Drainage around a timber frame house and clay footings

[mnorris3]

Hi,

I'm in a bit of state due to the weather we have been having and some ongoing works coinciding.

I have been installing central heating to my house, with the boiler in an outhouse, and have connected the boiler to the house using a super preinsulated bundle of pipes.

Problem is that the trench I dug to put the pipe in is now allowing water into the house just under the floor level (solid clay with a skin of concrete (On my list to replace with lime)).

Even with the trench filled it still allows teh water in, so I re dug it out and dammed it with Bentonite 3 meters from the house. I'm not sure if this has worked yet - due to the rain last night.

Anyway - on to the question. I obviously need better drainage in the garden and probably some french drain arrangement around the house. What can safely be done near the house considering it is 7 courses of brick (2 above ground level) straight on clay (as far as I can tell) - with a timber frame house on top?

Thanks and sorry fo rthe long post.....

 

[CHRIS]

Try our friend here

http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain03.htm

A french drain sounds like the thing to do but if you post pictures we can have a look. If you slope the sides away from the wall it will be ok.