Air brick / driveway

[Kaiseraslam]

I have a problem where the previous owner of the house I purchased has had a higher drive installed and it is covering the air brick. They have put a soak away around the house and a semi circle tile around the air brick.
When I purchased the house the surveyor reported that there was damp and instructed the seller to have a damp course done which they did.

Iv had a couple of people come round and they have suggested putting a arco drain in but they saod there is no where for the water to go (only drainage is at the rear of the house) as it’s collecting at the front corner of the house (where the joists ends have rotten) looks like waters been getting in through the air brick as that section of the drive is sloping toward the house.
Both of them said that I should probably just bite the bullet and have the drive’s ripped up and start again.

There was a suggestion to have a arco drain but there is no drainage at the front of the house so they suggested a soak away.

Any advice appreciated
Thanks

 

[tell80]

OP,

You will have to drop the surface level of the drive to (if possible) 150mm min below the original DPC line in your brickwork. The original DPC should have been installed below the air bricks and the joist tails.
At the moment I presume your sub-area is flooded, & will be creating massive amounts of condensation.
The condensation alone will cause wood rot.
A problem with such a radical drop is will it have knock-ons affecting the gateway for example?

Why not stand back and take pics of the whole front elevation, & side elevations - maybe a method of sumping or draining could be found?

To backtrack, who instructed the surveyor? The mortgage co, the seller or you?
As a rough guide, use your own surveyor, & you shouldn't allow the seller to do any required work - why, because they will typically do the least and cheapest amount possible. You will have no control over what is done or how its done.

 

[Kaiseraslam]

Many thanks for your reply tell80
Yes it was my mortgage company who did the survey I think. (7 years ago)
My mortgage only got approved once the seller instructed for the work to be completed. Once completed the company who carried out the work sent a email with what had been done and the house sale went ahead.
Attached is what was done.

The problem I have is there is no drainage at the front corner of the house.
Will get some pics of the driveway when I’m home.

Thanks

 

[tell80]

A very basic survey report. Fair enough, the guy's trying to earn a living ... but?
Was the present driveway installed since the report? Was the D&T work confined to the bay area?

 

[Kaiseraslam]

Hi. No the drive way was put down by the previous owner of the house ( so Iv been told by the neighbours) and he did it him self. The back end of the house the water slopes towards the drains and is ok.
Another pic attached
Thanks