Damp proof course?

[shaylah]

Hi, I'm new here.

I have a problem.

I was going to lay a small patio 12 sq down the side of my house. Very little sun gets down there and so it is a waste of space as nothing grows. I have hit a snag!
After clearing away some of the earth I discovered that my kitchen waste drainage pipe runs straight through the middle of it and whats more it is not in very deep. I am now only just passing the designated 150mm from damp course that I would need just to have paving slabs down. The ground is clay based so I know that in order for a patio to be successful I would need a sub-base but if I dig any lower I will expose the drainage pipe (which I must add was only covered by about 3inchs of dirt!!).
Please help is there anything I can do? Do I need to forget the idea and put gravel down instead? The area is not used at the moment but I was hoping that my kids could use it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks

P.s love the site x

[Tony McC]

The drainage pipe can be included within any sub-base if you cover it with sand or concrete to cushion it.

If you have good, fiirm, stable clay, you may not actually need a sub-base. See this page

[shaylah]

The ground seems pretty stable clay. If I was to lay the patio without a sub base what would you recomend I did? Motar base? Sand and cement mix? and what depth? Could I lay the patio slightly above the damp course with a 100-200mm border of pea shingle or similar to act as a drainage point?

[Tony McC]

If yu exclude a sub-base, then use NO MORE THAN 50mm of sand/cement, either semi-dry or moist mix. If you need to use more than 50mm, then make up levels with sub-base material.

And NO! You MUST NOT lay the paving higher than the DPC

[shaylah]

Thank-you for your help.