Driveway soakaway

dremario · 18 Apr 2015

Hi everyone, I have two questions relating to a driveway, help would be much appreciated:

1. I have a driveway currently being installed. The builder excavated a 1 square meter soakaway, 80 cm deep in the lowest point of the driveway. He filled it with the same particles he used to construct the sub-base, I think it's called type one.
I'm concerned that this soakway will become the weakest point of the driveway and it will start to subside sooner or later. Is my concern substantiated?

2. Any idea what is a reasonable price to build a 35 sq meters driveway?

theprinceofdarkness · 19 Apr 2015

Over 80% of his "soakaway" will be filled with solid material, so it will have very little room for any water! and the active area will be 1 square metre which does not sound very much for a 35 sq. m drive. Can't you allow the water to drain off into the road (someone elses problem then!).
Frank

dremario · 19 Apr 2015

theprinceofdarkness said:
Over 80% of his "soakaway" will be filled with solid material, so it will have very little room for any water! and the active area will be 1 square metre which does not sound very much for a 35 sq. m drive. Can't you allow the water to drain off into the road (someone elses problem then!).
Frank

The builder is telling me that the law does not allow rain water to be allowed to escape on the street and need to be kept within the property boundaries.

freddiemercurystwin · 19 Apr 2015

theprinceofdarkness said:
Over 80% of his "soakaway" will be filled with solid material, so it will have very little room for any water! and the active area will be 1 square metre which does not sound very much for a 35 sq. m drive. Can't you allow the water to drain off into the road (someone elses problem then!).
Frank

No it won't be someone else's problem, the local authority are very likely to take action against the homeowner for such action, you ought to be checking the (very basic) planning legislation for this before you start dishing out advice.

theprinceofdarkness · 20 Apr 2015

I have never seen any drainage gulleys at the front of a drive. So how does water not flow onto the road?
Frank

dremario · 20 Apr 2015

theprinceofdarkness said:
I have never seen any drainage gulleys at the front of a drive. So how does water not flow onto the road?
Frank

The drive slopes from the house towards the road.

tomfe · 20 Apr 2015

It should not have been filled with 1" down as this will not let the water out.
The size of the soak away is on the lean side but should be fine if constructed correctly.
You are not allowed to let your rain water from a newly built driveway enter the street without planning permission.

Have the pavers at the lowest part got gaps for the water to run down or is there a drain etc?

Costs would proballly range from 2-3.5k depending on a number of factors and styles etc.

dremario · 20 Apr 2015

tomfe said:
It should not have been filled with 1" down as this will not let the water out.
The size of the soak away is on the lean side but should be fine if constructed correctly.
You are not allowed to let your rain water from a newly built driveway enter the street without planning permission.

Have the pavers at the lowest part got gaps for the water to run down or is there a drain etc?

Costs would proballly range from 2-3.5k depending on a number of factors and styles etc.

I've made the builder put crashed concrete in the soakaway.

There is linear drainage installed between the driveway and the street, the water from which goes into the soakaway.

freddiemercurystwin · 20 Apr 2015

theprinceofdarkness said:
I have never seen any drainage gulleys at the front of a drive. So how does water not flow onto the road?
Frank

Maybe go to Specsavers?

dhutch · 20 Apr 2015

Have a look at : http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain08.html#invest

As said, there has been a big clamp down on allowing driveways to run off into the road, and rightly so, if I am honest.

Daniel

dremario · 20 Apr 2015

dhutch said:
Have a look at : http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain08.html#invest

As said, there has been a big clamp down on allowing driveways to run off into the road, and rightly so, if I am honest.

Daniel

THANKS, A VERY USEFUL RESOURCE.

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Driveway soakaway

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