"philip" wrote in message
...
Hi,
The previous owner has a flower bed in front of the house which I like,
but the level of the soil is uncomfortably as high, close to the damp
course. I
was told to dig a "brick depth" and fill it with chips. My question is:
The
soil might find it way back and mixed in with the chips. Would it be
possible
to lay some porous material which will provide good drainage and at the
same
time keep the soil separate? Which is more suitable, wood or stone chips;
and
what porous material that is available? You kind assistance would be
appreciated. Regards, Philip


My daughter has just bought another house and has a similar situation,
.......... only worse :-((((

The front garden slopes down to the house and the drive to the garage does
as well, consequently all water runs to the house.

Two things have been done by the previous owner. 1) A channel has been laid
across the drive and feeds into a drain and 2) Of more interest to you, a
channel has been dug between the path and the house, you could do this with
your flower bed, (and like a house down the road to me with a similar
problem), a paving slab laid vertical with a gap of about 9 inches between
path/flower bed and filled with gravel. This puts a drainage channel of sone
18 inches deep and well below the DPC. I would imagine that a brick or two
placed end on well below surface area between the house and the slab would
stop the slab leaning in.

Hope this helps.

Mike

--
--------------------------------------
Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rnshipmates.co.uk
www.nsrafa.com