Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:01 pm
Some advice please. I apologise if this is longwinded.
I have read the paving experts general guide to draining gardens and now understand the principles of land drains and or paving gullies, but I am confused by the possible options for me, especially as I have had various quotes from local tradesmen who each have given different options and prices to match !!!
My problem is I moved to a bungalow on a residential development a year ago, built on a steep sloping valley. My back garden slopes towards the bungalow and basically, water comes down the hills from all around and there are similar properties above and below me.
The immediate problem area is a 2 foot wide gravel pathway running along the boundary between my conservatory and my neighbour, who is some 8 feet lower. The original builder placed my neighbours garage along my boundary line, using a concrete retaining wall to soil level and then used brickwork for the upper levels. There are concrete fence posts up to the garage end but then stop. I wish to continue the fencing along the boundary for another 20 feet and put paving or block paving along the path to make it nicer than gravel.
My neighbour has said that water has caused a flood on his garage floor for several years and thinks it is coming thru the area of the concrete retaining wall and brickwork join. I have not seen this but it hasn't rained much down here this year.. yet !!!
Various local advice seems to be to dig away my pathway and put deeper gravel in and waterproof my neighbours brickwork. But I want to get rid of the gravel !!!
Another suggested concreting the path and put in a drainage channel to drain into the garage gutter down pipe. But I am worried that concrete is a bit too permanent if the problem is not solved and it has to come up again. I also have to consider what type of fencing to put up to allow any possible maintenance on my neighbours garage wall or roof etc.
I wonder if I should forget my paving idea , which might aggravate the problem and keep the gravel.
Or could I put in a land drain under the path and go over with paving or blockpaving. Cost is the deciding factor of course.
Help please... I am pulling my little remaining hair out.
I have read the paving experts general guide to draining gardens and now understand the principles of land drains and or paving gullies, but I am confused by the possible options for me, especially as I have had various quotes from local tradesmen who each have given different options and prices to match !!!
My problem is I moved to a bungalow on a residential development a year ago, built on a steep sloping valley. My back garden slopes towards the bungalow and basically, water comes down the hills from all around and there are similar properties above and below me.
The immediate problem area is a 2 foot wide gravel pathway running along the boundary between my conservatory and my neighbour, who is some 8 feet lower. The original builder placed my neighbours garage along my boundary line, using a concrete retaining wall to soil level and then used brickwork for the upper levels. There are concrete fence posts up to the garage end but then stop. I wish to continue the fencing along the boundary for another 20 feet and put paving or block paving along the path to make it nicer than gravel.
My neighbour has said that water has caused a flood on his garage floor for several years and thinks it is coming thru the area of the concrete retaining wall and brickwork join. I have not seen this but it hasn't rained much down here this year.. yet !!!
Various local advice seems to be to dig away my pathway and put deeper gravel in and waterproof my neighbours brickwork. But I want to get rid of the gravel !!!
Another suggested concreting the path and put in a drainage channel to drain into the garage gutter down pipe. But I am worried that concrete is a bit too permanent if the problem is not solved and it has to come up again. I also have to consider what type of fencing to put up to allow any possible maintenance on my neighbours garage wall or roof etc.
I wonder if I should forget my paving idea , which might aggravate the problem and keep the gravel.
Or could I put in a land drain under the path and go over with paving or blockpaving. Cost is the deciding factor of course.
Help please... I am pulling my little remaining hair out.