Linear drain

[madman32]

Hello,

I'm about to lay my first patio.

The area is 48m2 (8m x 6m), and is enclosed on all four sides. I'll be using concrete slabs and full mortar bed.

For drainage I was planning on using a linear drain which will connect straight to an underground 110mm drain which goes directly in to the sewer.

Part of the reason for choosing a linear drain is to make things simpler for myself when laying the flags as I won't have to worry about crossfall (I'll be using a channel with built-in fall).

I have one question, though. Do you think just one linear drain at one end of the patio will be adequate? My concern is that an 8m run is quite long and might mean water is hanging about for too long. I was planning a 1:60 fall. Should I go steeper? Should I add a second linear drain at the other end and back fall to it? Am I over worrying things?

Thanks for your help.

[dig dug dan]

The water should not discharge straight into the sewer, but to a soakaway. Can you not slope away from the house and put a french drain in? Much cheaper and as its not a big area, just as good

[stephen gibson]

Dig dug dan is absolutely correct. You don't have the right to connect to the public sewer with surface water.

To connect to the public surface water sewer with additional flow you will need to apply for a Water Industry Act Section 106 connection and make the case why a soakaway was not viable.

You also need planning permission for any non permeable surface not connected to a soakaway.

Its likely therefore it will be more simple and cheaper to install a soakaway and avoid lots of paperwork. Likewise falling away it at all possible is far better.

I have written some basic advice posted at http://www.wilsham.co.uk/soakaway for more info on the process and options.