The Brew Cabin

Firstly just want to say this site is the most informative I have found anywhere, great stuff.

Now my problem -

I decided to have my drive bloack paved at the same time as my neighbour because are drives are interconnected. I agreed a price with their contractor (who they reccomended), but I am concerned about a couple of issues. -

The area was dug out to a good depth, and judging by what I have read on the site the hardcore/sand and 60mm blocks were layed fine. However the rain left a puddle that ran down against the side of the house. It was also in an area that I use for washing my car and so would gather alot of water. I took it up with them and they have offered to relay the whole thing, but I suggested that they could use a linear drain along the edge so that it would drain my car wash water more quickly.

They have now done this but the water does not seem to go in the linear drain, it just drains to the edge of the drain but instead of going in it, it goes down the side of it underneath it and presumably down the side of the house. I looked on the FAQ but it does not seem to cover this specific issue. The contracts have not yet finished and I have told them I won't pay until happy, which they are fine with. Am I right to be concerned?

I have uploaded a couple of photos of the job here

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.mccall/driveview.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.mcca ... eview2.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.mcca ... erview.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/james.mcca ... edrain.jpg

Would be really greatfull for any comments.

James McCall

The paving seems very flat to me, judging from those photies. Have they revealed what fall was used?

As for the linear drain, the joints in the paving adjacent to the drain seem empty - once they are properly filled and self-sealed, more of the surface water will be diverted to the channel itself. Was the channel laid on a concrete bed?

There's no shortage of drainage on this project, but with the paving laid so flat, I'm not sure just how much of the surface water will find its way into any of the channels. Again judging from the photoes, it seems as though there was ample opportunirty to use a summit somewhere near the 'back door', and thus shed the water to either end where it can be collected by the channels. When paving has been laid so flat, it only takes a millimetre or two of settlement to result in ponding - I know the contractors will complain that "it's only a bird bath", but it's so easy to avoid this problem by laying to adequate falls in the first place.

Thanks for the reply, its a shame I only found this site after commisioning the work. I didn't even think about asking them about drainage. I talked to them this morning and they said that they will take it all up a relay it.