Green Building Forum - French drain Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:34:27 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273190#Comment_273190 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273190#Comment_273190 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:39:00 +0100 Artiglio Pulling up the floor and redoing it, removing the tanking are neither economical or practical.
Its been suggested a french drain along the wall will at least prevent the wall getting any wetter and repointing with lime will help the wall dry out a little over time.

Plan is for a 600mm wide trench along the wall to 100mm below the concrete floor level, a studded dpm against the wall , a geotextile in the trench then backfilled , suggestion is to use cockle shells ( available locally) as this will give plenty of air space and quick drainage.

The wall will then be repointed in lime.

The homeowner understands that this will not make any immediate improvement , but that it should prevent further water being sucked into the wall and over time allow the wall to dry out a bit.

Is this a sensible way forward? Being a diy project its not overly expensive . Any suggestions to improve or new ideas?

TIA]]> French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273193#Comment_273193 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273193#Comment_273193 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 20:20:30 +0100 djh Posted By: ArtiglioI’ve a wall in an 1800 house, semi basement 9” brick,
Sorry to be ignorant but what is a 'semi-basement'?

100mm below the concrete floor level

A diagram, or at least a list, showing the levels of everything in relation to ground level would be helpful.

My instinct is that 100 mm below the concrete isn't deep enough. 600 mm width is more than enough; I presume that's because of ease of digging?]]> French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273198#Comment_273198 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273198#Comment_273198 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 22:37:34 +0100 tony French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273201#Comment_273201 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273201#Comment_273201 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 01:15:22 +0100 Artiglio
The house has differing ground levels front to back, at the rear the kitchen opens onto the garden , to the front the ground level is 1100mm above the finished floor level in the kitchen. I’ve called it a semi basement for lack of knowing the correct term.
The 600mm as you say was selected purely for ease of digging. Buildings in the area are usually built straight onto the chalk with spread brick and often don’t go much below floor level, i’d not want to go below the bottom of the wall and into the chalk. Though if the brickwork goes deeper i’d be quite happy to go down a bit further.

Thanks gents]]> French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273202#Comment_273202 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273202#Comment_273202 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 06:26:04 +0100 gyrogear Posted By: Artigliothe rear the kitchen opens onto the garden

sounds like you have a walk-out basement, then.

(like me)

gg]]> French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273203#Comment_273203 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=273203#Comment_273203 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 06:59:20 +0100 tony French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=301196#Comment_301196 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=301196#Comment_301196 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 08:51:46 +0100 cc64 https://youtu.be/bEVBOEIktr4
Usefully better than many other resources I've frittered time away on
Recommended for French drain detailing]]> French drain http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=301208#Comment_301208 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16086&Focus=301208#Comment_301208 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:08:15 +0100 Jonti