Dpc issues

[anfeardearg]

Hi,
It appears that the previous owner of my house installed footpaths right up the level of the DPC. I've been advised to cut a channel where the path meets the house and fill it with gravel but what width & depth should the channel be, and should it be lined in any way? (Incidentally I've applied waterseal the the first 3 courses of brick above the DPC as a stopgap until this is done).
Also I'm about to have the house plastered (it is currently brick) and am worried about the plaster finish bridging the DPC. Is there any way of avoiding this?
Rgds Kieran

[danensis]

If you are having your house rendered, you need to check whether or not it is built with lime mortar or ememnt mortar. A cement render on a lime mortar built house will not move at the same rate as the house and will damage the brickwork, crack and let in moisture. A lime render is much better for the house as it lets the walls breath, and is also self-healing if there is any movement.

A render is usually finished with a bell-coving just above the dpc.

[anfeardearg]

The house appears to be built with cement mortar. It's a 30 year old bungalow so I presume lime mortar wasn't in everyday use then?

This bell coving sounds good. I must look it up.

Thanks for your help.

Kieran

[Tony McC]

Although you could use a gravel next to the house, a better solution is to use a linear drain or a dry channel arrangement, as shown on the Dealing with DPCs page.



Edited By Tony McC on 1098969994

[anfeardearg]

Thats great,
Thanks Tony