The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:28 pm**

I'm in the process of removing a patio which is laid above our dpc level and constructing a dry area as per the description here:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/dpc01.htm

plan is to drain the dry channel into existing surface water system. there is a directly connected downpipe from the roof in the right location i would like to dismantle this and replace with a yard gulley and drain both the downpipe and the new dry area into this gulley.

are there any obvious problems with this idea? we are not connected to public sw systems. i'm not sure where the gulley in question drains to but i imagine we must have a soakaway somewhere in the garden or nearby field.

also i notice the dry area is usually dressed with gravel. how to stop the gravel entering the gulley?

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:58 pm**

chances are depending on the age of the house the soakaway may be silted up
you could test this by running a hose pipe down it
I would use a back inlet roddable gully so that any detritus can be easily removed
LLL

Posted: **Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:36 am**

No obvious problems, but then, I can't see the site so I can't be 100% sure.

A good quality grating neatly fitted will keep any gravel (or other undesirables) out of the new gully.

Posted: **Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:05 pm**

Tony McC wrote:A good quality grating neatly fitted will keep any gravel (or other undesirables) out of the new gully.

so can i lay gravel on top of a grating?

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:01 am**

You shouldn't really, but you can.

If that's what you plan to do, I'd wrap the grating in permeable geo-textile first, just to ensure any smaller than spec stones don't get through.

Posted: **Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:10 pm**

this is turning into a bigger project than envisaged. having examined the existing drainage it turns out we don't have a soakaway after all. the drain just discharges into the garden and our heavy soil means it goes nowhere.

so new plan is to extend the drainage further from the house. unfortunately there is the underground electricty cable that supplies our house goes across the proposed drainage route.

is it safe to lay plastic drainage pipe over electricity cable?

Posted: **Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:04 am**

Usually, it is. Lecky cables are prettly well insulated and drainage tends to be made from non-conductive materials.

I'd expect drainage to pass *under* any services (other than water) as cables and gas pipes tend to be shallower than drainage, but it's not unknown for it to be t'other road around.

Just be mega-careful when near that lecky cable!

The Brew Cabin

Connecting dry channel to gulley