I am renovating a country cottage, the back of which is built into a hillside, and the front of which is straight onto the road. Around the house is a public footpath, and I only own part of this ground. Because of the footpath I can't simply excavate around the house to resolve the problem of penetrating damp. After any work that I do, the ground level will have to be restored to the existing level.
After months of deliberation, I have come up with only one solution! I have decided to excavate the ground, render the walls with a special render, then install a french drain, backfilling, to reinstate the ground level.
Because the house is straight onto the road, I have nowhere available to create any kind of soakaway, so I can only discharge the french drain into my sewerage pipe that runs around the house, (in the same path where the french drain will be).
What I would like, is some kind of non return valve that I can install, underground, so the water can drip down into the sewerage pipe, but there is no risk of foul water backing up into the french drain.
Does anyone out there have any advice they can offer me, on any of the above.....what fittings to use...where I can get them....or a better way to tackle my problem?!?
I'm not worried about appearing to be a numpty, so one more wee question.... The "geotextile" that I should use to wrap the perforated pipe and line the french drain - is this just the same as weed control fabric? If it's not, does anyone have any recomendations which one to use, and what sort of outlet will supply it?
Very much appreciate any help here!
Thanks.
(Great site by the way!)
