Resin drive question

[Mottie]

Are they 'permeable'? Mrs Mottie is selling her mums house, she had a resin drive laid about 3 years ago. Replaced a red brick type drive. Solicitor for the buyers are asking. She doesn’t know. It hasn’t got any drainage grids.

 

[Londoner2]

I would say no, but looking at that, the water would drain down the slope and away form teh house.

 

[23vc]

If they’re actually bothering to look into it they’ll probably claim it should have an aco on the pavement boundary (or should have had a planning application). You might be able to make out it was done before the planning regs changed to need this (don’t think it was that long ago)

Edit - assuming it’s non permeable as forgot resin can be permeable. If it’s permeable then all good

 

[^woody^]

There's two types

Resin bound - stones mixed with resin - permeable.

Resin bonded - stones stuck on a layer of resin - impermeable.

If you can see the resin, it's permeable.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I saw someone laying the stuff on youtube, so I'm now an expert!

They put "no fines" concrete under it, basically 20mm gravel, cement and water. It's full of holes, they wacker it in. It sets hard but is probably more permeable than a lawn.

If in doubt take your watering can or a bucket and pour water on it. You can't beat science.

 

[cdbe]

Of course it is, I'm sure I remember your mother in law phoning the council at the time and receiving verbal confirmation that it was all good.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Of course it is, I'm sure I remember your mother in law phoning the council at the time and receiving verbal confirmation that it was all good.

Out of interest, what did I have for dinner 3 weeks ago?

 

[martygturner]

The water marks from the grey outlet drain point to it being not permeable.

 

[cdbe]

Out of interest, what did I have for dinner 3 weeks ago?

Give me 5 minutes - I'll check the cameras.

 

[James Davis]

My neighbour had it installed recently and his is permeable. To a point anyway. I assume the rain will hit the clay underneath and then the pores will be full of water. I did wonder if this would ever cause it to blow in future with freezing. Impermeable might be better, subject to the water running off away from the house.

Anyway, I'd just say "we think it is permeable but are not certain". Leave it at that. Let them figure it out. If there is a concern about planning or whatever, you can always just pay the 80 quid for their future insurance against issues. Or they can pay it.

After all the problems I had to contend with after buying my place, I won't have any sympathy in future for buyers who are wasting my time querying small details and things that cost a few hundred or a grand or two. Either buy or F.O.

 

[Mottie]

It wasn’t particularly cheap. Her sister who is dealing with the solicitor said she 'believed' it was permeable. The solicitor is now asking whether they have a certificate for it. Is there such a certificate? I'd be tempted to tell them to FRO or ask if they would like that £7k drive ripped up and replaced with what it had before! I don’t think it’s the buyer that’s asking, more the solicitor trying to stretch the fees out.

 

[James Davis]

The council are obviously not arsed. Say that you don't know when it was done. At least five years ago if anything... up until a recent change, development that was done without permission became immune from planning enforcement action after 4 years. And there's always the insurance, which doesn't cost much.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Don't get wound up by them. I replaced loads of windows in my last house. Bought them online and bolted them in. Then sold the house.

Q. Were any windows replaced?
A. Yes

Q. Was the installer Fensa approved?
A. No

No consequences, the sale went smoothly. They just need to ask so they can say they ticked the box. If the buyer doesn't care then they won't.

There's a possibility someone might be on commission to flog you a liability insurance that will never pay out for £200 or so. They do this sort of thing for unapproved extensions. But unlikely just for a driveway.

 

[jj4091]

There's a possibility someone might be on commission to flog you a liability insurance that will never pay out for £200 or so. They do this sort of thing for unapproved extensions. But unlikely just for a driveway.

I'm in the process of selling a lock up garage and the buyers solicitor asked me to pay £200 for indemnity insurance because it is on an unmade road. When I told him I was not prepared to pay it he said he could not proceed without it. Fine I said tell your client I am withdrawing from the sale and you will refund the almost £1K fees he has paid you. Oh says he I will speak to my client. Never been mentioned since and I expect it is probably because half £200 was commission for him. I also learnt that nowadays solicitors demand their fees up front never heard of that before either.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It's all a legal scam industry really. Well done for standing up to the grey-suited mobsters.

The buyer should be made aware of a potential risk, they can decide from there. I suppose they have the option of paying the £200 if the solicitor manages to frighten them enough. As long as they're getting money from someone they won't care.