Outside drainage

[chriselevate]

Hi,

At the back of my house the previous owners have done this:

They filled the soak away with the small stones which looked nice but unfortunately the get blocked up with leaves, dust, dirt and stuff so the water hangs. I've taken all the stones out and cleaned out the soak away (which now runs nice and clear into the drain in the bottom lef hand corner of the photo). What should I put back into this soak away to allow it to function correctly and look nice at the same time?

Thanks

 

[Bodgeitandleggit]

Try wickes plastic drive channel £12 for a 1m section...depending if it will fit measurements are 1000 x 137 x 135mm

 

[Blagard]

It looks like they have attemped to deal with the problem of a high ground level. Bodgeitandleggit's idea is a good one if it works and does not suit his handle . An alternative is to use larger stones about the size that you can just get your hand around. Less likely to block and easy enough to take out and clean now and then.

 

[Nige F]

It looks like they have attemped to deal with the problem of a high ground level. Bodgeitandleggit's idea is a good one if it works and does not suit his handle . An alternative is to use larger stones about the size that you can just get your hand around. Less likely to block and easy enough to take out and clean now and then.

Those sized stones use to be called "reject ballast" and could be used under floor slabs - alternatively get down to the crumbles - I don`t expect the Duke of Devonshire will mind you taking a few of his stones

 

[HERTS P&D]

Nige, why have you changed your location to uk and not Sussex? Are you on the move again with the travelling community?

Andy

 

[Nige F]

On way to Dale Farm - Solidarnosc

 

[chriselevate]

Thanks guys.

So using small stoned like are there at the moment will simply trap dirt and block up the water flow? It's best to use large stones? Like we've got on Eastbourne beach or... dig it out and fit 1m lengths of plastic channel?

If you can see where my nearest window is, I'm actually going to knock through a set of French doors (to a structural engineers spec and signed of by the council). How would you make good of the threshold on the outside? How would it work with my stones/place to stand as you step outside? Would you generally advise sitting the doors on a layer of DPM one brick up from the ground or what would you suggest given my high outside ground level?

Thanks again