Hello!
I’m currently building a Zebcolm trench to solve my exterior ground height problem(and accompanying interior damp symptoms!).
I’ve dug down two courses through solid concrete which had been laid around the perimeter out to around 1m from the wall.
The house only has 2 courses of footings so I can’t dig any lower in a meaningful way.
I was expecting to dig through the concrete and find a soil base with which to build my retaining wall on, however there is another layer of concrete below, sitting about 10mm below the lowest footing course. I imagine this was originally put in to help consolidate and hold the soil under the footings, and for that reason I don’t want to remove it, however this now means that not only can’t my trench drain straight down into soil, but the 10mm gap means any water in the trench is going to quickly erode at the soil directly under my footings.
I’m now looking for potential solutions and would love some ideas.
One thought was a lime wedge, running say 20mm up the wall, plugging the soil gap and angling away from the wall into the trench so that water runs away from the wall.
On a secondary point, does the render in the second picture look like a lime parge or sand and cement mix? If lime I will just remove from the lower two courses and leave where the black jack is(though remove the blackjack itself)
Any thoughts much appreciated.
Luke
I’m currently building a Zebcolm trench to solve my exterior ground height problem(and accompanying interior damp symptoms!).
I’ve dug down two courses through solid concrete which had been laid around the perimeter out to around 1m from the wall.
The house only has 2 courses of footings so I can’t dig any lower in a meaningful way.
I was expecting to dig through the concrete and find a soil base with which to build my retaining wall on, however there is another layer of concrete below, sitting about 10mm below the lowest footing course. I imagine this was originally put in to help consolidate and hold the soil under the footings, and for that reason I don’t want to remove it, however this now means that not only can’t my trench drain straight down into soil, but the 10mm gap means any water in the trench is going to quickly erode at the soil directly under my footings.
I’m now looking for potential solutions and would love some ideas.
One thought was a lime wedge, running say 20mm up the wall, plugging the soil gap and angling away from the wall into the trench so that water runs away from the wall.
On a secondary point, does the render in the second picture look like a lime parge or sand and cement mix? If lime I will just remove from the lower two courses and leave where the black jack is(though remove the blackjack itself)
Any thoughts much appreciated.
Luke