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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:27 pm
by grafittibridge
I have been pointing my mother's patio for the last few weeks. To level all the patio and whatnot would simply be far too much work for me atm.

Since it has been pointed, puddles have naturally appeared.

Some puddles are against the main wall of the house if it rains heavily. I perhaps can be a bit of an over-worrier with these sorts of things and even though I have had quite a few years experience doing various building work, I have no formal qualifications or tutoring in it.

I have two questions if anyone would be kind enough to help me with.

1. I worry that if the puddles are collecting next to a main house wall (the meeting of which with the patio I have pointed), that this would give excess water to any wall foundations below and weaken them over time. Is it best for me to make gaps in the wall/patio meeting (and patio around that area), as it was before (the gaps were filled with soil and weeds used to grow creating work for my mother)? I am not worried so much about the puddles per se.

2. Is there a way round getting rid of the puddles without redoing the tilt on the patio--for example, a makeshift drain with a 'U' bend pipe underneath that goes away from the house? Any other suggestions?

Thank you so much for your time.

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:43 pm
by lutonlagerlout
there should be no puddles against the house
if there are the patio is laid wrongly
without lifting slabs i can see no redemption here
having said that if your puddles are well below DPC the impact will not be immediate,but water always causes problems given time...
LLL

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:20 am
by matt h
see main site reference drainage, several options available

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:03 pm
by Tony McC
Small puddles won't cause the house to collapse, but they do indicate there is inadequate fall on the patio paving. The only certain fix is to lift and re-lay, which although it sounds like hard work is helluva lot easier and more relaibel than makeshift drains and the like!