Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:52 am
I recently moved into a new property that turned out to have a damp problem in the kitchen.
It appears there are several possible causes one of which is the ground levels. Flag pavers have been laid only 20 mm below the DPC. I've had a couple of damp repair services look at it and they've both proposed building a french drain.
Looking around the internet various people suggest french drains aren't ideal. They fill with dirt and need maintenance, and if indeed the required 150 mm is to prevent splashback, how would a french drain prevent this?
Its been suggested that a dry area is better. Better yet is lifting the pavers, lowering the ground level and relaying them. I'd expect lifting the pavers to be prohibitivley expensive so I'd need to do it myself.
Are french drains adequate? Is it worth going for a dry area? I'm thinking of doing it properly, spending the time myself and lifting all the pavers and lowering them but my wife thinks I'm mad.
How would you recommend dealing with this problem?
It appears there are several possible causes one of which is the ground levels. Flag pavers have been laid only 20 mm below the DPC. I've had a couple of damp repair services look at it and they've both proposed building a french drain.
Looking around the internet various people suggest french drains aren't ideal. They fill with dirt and need maintenance, and if indeed the required 150 mm is to prevent splashback, how would a french drain prevent this?
Its been suggested that a dry area is better. Better yet is lifting the pavers, lowering the ground level and relaying them. I'd expect lifting the pavers to be prohibitivley expensive so I'd need to do it myself.
Are french drains adequate? Is it worth going for a dry area? I'm thinking of doing it properly, spending the time myself and lifting all the pavers and lowering them but my wife thinks I'm mad.
How would you recommend dealing with this problem?
