Drainage problems

[Woody5]

Hi, 

 

can you please advice on the best placement for drainage on this driveway. It completely floods In heavy rain under the window. 
 

We have only had this driveway for roughly 2 months and we are getting bad damp and mould around the skirting boards on the inside. The pavers are already sinking under the window. Is this caused by the pooling of water during heavy rain? 
 

original plan was to have drainage under the window but contractor said it wasn’t needed and put it round the side of the house. 
 

I’ve also been made aware that it could also be bridging DPC.

 

any help and advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[twice round the block]

All paving and driveways around a property should have a gap of 6 inches. This is normally filled with pea shingle to allow any water to drain away. 

The gap is also to help stop any heavy rain showers, bouncing water off your drive / path and landing above the dpc line of your house.

 

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by PeterW

[Mr Punter]

The drive slopes towards the house and there is not the required 150mm between the paving and the DPC.  Could you take up the pavers nearest the house, dig down and install a drainage channel along the front wall so it empties into the gulley to the left of the front door?

[Radian]

29 minutes ago, twice round the block said:

All paving and driveways around a property should have a gap of 6 inches

Not if the surface is 150mm or more below DPC. But this isn't. it's 75mm or less which is criminal. In this case the only affordable remedy might be to create a drainage strip along the entire front elevation 

See this article on pavingexpert.com for details.

[ProDave]

What has the contractor said when you told them to come back and rectify the problem?

 

In law you must first give the original contractor chance to rectify the problem.

[saveasteading]

The gravel perimeter is a good detail as standard , and you will need a kerb to retain the blocks, but it won't get rid of the standing water. Does it all drain to there, or is there another low point?

You will need a soakaway or drain: what options do you have? (It is not allowed to run onto the road., and legally is not allowed to go into the mains drains)

[PeterW]

2 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

The drive slopes towards the house and there is not the required 150mm between the paving and the DPC.  Could you take up the pavers nearest the house, dig down and install a drainage channel along the front wall so it empties into the gulley to the left of the front door?

+1 to this - easy job to remove some of the blocks but would suggest you also haunch the channel and leave a gravel gap too

[Woody5]

20 hours ago, ProDave said:

What has the contractor said when you told them to come back and rectify the problem?

 

In law you must first give the original contractor chance to rectify the problem.

The contractor has acknowledged that he has got it wrong on the the drainage side. They have agreed to put some aco drains along the front window but one course away from the first blocks. Would you say it’s best to put the aco drain flush to the wall or leave the first row of blocks in? 
 

Im also concerned about the the dpc being breached. 

[Woody5]

19 hours ago, saveasteading said:

The gravel perimeter is a good detail as standard , and you will need a kerb to retain the blocks, but it won't get rid of the standing water. Does it all drain to there, or is there another low point?

You will need a soakaway or drain: what options do you have? (It is not allowed to run onto the road., and legally is not allowed to go into the mains drains)

Most of the standing water is under the window and front door. How the contractor didn’t foresee this problem is mind boggling. I even expressed my concerns when they said they didn’t see the need for drains along the front. 
 

can standing water cause blocks to sink or should I be concerned that something else was done wrong? 

[PeterW]

1 hour ago, Woody5 said:

They have agreed to put some aco drains along the front window but one course away from the first blocks. Would you say it’s best to put the aco drain flush to the wall or leave the first row of blocks in? 

Lose the first row, haunch the aco drain with concrete and leave a gap to the wall then fill the lot with 20mm gravel. It will protect the DPC and also provide localised drainage 

[saveasteading]

The gravel also kills splashing onto the wall, esp if left a little lower.

 

You are right to worry about blocks moving. If there is an area that I'd always wetter, there can be differential movement.

 

Drains are no use without an outlet.

You are not permitted to connect to a main drain. Many driveway contractors, no let's say layers, either don't know this or pretend they don't. It is to reduce flooding, and very sensible, and also is policed I have heard. This poss doesn't apply if your drive was already impermeable.