drainage

[racingmars]

hi all,

i have a small issue on the side of our house. we are built on a hill and so water tends to travel down towards us. the slabs have been put right up against the facing wall and as such it is getting damp.

i'm looking for the best way to create some drainage (or barrier to the wall), while still keeping to resonablly asthetically pleasing.

two suggestions so far;

1) inset one of those metal grilled concrete drains along the length of the wall.

2) step the slabs away from the wall by around 6 inches and fill the gap with gravel.

would either of these work, or more importantly can someone suggest a better way!

cheers

 

[marshman]

acco drain--------metal grilled concrete drains
these would work but the bright galvanize grates never really dull down and need to connect to
the drainage system from underneath, 115mm concrete core bit needed.plus a proper connection
to the drainage system.
French drain, gravel fill trench with a perforated pipe laid in the bottom, needs to connect to
the drainage system, small dia. pipe say 50mm, you can cut / drill, 50mm wide or outside dia.
hole in the top third of the drainage system pipe and end pipe run over it. cover with polythene
then a couple of shovels of concrete over it to hold it in place, (bit of a bodge and scarper) or
dig out drain pipe cut back length to fit a T or Y fitting (best / easiest done under gutter down pipe)
gravel can be changed to local stone, slate, granite, any aggregate, can look real good.
similar to French drain but you lay a gutter under the stone bedded in mortar, stop end gutter outlet
is inserted into right size hole drilled into top of rain system pipe, mortar benching is slope upwards
from gutter sides to wall face, slab trench face, will take all water away to drain pipe an even fall
is easy to attain, fast if beach pebble size stone is used in the bottom, 30/75mm,
or old brick, slates, tiles, etc, is used as a bridge over the gutter on the benching,
laid with a small gap then dress on top with whatever stone you desire.

or you can lift the slabs and relay them with a fall away from the wall to a drainage method,
(how they should of been laid : ):

 

[racingmars]

thanks for this, you're a star.

 

[marshman]

forgot, mortar for the gutter benching should be 3 & 1 or 4 & 1no less than
4&1 using a semi sharp or sharp sand.