repairing rainwater drain (pictures)

lfnfan · 18 Oct 2020

Hi all

The bottom has fallen out of my drainpipe drain (pictures help explain). After scraping out all the soil that seems to have washed in, and giving it a bit of a wire-brush, here's what I can see. The dark line at the bottom is where the thing has just split.

I was planning to cement up the bottom up to the red line with some ready-mix quick-set cement, but thought it wise to check for advice on the Forum before I do that!

Any advice gratefully received.

many thanks

regsmyth · 22 Oct 2020

It doesn't look good. Is it just rainwater coming down that pipe?
I'm not sure but it may have a trap - can you feel where the pipe becomes sound again?
I wouldn't have thought concrete was the answer. I think you'll need to dig it all up and replace with new, which could be a bit of a nightmare.
I suspect it's been leaking so the ground below has washed out.

lfnfan · 22 Oct 2020

Hi regsmyth
Thanks very much for your response.
Yes, it's just rainwater - the pipe comes straight down from the guttering.
You're right there's a trap. I've done a section which hopefully makes it a bit clearer than the pictures. It's basically the bottom of the trap that's fallen out.

From what I can feel and from sticking my phone down to try and video what I can, the other side of the trap and the bit of the pipe I can see heading down to the drive looks in OK condition.
Really really hoping to avoid having to dig it out - would be a right pain.
You're right again that the stuff I scraped out of the bottom was soil - wet soil. Coming up as the water washed out of the broken trap....

Thanks again for helping me out here

regsmyth · 23 Oct 2020

See if you can get a hosepipe into the main run - send some water down and see if it runs away ok.
If it does, then you could try concrete - it won't last forever but might give you a few years.

jj4091 · 23 Oct 2020

Something like this might be ok https://www.toolstation.com/ultrapl...xmTx9-v1tzUUK_XbFrzt-ofZ9ptV4eSxoCKJMQAvD_BwE or even pour some resin into the bottom.

Nige F · 23 Oct 2020

Use something like setcrete concrete repair from Wickes.- resin/cement. use it sloppy and just pour in 25mm or so in the bottom of the gulley.

lfnfan · 25 Oct 2020

Hi Regsmyth
I managed to get a hosepipe down the main run today - and the water ran away no problems - nothing coming back in to the trap.
Thanks jj4091 and Nige F for the recommendations.
I'm probably going to go with something like this - not quite the same as you recommended but hopefully still OK....?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/cementon...kg/58196#product_additional_details_container

Thanks again!

JohnD · 25 Oct 2020

The broken yard gulley is a very common problem, and the only solution is to dig it out and renew.

It will be softening and washing away the earth around and under it, leaving a cavity.

If the wall was built with lime mortar this will also wash away.

lfnfan · 4 Nov 2020

Morning all

Just to finish this thread off, I poured in some quick-set concrete in to the bottom of the trap at the weekend. Checked after the heavy rain the past few days - the water in there is draining nicely, and totally clear - can easily see the concrete through the 10cm or so of water in the trap. No soil mixed in like it was before. Really pleased.

But a bit ****ed that I didn't see this earlier - who knows how long it's been a problem. Am going to open a new thread about how to check for a cavity....

Many thanks for your help on this one

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repairing rainwater drain (pictures)

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