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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 12:39 pm
by greentown
I've started a couple of other threads on my proposed new drive and drainage related problems.

I had been thinking mainly of a block paved drive with a linear drainage channel to a soakaway and a small pebble filled french drain against the house.

Now wondering about a gravel drive on the basis that at least some rain would soak through the gravel, soakaway for gutter downpipe.

Confused about linear drain channel though. Can you have these in gravel or would they break or sink if you drove a car over them in gravel? Also, is a french drain against the house a redundant idea if the whole drive is gravel.

Just trying to work out what's the right thing to do. I know these questions will sound stupid and very basic to contractors but any advise would be appreciated.

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 5:50 pm
by rxbren
you don't want to have a French drain beside your house you ideally want the water to be directed away from the house instead of creating somewhere for it to sit against your walls

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 9:15 am
by seanandruby
greentown wrote:I've started a couple of other threads on my proposed new drive and drainage related problems.

I had been thinking mainly of a block paved drive with a linear drainage channel to a soakaway and a small pebble filled french drain against the house.

Now wondering about a gravel drive on the basis that at least some rain would soak through the gravel, soakaway for gutter downpipe.

Confused about linear drain channel though. Can you have these in gravel or would they break or sink if you drove a car over them in gravel? Also, is a french drain against the house a redundant idea if the whole drive is gravel.

Just trying to work out what's the right thing to do. I know these questions will sound stupid and very basic to contractors but any advise would be appreciated.
take a look here

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:01 am
by greentown
Thanks seanandruby - that's very useful - I think a 'Dry Area' is what I've wrongly been calling a french drain.

I need a 'dry area' between my proposed new paving and my house wall - not a french drain - because my existing ground level is up to my air bricks.

My dpc and air bricks are low/the existing soil is high and it's not feasible to dig it all out without just making a bigger slope up to the road.

So I need to dig down and make a dry area/ a pebble channel against the house wall and then have paving or gravel etc etc.