Lowered ground levels - what to do next?

[George Hartshorn]

I'm having the ground levels outside my house lowered as they were bridging the DPC

We're having york stone paving put down to the level of the green line, and the red line is where the DPC is

The question now is what to do with the area between the new level of the exterior and the DPC?

The builder wants to paint on an exterior damp proof membrane over the bricks up to the level of the DPC, but as far as I understand it, that won't do any good, and I don't want to risk doing any damage by affecting the breathability. I was thinking we just clean it up, repair any mortar and let it be...

Should note it's an 1890s house in London so solid wall costruction

Again I have a similar thing at the rear but the bricks seem to be in much worse condition, is it just a case of repairing the brickwork and leaving it exposed?

 

[noseall]

I'm having the ground levels outside my house lowered as they were bridging the DPC

We're having york stone paving put down to the level of the green line, and the red line is where the DPC is

The question now is what to do with the area between the new level of the exterior and the DPC?

The builder wants to paint on an exterior damp proof membrane over the bricks up to the level of the DPC, but as far as I understand it, that won't do any good, and I don't want to risk doing any damage by affecting the breathability. I was thinking we just clean it up, repair any mortar and let it be...

Should note it's an 1890s house in London so solid wall costruction

View attachment 363209

Again I have a similar thing at the rear but the bricks seem to be in much worse condition, is it just a case of repairing the brickwork and leaving it exposed?

View attachment 363210

Is that an old cottage? If so, I'd be careful just how deep you dig, If I were you.

 

[George Hartshorn]

London house from the 1890s!

Thats being build back up with type 1 and then slabs going back on

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Just put slabs 100mm away then 20mm gravel in the gap. This minimises splashing, allows movement and also lets water within the soil evaporate away. Ensure the slabs fall away from the house, more gradient if they're bumpy.

Ensure there aren't any blockages around the perimeter, i.e. let any groundwater flow around the whole building and dissipate away, not get trapped in any one place.

Anything waterproof is as likely to keep water in as keep it out. Let it do its thing naturally.