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

On 28/8/06 23:30, in article ,
"philip" wrote:

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.

What did the surveyor think of this flower bed?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Building regs would like soil, grass... to be 150-250mm below the DPC.

If you are going to do something about it then create a barrier between the flowerbed and your house and bingo you are done!

It's a very common problem, especially with conservatories. We probably landscape 4 – 5 gardens per year where a conservatory has been constructed and instead of taking away all of the spoil the company has backfilled spoil up against the DPC, in some cases breaching the DPC.

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 28/8/06 23:30, in article ,
"philip" wrote:

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.


You should have two courses of bricks clearance between the soil/path
surface and the DPC. If not, you lay yourself open to damp problems. And
your insurance wouldn't want to know about it if the soil level was too
high. I would dig it out once the flowers have gone over for this year, and
have a fresh start next year.

Look upon it as an opportunity to add manure or whatever takes your fancy,
and rearrange the flowers to your own choices.

Steve

"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

"An Oasis" wrote in message
...



If you are going to do something about it then create a barrier between
the flowerbed and your house and bingo you are done!


and if the OP has not been weak enough to kill file me as others have been
silly enough to do, then he/she would have the answer from my posting :-))

Ho him

Mike
:-))))


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