New driveway drainage problems

penny_crayon

We have had a contractor lay a new driveway. The contract stated a drain would be fitted and this was supposed to drain to a soakaway. Driveway is now finished but no drain has been fitted.... contractor is claiming the bricks are permeable so a drain isn't needed. My research disagrees as it is basically block paving laid on sand. We haven't paid the last 2.5k and want to withhold this until a drain is installed and few other big problems are fixed. Do i have a leg to stand on?

We need building regs to sign off our renovation work and I'm sure they will notice I doesn't fit the requirements.....

Aylesbury_Duck

penny_crayon wrote: »

We have had a contractor lay a new driveway. The contract stated a drain would be fitted and this was supposed to drain to a soakaway. Driveway is now finished but no drain has been fitted.... contractor is claiming the bricks are permeable so a drain isn't needed. My research disagrees as it is basically block paving laid on sand. We haven't paid the last 2.5k and want to withhold this until a drain is installed and few other big problems are fixed. Do i have a leg to stand on?

We need building regs to sign off our renovation work and I'm sure they will notice I doesn't fit the requirements.....

If your contract with them states it would be included you are in a strong position with £2500 still to pay. Hold them to the contract otherwise you will withhold the final payment until the contract is fulfilled.

bris

The water will drain through the blocks, down the sides of them etc. Are you actually having flooding issues? The water will run to the lowest point, if it doesn't drain away before then, and naturally soak away if the ground isn't hard clay.


If you haven't noticed a drainage issue yet there is a good chance you never will, but if you have noticed standing water on the drive then take a video of it.


I cant comment on the other big problems but obviously you want them fixed before making the final payment.

usefulmale

Block paving IS permeable.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7728/pavingfrontgardens.pdf