DPC in wall concreted over?

[vards01]

Dear All

I wonder if anyone can help me with this:

I am just about to put some large gates on the side of my property which required me to break up the concrete side path in order to get one of the gate posts in (against house) in doing this it has revealed that the slate DPC (which neither me or the surveyor knew was there!) has been bridged by the concrete path. The whole thing gets worse as I'm sure the whole concreting arround the house has been done in the same fashion, in fact it has. The ground level is above the slate DPC. The property has also had the silicon injection DPC one course above the slate.....probabely as concequence of bridging the slate. It would just appear to me that who ever laid this concrete couldn't be arsed to dig out so just stuck it on top, and unfortunaley all other levels have been taken off of this.

I only really have two options here in my opionion - 1) to dig out just below the slate and use that as the new level, which is going to require a hell of a lot of work, 2) or leave as is and just stick my posts in, I just think with the second option i could be making more work for myself in the long run.

Any help much appreciated - Thanks Ian

 

[noseall]

You could always chase in a lead flashing around the property. Looks ugly but would prevent any splash problems.

 

[vards01]

Originally there was a lime render plinth going round the property which has been hacked off some years ago, probably when the silicon dpc was injected. I was going to reinstate the plinth with some stop beads incorperated to stop any damp transition on the slate and silicon lines, I guess originally the plinth was taken up from the slate DPC.

 

[vards01]

A pic of the problem

Untitled

• vards01
• 2 Aug 2009
• 2

 

[Nige F]

Seriously, I wouldn`t worry about it ...unless you get any damp patches indoors. And most of them are condensation/lack of ventilation. A surveyor can only report on what they see-that`s why I didn`t have one on this bungalow I`m in now. But then I have M8`s and sons in the trades, apart from gasfitters. I don`t know anyone with a degree P.S that damp injection was more likely because a Building Society told a previous owner to have it done -Than any bridging of a slate dpc.

 

[vards01]

There is a few damp patches in the house but nothing major. I am probably being over cautious here I just do not want to put the posts in then have to take them out a later date as the levels are wrong. I'm assuming the slate was originally intended to be at least 1 course above ground level?

 

[vards01]

I have spoke to my local BCO he reccommends two options:

1) Excavating site to 6" below the slate DPC (this would meen lowering manhole covers etc).

2) Digging small trench to include some form of drainage argri drain or similar, with a plinth dripping directly into the drain to take rain away. Anyone know a website or similar thread detailing this type of stuff?

Both interesting ideas, any thoughts?