Concrete slabs bridging damp proof course

alexfire

Hi All, 
I have a house that is suffering from some damp issues. Largely this is due to defective chimney stack however also because the existing damp proof course had been built over with concrete and paving slabs (about 1 inch above) and water was sitting as the grading had been lost. This is about a 3  x 0.5 meter section at the rear of the house.

I have since removed this concrete and am now left with just soil / clay / sand. I've built this back up and graded it so the water runs away from the house. I was planning on just laying down some gravel / pebbles along this strip but just wanted to get an idea whether not having any concrete would be problematic as it seems this is normally the case when I see houses ?

Here is a pic. You can see the DPC line ans if you imagine there were concrete slabs previously laid on top of a concrete layer. 

Davesnave

alexfire said:

Here is a pic. You can see the DPC line

Nope. I must be too old and my eyes are dim. It just looks fuzzy. I will go to Specsavers....

However, the surface should be 150mm minimum below the DPC, and it won't matter at all if it's gravel.

Doozergirl

That still looks too high to me but it might be because the windows are at an an unusual height.  

As dave said above, the ground level against the house should be 150mm, which is two courses of brick, below the DPC.   My gut says that concrete paving is level to it... 

You're not supposed to have concrete against the house at all, really.   It's fine if it's at low level but it seems that the majority of people that lay paving have zero comprehension of damp proof courses.  

Mutton_Geoff

alexfire said:

Hi All, 
I have a house that is suffering from some damp issues. Largely this is due to defective chimney stack however also because the existing damp proof course had been built over with concrete and paving slabs (about 1 inch above) and water was sitting as the grading had been lost. This is about a 3  x 0.5 meter section at the rear of the house.

I have since removed this concrete and am now left with just soil / clay / sand. I've built this back up and graded it so the water runs away from the house. I was planning on just laying down some gravel / pebbles along this strip but just wanted to get an idea whether not having any concrete would be problematic as it seems this is normally the case when I see houses ?

Here is a pic. You can see the DPC line ans if you imagine there were concrete slabs previously laid on top of a concrete layer. 

Picture not clear enough. Is the DPC just below those vents? If so, you still need to keep digging. As others have said, at least two brick heights below the DPC. Looks like you need to excavate a trough around the house. I'd dig at least 200mm below DPC then lay a weed membrane then shingle up to DPC minus 150mm (or two bricks worth).