Water in solum - Water in solum

[2muchwater]

Hi, I have a problem with water getting into my solum when it rains. Soil is clay in the street and other houses have the same problem. On heavy raining it now rises to 2 inches in depth, maybe a bit more.

Home report advised to get plastic sheeting laid with sand in the solum to deal with dampness. Unknown to us water was coming in at a depth of 9 inches at worst.

Water pooled in the garden. We got a local business to put in drainage with a soak away. This has as good as solved that problem. Also reduced the water depth in the solum to about 3ins.

We got the sheeting down with the sand by another local firm. Was promised 2ins of sand. They must have run out as never seen it spread so thinly. Don’t believe it made any difference to water getting in. Just stops the water getting out.

We were also advised by local firms to get a sump pump or seal the area completely. Also advised to get vents to remove dampness forming on joists. Don't want a sump pump as there is always the upkeep. Was told sealing would be over the top as area will never be used as a room.

I read about French drains and decided to put one around the back of the house as clay was not at the depth where water collected. Clay is higher up. First time of heavy rain water came in. The water disappeared the next day. Thought this had resolved problem. Next time the water came and stayed for 4/5 days after rain stopped.

Dilemma is how to stop the 2/3 inches of water getting in. Should I remove the plastic sheeting? Could the sheeting be stopping water getting in and make it worse by removing? Thought about raising solum approx 2 inches about water level with hardcore. Thought about GEO-materials and sealing completely. Know I need vents and they will be installed. Water is clean and only comes in after raining. Solum has layer of perforated concrete. House built mid 1960s. From under joists to concrete layer is about 3ft.

Anyone got good ideas? Have I missed the obvious? Are there other options?

[lutonlagerlout]

is solum the correct word in this context?
it makes no sense as i thought solum was the earths crust?
flowjoe will advise shortly
a float pump may be your friend
LLL

[2muchwater]

What I mean is what I stand on when going throught the hatch. below my joists in my house.

Float pump would work. Would rather stop the water coming in or cover it over. Don't want to have dampness below.

[seanandruby]

sounds like it'll need tanking.

[2muchwater]

Thanks for your reply. Do you know if its possible to tank without a float pump?

I'd like to know if anyone out there has had this problem and resolved it by laying hardcore inches above what I believe is the water table level.

Has anyone tried something else.

[seanandruby]

it's always possible to tank without a pump but your going into the specialist market which is very expensive. There are specialist firms that put resins in under pressure and linings that cost a fortune.

[flowjoe]

Always best to find the source of the water (its very rarely a rising water table) but this can cost a fortune, or try to intercept it before it hits the property, again not cheap.

So in most cases you install a sump and a pump that kicks in just before the water reaches ground level, try not to drain water from below foundation level though.

There are many scenarios and also a cut off point where you are spending good money on investigations that could go towards a simple answer (Pump !)

[2muchwater]

Been informed the water coming in is rain water. Only get it after it rains. Some houses around me have the issue or have different variations of the problem. The water is clean and doesn't smell. On checking a while back I could see clear water fountains (only 2mm high approx) coming through the water that was there.

Neighbour next door says he doesn't have the problem. He built his own house and says he put tons of hardcore in at ground level at the time.