Water Streaming Out of Retaining Wall after Neighbours New Patio

markavfc2

Section62 said:

Is yours the one with the front side retaining wall doubled up?  Is there a reason why that was done?

Sorry I get what you mean now as I am guessing you have looked on google.

The driveway was previously different to that when I moved in and was tarmacked. I had it block paved and the wall wasn't aesthetically pleasing so I decided at the same time as having it blocked to have a new wall in built front of it. 

MikeJXE

Looking from an ex builders point of view who has bee involved in many retaining wall constructions, the weep holes are normally set 6" above lowest ground level (yours). You say the patio level is approx top of wall. You also say there wasn't a problem before the patio so, either the patio has created more water in that area or changed the course from the original. Either way water is now building up behind the wall and more dangerously still its is moving silt with it. Normally now days a retaining wall would be built with gravel behind ir to assist the flow of water and a land rain at the lowest point to take it away. that has been the learning curve over the years as walls have collapsed.  I guess it's too old for that so water is accumulating behind the wall. The danger is if the water stops you wont know if all is ok now or the silt has blocked the way out and the water will build up until it does and it will push the wall over, no question. You should keep away from that wall until its fixed 

Section62

markavfc2 said:

Section62 said:

Is yours the one with the front side retaining wall doubled up?  Is there a reason why that was done?

Sorry I get what you mean now as I am guessing you have looked on google.

The driveway was previously different to that when I moved in and was tarmacked. I had it block paved and the wall wasn't aesthetically pleasing so I decided at the same time as having it blocked to have a new wall in built front of it. 

You do need to get hold of the neighbour's deeds and see what they reveal, there's nothing in what you've shared so far that helps.

On the plus side, the houses appear to have been built at the same time as part of a development, which means there is a chance the developer ensured clear responsibilities for features such as retaining walls (it looks like there are a lot of them in the area).

It is difficult to tell just from pictures, but my gut feel is your neighbour's plot has been built up to some extent rather than yours being cut into the slope (in terms of levels along the street) - but the slope from front to rear makes it harder than normal to tell.  Ideally the deeds will cover responsibility for the wall, as proving it otherwise may be quite hard.

markavfc2

Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. I dropped a letter into my neighbour yesterday along with a USB with a video on showing the issue of water streaming out from my side. Seems to have done the trick as came round today and was much more amicable and acknowledged they must have an issue there side. We are going to try to find the source of the water this weekend then get that sorted and then any repairs required to the wall.

It was always my wish to do this amicably and not fall out and avoid the need to go down the legal route and it seems that will be the case now.

MalMonroe

Hi, have you reported this to your water company, too?

They need to know about the waste of water, or the water that isn't being collected.  Neighbours sound horrendous and I think you are very kind to want to keep things amicable. Some people just won't, though. I've had neighbours in the past whose toilet overflow was constantly running into my garden and when I told them, they just said "oh, you're obsessed with water". Marvellous. I moved.

diystarter7

MalMonroe said:

Hi, have you reported this to your water company, too?

They need to know about the waste of water, or the water that isn't being collected.  Neighbours sound horrendous and I think you are very kind to want to keep things amicable. Some people just won't, though. I've had neighbours in the past whose toilet overflow was constantly running into my garden and when I told them, they just said "oh, you're obsessed with water". Marvellous. I moved.

With respect, I don't feel it will be worth the OP's time reporting them to the water co.

Section62

MalMonroe said:

Hi, have you reported this to your water company, too?

They need to know about the waste of water, or the water that isn't being collected.  Neighbours sound horrendous and I think you are very kind to want to keep things amicable. Some people just won't, though. I've had neighbours in the past whose toilet overflow was constantly running into my garden and when I told them, they just said "oh, you're obsessed with water". Marvellous. I moved.

The OP believes the problem is surface water from rainfall - there is nothing to report to the water company.