D.I.Y. S.O.S. for Wobbly Dave.

[Wobbly Dave]

Is everyone ok for weekend of the 13/14th June?

[t5 pete]

Yep ill make sure I put my work around it Saturday would be best I'm hoping with enough man power we can get it sorted in day for you but need to be there eairly so evaluate what needs doing and go get materials.

[t5 pete]

Dave just re looked at the pictures again I notice you have a soil pipe at the side of the house and also waste pipes from sink etc I take it them pipes join it the soil Pipe now I've seen it it's open a great place to run the arco drains into which means we won't have to cut across the drive to the man hole all your roof top water will now also flow into that.

[Wobbly Dave]

Indeed there is a soil pipe perhaps 2/3rd up the driveway for the downstairs toilet (under the flat roof). I think we would struggle as this is against the prevailing slope. I've screen captured the tilted Google map satellite image



The red V is where the soil pipe is.

[Wobbly Dave]

FYI this is what the Timberwise report from last September said..

Edit - in hindsight it is probably unwise to share on a public forum. If you want a copy of their report then I can forward it .

[Santa]

I can't make that date unfortunately but don't change it if suitable for everyone else as I was merely offering hands and tea

[Jamest5r]

Is everyone ok for weekend of the 13/14th June?

All good here for those dates

[kmb]

Nice big house and plot, good to see people offering their help, a good bunch indeed on this forum

[Wobbly Dave]

If anyone wanted to come on Friday evening then that would also be fine.

[stribo]

I'll check the calendar when I get in, but should be fine.

[t5 pete]

Looks like it's a date then Dave

[Jamest5r]

Looks like it's a date then Dave

You want to stay over at mine Friday mate and we'll leave early from here make it easier?

[The Flying Moose]

Typically it's when I'm due to start working again! I've amassed some leave though so I'll pop some leave in tomorrow and should be good to go also!:-)

[t5 pete]

You want to stay over at mine Friday mate and we'll leave early from here make it easier?

That would have been great but donnas working till half 8 so on kiddy duty and we both know we wouldn't be in a fit state Saturday morning lol

[stribo]

Indeed there is a soil pipe perhaps 2/3rd up the driveway for the downstairs toilet (under the flat roof). I think we would struggle as this is against the prevailing slope. I've screen captured the tilted Google map satellite image



The red V is where the soil pipe is.

Roughly how much higher is the drive where the soil stack is, to the front of the house?

[Wobbly Dave]

Enough to make running aco drainage up the drive impractical. Aco drains are viable if we empty onto the driveway apron near the road. That is wy I was looking at the terminals in post #47. If we can embed one of those into the apron then we can use the natural slope.

Otherwise the only option is to cut the channel - knock out an amount of material - tank the foundations - and fill with small stones. I still think this is necessary even if we install aco drains.

The timberwise report I commissioned also recommended repositioning the soak away which is at the far corner (near the gas box). Rather than me drip feeding the info - I have copied out the bulk of what was discussed.

EXTERNAL OBSERVATIONS
A brief external inspection of the property was completed from the ground level only during our visit and the following defects noted:-

• 3no downpipes to the front elevation wall are discharging rainwater directly onto the patterned concrete pathway and after carrying a flow test, water is ponding in various places as well as flowing back towards the property. (See below picture)
• Pathway/driveway levels to the front and left hand elevations were noted to be high in relation to the internal floor level. (See below picture)In our opinion the soakaway which has retrospectively been installed to the right hand gable is positioned too close to the property and does not drain properly. Ideally it should be positioned level or preferably lower than the adjacent building and no closer than 5 metres from the property.

We advise that either the high ground levels to the front elevation be reduced to a minimum of a 150mm below damp proof course levels or a suitable Aco type drainage system be installed to the front and side elevations to stop the passage of moisture which is likely to spoil and damage internal finishes and decorations, but it will also put timbers within the property at serious risk from fungal decay and damage the building fabric itself. We also recommend that the existing downpipes are directed into the same drains to discharge rainwater correctly.
We strongly advise that you arrange for all the above noted defects to be attended as a matter of urgency.



INTERNAL OBSERVATIONS
RISING DAMP
Due to the defects noted above in our external observations we cannot categorically state if the existing damp proof course is effective.
We did however note the following defects which may be contributing to the dampness visible on the internal walls and solid floor areas.
SOLID FLOOR – FRONT RECEPTION ROOM
The testing of solid floors falls beyond the scope of our non-destructive inspection however in this case a limited visual inspection of the top surface could be made.
In our opinion it appears that the existing floor slab does not benefit from a damp proof membrane and moisture meter readings taken from the surface of the concrete floor would also suggest this, however any figures taken are not conclusive and there are many factors that will influence the meter and we cannot rely on a meter as an accurate gauge of measurement.
As slight salting is occurring on the surface, it may be possible that condensation is forming and this is why the carpet and underlay is either wet to feel or rotting away especially at the wall / floor joint.
Recommendations
Ultimately we recommend that you seek the opinion of the original installers of the external pathway areas and we also suggest you think about either:

• Removing the existing floor completely and relaying a new solid concrete floor, incorporating a damp proof membrane and suitably sized insulation to meet current building regulations

or

• Possibly try to increase the room temperature so that no further condensation is allowed to form on the surface of the floor

So basically improving the drainage from the front is my biggest concern.

[stribo]

My thought was to recess the Aco into the drive around the side of the house so you could still get the fall, my only concern would be with running into the soil stack is unless some type of P trap wasx put in place , the soil stack would vent onto the Aco, leading to unpleasant smells. I don't think it's viable for the Aco to drain onto the apron because of the height of them, I know of none that taper down to practically zero height.

[t5 pete]

My thought was to recess the Aco into the drive around the side of the house so you could still get the fall, my only concern would be with running into the soil stack is unless some type of P trap wasx put in place , the soil stack would vent onto the Aco, leading to unpleasant smells. I don't think it's viable for the Aco to drain onto the apron because of the height of them, I know of none that taper down to practically zero height.

We will have to dig down and install a trap for where he soil pipe connects into the under side of the aco tbh it's the only way I can see this being viable

[Doingitsideways]

Hmm...

Prob have to put a trap either side of the soil pipe too somehow.
Either that or route the Aco around the soil pipe?

[t5 pete]

First
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110mm-Soil...item19cc9ffb7d