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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:32 pm
by scoffsred
Alright men, ive taken on a job which involves constructing a path made from concrete setts, the problem being that the path will slope towards the front door of the property, the path will be around 4 metres and about 1 metre wide, its only about a 10 degree slope, should i be fitting some kind of linear channel or will the surface water drain off to the sides.
Help, im confused.
Cheers in Advance Dave.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:43 pm
by Ted
I would put a drain in... the last thing someone wants is a puddle in front of their door.
You should be careful taking jobs on if you can't do them!
Fortunately this is only a path.
Construction is a tough game...
If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make its construction firm and the house collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house – that builder shall be put to death.
If it causes the death of a son of the owner – they shall put to death a son of that builder.
Fortunately the law is different these days to that of Hammurabi's era, but you don't want to take a job on if you aren't up to it. It can be a costly business.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:04 pm
by scoffsred
Its not that i cant do the job Ted, i was'nt sure of the drainage situation, thats all.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:08 pm
by Ted
Well you can slope the path so the water drains off before it reaches the door or put a drain in.
For 4m2 some might view a drain as overkill but I would probably put one in.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:18 pm
by lutonlagerlout
linear drain is essential anywhere water runs towards a building IMHO
it would be pure crazy to do otherwise
LLL 
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:44 pm
by scoffsred
Cheers Ted & LLL, Im only a novice, hence the question, but i have laid patios and paths before, just none sloping towards doorways. On a different note, same job mind, im also building a raised area, about 500mm high with facing bricks and im just debating whether or not to build an inner skin with blocks or is this just overkill, the raised area will be filled with spoil btw.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:11 pm
by Ted
I always build an inner skin, certainly on anything higher than two courses. Many don't, but I do as the first house I ever bought had a five course retaining wall built with face bricks and made of just one skin and it started to collapse out of the blue one day!
Tony (of this site) reckons (and general building pratice dictates) that you can go as high as 450mm single skin...
http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur03.htm
But, to quote Hammurabi again!:
If a builder builds a house and does not make its construction meet the requirements and a wall falls in – that builder shall strengthen the wall at his own expense.
Including an inner leaf is not a big or expensive job and it ensures your wall will almost certainly hold.
I also include weepholes. I don't think the retaining wall in that house of mine had satisfactory weepholes....
My view is that if you are in any doubt whatsoever, over-engineer your design to be on the safe side....
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:22 am
by scoffsred
Cheers Ted.
Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:09 pm
by Tony McC
That Hammurabi bloke ....I'm sure he owes me retention on a job we did some time back! :;):
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:15 am
by Suggers
Now pretty sure Ted's adventure in Africa, is a thinly disguised front for his Advanced Philosophy Course in India.
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:51 am
by Rich H
The inner skin can be concrete blocks which will speed things up and save money. 2 courses blocks behind six courses of bricks with a soldier course on top.