Driveway Disaster

[Davelogic]

Looking for some advice please. My MIL had a company out to sort her front garden. Big job, removal of raised garden area (5m x 5m x 1m) to install a large, block paved driveway. The drive slopes away from the house towards the street.

Who’s responsibility is it to ensure adequate drainage? The contractor has not installed any drains and now when heavy rain, water bubbles up from under the drive like a hose pipe has been switch on.

They are not prepared to come back to install/ check for a soak away and they maintain it’s not their fault and they have not done anything wrong.

 

[BlueLoo]

Get a Civil Engineer to do a report.

Won't do you any good because i bet nothing is in writing about draining.

However, it will let you know how to fix it properly which you can then submit to the original contractor for discuss and fair agreement or get someone else in.

 

[cwhaley]

Any new driveway over a certain size (just checked, it's 5m2) must have the provision for rainwater drainage -- it cannot just discharge onto the public highway. Our driveway slopes towards the house where it meets a drainage channel which is connected to a large soakaway under the drive.

If this driveway is 5m2 or above, then check the requirements of your local authority and if it's clearly stated that drainage must be required then you can pull the contractor up on them not following legislation. It is their responsibility to incorporate it, regardless of whether it was stated or not.