor. Has this washed material into an open drain? Has it washed away pipe bedding protecting your drainage? Has it washed backfill and flushed it too high relative to your underfloor? Has it blocked air bricks? Where did all the water end up? Have you a pond under your floor?

Just examples, but these are the types of questions one has to ask.

Zales200483

Furts again thank you for pointing this out. It is kitchen sink, dishwasher and washing machine indeed. As the smell affects airbricks not only on a kitchen side but at the front of the house as well that might indicates that the the water spreads in that direction.
I will make sure that on Friday all the drains and beddings are intact.

Furts

Hopefully your investigations will allow ... a simple check on your under floor void. What is the gap? Is it correct? Do you have sufficient air bricks? Are they on all sides of your house? Do they continue through any sleeper walls? Then generally view the standard of the groundworks.

I think you said a local authority Building Inspector is coming to you? Or a surveyor?

My points are all fundamentals, but for detailed answers it would be best to ask them - you cannot quote a forum poster as your source of technical advice.

Zales200483

I appreciate your advice and eye opening posts, I will have someone with me, that's for sure. I will know for certain on Monday whether it will be building inspector or surveyor.
I dont know know what you do for living, Furts, but did you ever considered creating dedicated website with advise for first time buyers:-).
Your advice is always very much appreciated.

Zales200483

I had the contractors with CCTV camera trying to locate the phantom pipe. They tried via manhole, via kitchen pipe, they even digged my driveway and accessed the void running camera alongside the pipes.
All this non conclusive. At least my void is clear and there is no standing water there.
At this time i have 2 options.
Let them dig through kitchen floor, mess with dpm etc or back inlet.

Furts

Forget the proposed work for a moment. Ask the question what has happened to your home during the building? There cannot have been any checks, any inspections, any snagging nor any Buildings Regulations if no drain was ever laid to your kitchen. This is a totally "we do not give a ---" attitude to your expensive home purchase.

What else have Keepmoat overlooked?

Now look at your position. You have never snagged the home, nor gone back to Keepmoat during the two year initial warranty.

Do some serious thinking over the weekend - hopefully you should be going through every aspect of your home with great attention to the build quality!

Zales200483

That is what i am gonna do. At the moment i am focus at the drain issue, cold spots are next.
I have already arranged with my surveyor the initial checks and will take it from there.
Advise from my surveyor is to go with the gulley, its easy to maintain and access in case of issues etc. He also stated that as Keepmoat made reasonable steps to investigate and rectify the issue, i cant tell them no as they will just leave me with the problem. I believe you Furts mentioned something similar.
At the moment i want my drains in working order before Christmas. After that i will be going through the property with fine comb as i still have 14 months warranty left.