How would you level the ground in this side return?

[mike_]

Hello,

We have purchased a Victorian mid terrace this summer, and have been undoing years of questionable decisions. One of these is this side return - the air brick used to be completely underground, with layers of soil, concrete and flagstones bridging slate dpc (plus cement render on the walls). After we have dug out the ground to the top of the brick foundation, the walls have gotten noticeably drier inside, and the musty smells gone away.

Now the problem is I’m not sure how to level the pathway in a way that makes sense. As you can see from the photos, the drain pipe sits at the level just below the original air brick. Then there is also a 60s extension with minimal foundation that was built on raised ground.

Last, but not least, the air brick from inside sits midway on the floor level (and was covered by a baseboard by previous owners).



Does anyone have suggestions on how to make it work without creating an obstacle course in the side return? And would installing half height air brick (although not ideal, but I really don’t want to raise the floor throughout the ground floor) be okay to make it work from the inside?

Appreciate all the suggestions and I’ve attached a few more photos for a better idea. Thank you!

 

[Gothichome]

Ooooo, that’s a hard one. My first thoughts, create a b bit of a well around the lower air brick, bring the level up to the bottom of the air brick under the door. Build a wood step to your new grade being sure not to restrict air flow under the stair. And if at slope the grade down to the garden if the drain pipe will allow it. If not you may be able to create a low swale to the middle so water collects and drains to the garden.

 

[LadyArowana]

Where does the pipe go? could that be lowered? In terms of tidying up the area I see that as an issue because it needs to be protected. Otherwise a gravel surface might hide a multitude of sins and still be free draining

 

[mike_]

Ooooo, that’s a hard one. My first thoughts, create a b bit of a well around the lower air brick, bring the level up to the bottom of the air brick under the door. Build a wood step to your new grade being sure not to restrict air flow under the stair. And if at slope the grade down to the garden if the drain pipe will allow it. If not you may be able to create a low swale to the middle so water collects and drains to the garden.

Thank you! Was also thinking around the lines of a board walk style wooden deck pathway.

The garden level is even higher at the back, so a swale in the middle might be the way

 

[mike_]

Where does the pipe go? could that be lowered? In terms of tidying up the area I see that as an issue because it needs to be protected. Otherwise a gravel surface might hide a multitude of sins and still be free draining

The pipe goes through and under the neighbour’s property, so I don’t think that can be lowered easily

Thank you for suggestion, I might dig out a small swale in the middle, fill it with gravel and try to build a decking path on top

 

[noj]

Possible solution for the air brick internally?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/telescopic-underfloor-vent-black-220mm-x-215mm/12025