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Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:26 pm
by AndyGtd
Hi, first time poster to this great website with a problem that needs a temporary/permanent solution.
As you can see from the pics a (*Ahem*) 'qualified' builder has installed a patio and step up to a pair of French doors (and side door that's not used) that has completely bridged the dpc and covered 2 air bricks either side of the French doors!
This property is owned by an old lady customer of mine who employed this character in good faith and is now getting the run around from him (I'm ill and can't work, phone me in 4 weeks time etc etc!) She now has a nice big damp patch indoors in her bedroom between the (unused) side door and edge of the step and I imagine there will be more patches on the adjacent walls over the coming months as we head into winter - as well as her neighbours conservatory on the left of the 'step' by the downpipe!
She doesn't want confrontation with the builder and just wants the problem solved asap.
I have no idea of the construction of the step - whether its laid on a concrete/hardcore base, but I do know there were (are?) brick steps down from either door to floor level from both doors and assume they're still there under the 'mess'.
Did I mention there's no fall away from the house?? Every time it rains she has to sweep the puddle off that covers the entire step....
I'm no builder, but a competent DIY'er who wants to help my customer (I do her garden/decorating and odd jobs etc) get back to normality and I've suggested temporarily disc cutting a 6inch wide trench either side of the step, (I have a 10inch diamond bladed cutter to help) down to well below the dpc either side of the step and making good with a slope to the bottom of the trench to aid drainage??
What to do below the French doors I'm just not sure, I realise the step needs to be away from the wall (and air bricks!) but without getting rid of the whole thing and starting again I'm at a bit of a loss ???
She has said that this year she can make do with a temporary fix so she can decide what to replace it all with next year.
Any Thoughts? Solutions? Recommendations? - Shotgun and baseball bat have both been discussed and put on the back burner for the time being 
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 12:12 am
by lutonlagerlout
the fact he has built over airbricks marks him out as a noddy
plus there looks to be no fall over a relatively short area
it needs to be ripped out and done again
LLL
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:08 am
by dig dug dan
Oh dear. As luton says. This time, getting the falls and drainage sorted. You can extend the air brick so it comes through the strep.
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:18 am
by r896neo
Seeing as its an elderly resident you may also want to make it 2 steps as the existing one is a bit of a monster. It must be nearly 9 inches.
2 steps may also make it easier to get blow the air-bricks.
The other option would be to increase the drop from the threshold to the step
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:49 am
by rimexboy
As already said above, also is that not a drain that's been blocked on the left hand side??
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:01 am
by AndyGtd
Thanks for your replies guys, but I don't think she'll have the finances for a complete remodeling job (the more I think about the original cowboy! Grrrr!!) for some time to come. It's got to be a bodge for the time being.
As far as the drop goes, (eventually) I think if the top row of supporting bricks at the steps edge were removed and the step relaid then the rain would run off nicely, but of course the dpc would still be bridged in places unless the step was cut away from the walls - but the air bricks would still be blocked as they are either side of the French doors...
>
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As a temporary 'fix' making a cut either side of the French doors and creating a gulley around the step alongside the walls just to stop the damp penetration is what I had in mind - fingers crossed that whatever the underlying substrate is will come up fairly easily!!... Judging by his garden wall brickwork where most of the top layer of bricks have popped off I think I may be in luck there?
This way she only has my labour costs and a few bags of ready mix to buy.
I did think of suggesting removing the step completely and covering the area with 'glorified pallets' (decking) as this would cure the dpc bridge and air brick problem but thought about how slippery it gets in the wet (and how I might get flamed on this forum :p )
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:03 am
by AndyGtd
rimexboy wrote:As already said above, also is that not a drain that's been blocked on the left hand side??
Looks like it doesn't it! But no, actually it goes straight underground to a soakaway somewhere.
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:38 pm
by rimexboy
If its a drain then it should have a gully trap .... Am I right or not guys....
Also cowboy or cowgirl they need to be written to with the problems and given the chance to put it right....
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:07 pm
by r896neo
It probably has a gulley under there, it has just been buried.
Its not great and could present a headache if needing cleared or replaced but i have seen it done many times without major issues. Depends how it was done but even if done right is a bad idea.
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:39 pm
by AndyGtd
rimexboy wrote:If its a drain then it should have a gully trap .... Am I right or not guys....
Also cowboy or cowgirl they need to be written to with the problems and given the chance to put it right....
From what I remember of the original patio - just a concrete screed - that downpipe just disappears straight into it, but as it's square pipe there's probably a round connector somewhere underground close to it and then perhaps it goes into clay pipe? ???
I'll get on to her again about contacting the original guy in writing as you suggest first, because as soon as anyone else (me?) touches it he'll absolve himself of all responsibility no doubt.
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:45 pm
by rab1
is it just the half cut me or does someone on here regurgitate the things learned on here and then spout them out as they know what there talking about ???
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:58 am
by AndyGtd
rab1 wrote:is it just the half cut me or does someone on here regurgitate the things learned on here and then spout them out as they know what there talking about ???
Ha! Is that what it appears like to you? (I assume you mean me?) Perhaps I've not been explaining myself 'properly' then?
All I'm after is an expert view as to whether my suggestion of a temporary bodge looks/seems feasible. No-one has commented on it yet.
Yes I understand that a proper job would be to pull it all up and start again, (I've explained why that's not going to happen yet) but I'm still unsure what to do where the new step would still be above the dpc line in places.
My use of the word 'gulley' was incorrect, I meant a drainage 'channel' around the edge of the existing step.
I'm so sorry if I misled you, as I said in the original post, I feel I'm a competent DIY'er not a builder and perhaps my terminology is not what it should be.
Edit.... Removed sarcastic reply
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:23 am
by rimexboy
AndyGtd wrote:rab1 wrote:is it just the half cut me or does someone on here regurgitate the things learned on here and then spout them out as they know what there talking about ???
Ha! Is that what it appears like to you? (I assume you mean me?) Perhaps I've not been explaining myself 'properly' then?
All I'm after is an expert view as to whether my suggestion of a temporary bodge looks/seems feasible. No-one has commented on it yet.
Yes I understand that a proper job would be to pull it all up and start again, (I've explained why that's not going to happen yet) but I'm still unsure what to do where the new step would still be above the dpc line in places.
My use of the word 'gulley' was incorrect, I meant a drainage 'channel' around the edge of the existing step.
I'm so sorry if I misled you, as I said in the original post, I feel I'm a competent DIY'er not a builder and perhaps my terminology is not what it should be.
Edit.... Removed sarcastic reply
its probably me ...
you never know we might find out later
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:08 am
by London Stone Paving
Thats very shoddy. Putting the technical issues of dampcourse, air bricks and lack of fall aside, I cant understand the logic of whoever has built this step. They have paved right up to the patio door (maybe to make it easier access for an elder person when stepping out of the house) and then the next step down is 3 bricks + paving. Senseless
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:14 pm
by rab1
tell me more about this p trap....
