Gully cover

[Zebra]

So you really think it's OK to cover the dpc, to about a foot over the dpc, with stones? Anybody else got a view on this?
Thanks all....

 

[Flyfisher]

I have a non-expert view. I think it will significantly reduce the ventilation to the wall above the DPC and retain a fair bit of moisture withing the gravel. I say this because we have an area of 20mm gravel outside part of our house and last year I dug through it to lay a new drain. Although it was completely dry on top it was very wet only a couple of inches below the surface.

Whether this would cause a damp problem against your wall I don't really know, but given that you already have a retaining wall I suppose it would be a fairly easy thing to try and then reverse if it dows cause a damp problem. Or perhaps you could fill only half the trench and monitor the situation over a few months.

Alternatively, if you have some spare bricks or blocks lying around, lay them out to create a (say) one foot square 'hole' about a foot deep and fill it with gravel. Wait for it to rain (or give it a good watering) and then dig down each day to check how quickly the lower gravel is drying out. My bet is that it will remain wet for a surprisingly long time.

 

[Zebra]

Ah yes, of course, the "try a bit and see" approach - always a good way forward... Thanks.

 

[tobydog]

Zebra - you know those plastic milk crate looking things that are sometimes used to make French drains, can't you cut those to the shape of the gap, cover the tops with membrane, and then put a shallow layer of stones on top. That will leave the void open and able to breath but show the ground level being flush. Just a thought.

 

[Zebra]

I think anything you have made upat the smith's is likely to be hundreds if not a thousand or more

You were right, I've just had the quote back from the forge - £810.00! It's not worth that much - back to the drawing board....

 

[JoceAndChris]

Metal is expensive. And skilled workers want £200 a day - at least.

 

[Flyfisher]

For custom metalwork I entirely agree, though there must surely be some standard products available at a better price.

This old favourite website has lots of examples: http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain06.htm

This is probably not suitable but shows how cheap a plastic grating could be (even if you throw away the drainage channel and just use the grating).
http://www.plastics-express.co.uk/channel-drainage/aqua-channel-drain-system/aqua-hdpe-drainage-channel-x-1m-p-kdc307aq

 

[Ebenezer]

Not sure it would be any good to you but we have an aco drain on two sides of our house. http://www.toolstation.com/m/part.html?p=41746&utm_source=feed&utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_campaign=googleshopping&mkwid=DvZtiUcF&pcrid=26798793503&gclid=CPO6hITU87kCFY7LtAodtiQAMg

 

[Zebra]

Thank you both for those links, but those products are not wide enough. I've just spent an hour googling for drain grating, and have found suitable products in Australia and the USA, but nothing big enough here.

 

[Flyfisher]

Does the grating have to be the full width of the gully if the main requirement is to prevent someone tripping into it while still allowing good ventilation and keeping out leaves and other debris?

Would it be possible to fashion some partial closure of the gully (steel angle perhaps?) leaving an opening the appropriate width for one of those standard gratings?

 

[Zebra]

Yes..... this is a very good idea. I hadn't yet thought of putting the grating inside the gully rather than on top, but this does open up all sorts of possibilities.
Either I could build a steel framework, supported at the back (as I don't want to screw brackets onto the house) by steel legs inserted into the ground, set within small concrete pads; or use tobydogs idea of soakaway crates rested onto the base of the gully. Then some standard drain grating could be rested on top.
Question: If I were to use the soakaway crates, do people find that these are a haven for rats and mice?

 

[tobydog]

Question: If I were to use the soakaway crates, do people find that these are a haven for rats and mice?

As this possible application is probably a bit unique it's hard to say. Rats and mice will always find a void tempting, however, they also like to set up home close to a food source. If there is no food source, they have no real reason to move in.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Agree with Toby - rats and mice are only interested in harbourage that's adjacent to a continuous food source. Under the chicken shed, a network of tunnels in the bank near the chicken shed, in the compost heap -that kind of place. Tunnels that are out of the wind and wet where they can have their babies very snugly. Yes they come in the house when it starts getting cold, if they can, but only if they have a bird feeder or fallen apples or some other food source nearby that they can carry in and store. They're also extremely shy so would choose a place that isn't adjacent to the house if they could. All in all I don't think your gully looks all that tempting no matter how it's covered.

 

[Zebra]

Oh good. No, there's nothing to eat out there, I don't think. Also, next door has four cats.

 

[Zebra]

Well, today at last I started making my gully cover. I have bought some fibreglass grating, which looks better that it sounds. I'm making a frame from galvanised angle iron, one side bolted to the retaining wall, the other side standing on legs made from threaded rod set in tiny pads of concrete. Didn't get as far as I thought I would today, it got dark and I suddenly came over all tired....
Pictures to follow when it's finished. Probably not this weekend. Maybe next. Wait and see!......

 

[Zebra]

Sorry for the terrible quality of the picture, it was dark and raining when I finished, but here it is.
Cost £250 for the grating, another £250 or so for the metal for the frame plus bits and bobs, so total of just over £500, plus four days of my time. But it's done, and I think it looks really good!

 

[Flyfisher]

Nice job. It certainly looks good in the photo!

 

[Feltwell]

Nice job! Let's hope you are rewarded with a nice dry wall, and a happy church.

 

[Lime]

Err... is it bolted down?

 

[LadyArowana]

That looks really good, you must be pleased to have that job off the list.