How much of a concrete foundation should be visible above ground level?

[volks]

1950s house, concrete foundation. Damp proof course I think is on the concrete foundation before the first row of house bricks. The survey mentioned the flower beds were banked up high around the property above the foundation so I dug them out in places to expose the foundation.

One corner i went very deep to see how much foundation there is - see attached.

I'm just wondering how much deeper the ground level needs to be around the property, or if the amount above ground level is sufficient.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The pics just look like render to me on the face of the wall. Foundations are much wider than the wall (or should be) they should also be a foot or so underground.

 

[SpecialK]

As above, Foundations on older houses were normally strip rather than trench fill. Depending on what ground you have they could be deep. Mine are about 1.2m down and are bricked up from there! Poor bricklayers...

 

[JohnD]

In some districts, houses are built on a concrete raft, but on your house, I think your photos show a cement mortar plinth applied to the brickwork after build. Dig down further, you might find the original ground level, probably about ten inches below the top of the plinth.

Best to dig out the excess soil, it is likely to contribute to damp.

Amusingly, a plinth is often applied to hide damp, but makes it worse.