Cracked concrete yard / drain gutters - damp seeping through

[iKittias]

Hi

In my back yard, the concrete is heavily cracked and it slopes towards the house - in particular it seems that around the drains etc there is enough damage to get thorugh to the void space & who knows where else - which I think is getting damp (need to confirm)


Internally, I know there is a hole to the cavity space (currently hidden behind the waching machine) - and it looks generally pretty filthy inside, I don't think there's any damp proof coursing anywhere either - but you can definatley feel the breeze on a windy day from inside.

I know that there is a lot of historic patching up that is now falling apart, and many of the drain/water/waste pipes coiming out I'm suspicious of (I have unfortunatley discovered that most of the DIY the previous owners did is fairly shambolic and I know from neighbours that it was they who added the additional downstairs toilet, far right hand side of the door as you look at it)




Initially (when I thought it wasn't so bad) I was going to use some Everbuild Jetcem to seal everything up, and to replace the concerete drainage with some sort of proper drain system type thing - I know you can get channels that are meant for garages but thought that sort of thing would do a better job - but think really it might need more.

If anyone could offer any advise on how big a job this may end up being greatly welcomed - as I just do not want to let damp become an issue (or bigger one} - the sooner the better!

Cheers for taking the time

- Matt

 

[noseall]

Looks like damp heaven to me, especially with all that leaky earthenware drainage and the render down to the ground. I modernised and improved all my drainage and switched from old salt glaze to plastic. All that drainage could be improved and the outlets shortened/straightened, simply by rearranging where gullies and drains are located. Probably get it done for around £1800. Expect any quote to have caveats attached, as its all below ground (not visible) and assumption.

 

[George_engineer]

Even if the concrete wasn't cracked, just rain splashing off a hard surface will saturate a wall.

All the concrete needs to come up, lower and slope thebground away to a channel drain and check the existing drainage/renew gullies. Top with a gravel strip.

It'd be thousands but not mega work.

 

[iKittias]

Thanks both.

I was thinking about the slope direction etc too, I know the water mains comes in somewhere underneath all this - and I think I recall there being mention of some older drainage works parallel to the wall too on the original surverys - I'll dig them out to check the precice locations.

Until being in a position to get the works done, I do have tools that I could use to remove some/all of the concrete - I've seen other posts saying that removal generally seems to be a help with dampness - would there be any reasons not to do this (& improve soil drainage undernerath) now rather than holding out as we get into the autumn/ approach winter; and anything to watch out for?

Of course ideal would be to crack on but it would be a few months until I can raise funds - would rather not just leave it to get worse.
Interestingly/unsuprisingly, walking down the terrance I can see pretty much everyone else has already had theirs dug down/remodelled already. The whole yard needs an overhaul anyway so I don't think it would be doing something that would need un-doing later, so if there's anything that will help in the short term I'll happily do what I can.

Cheers

 

[23vc]

Only that you’d end up walking a lot more mud into the house over winter, so I’d plan to put some boards down
Another advantage of you cracking on is you can dig down a bit and investigate/eliminate some unknowns