Protecting against heave

[Jilly]

Please could I have advice about what to do with the exposed raft on my stable conversion?

 

I've stupidly paid the builder for things he hasn't finished.

 

The piles were put in and he's disappeared and the ground is getting wet and soft around the the open utilities trenches and under/near the raft. I've insulated it with compost in backs and tarps, and tried to keep the rain off but it hasn't worked properly. Should I put MOT in instead of back filing with the disgustingly sticky clay under the window? 

 

The area around the beam isn't draining, but if I fill the whole lot in with MOT it will be expensive and a big job to get it out again. I'm trying to get quotes for doing up to floor level on the extension. 

 

 

[TonyT]

What about getting a tarpaulin, and a bit of timber like 2x2.

 

wrap the end of the tarp around the timber then screw through into the wall, should help water run away from the area.

 

maybe scrape the ground so that the water runs away and if needed get a pump to take the water away.

[Jilly]

Thank you. I tried a pump but it didn't work as the water wasn't deep enough (maybe got the wrong pump). Clay is such yucky stuff

[TonyT]

Dig a bucket size holes here the water collects, and drop the pump into the hole, the water will find its way to the hole!

[TonyT]

Some pumps need primed too so watch out for that

[Jilly]

Ahh, OK thank you, I'll try those suggestions