Yet another 'what do I do with this wet wall' post!

[Eric56]

Another update. Had drainage team out for two days doing a french drain. They fitted around 11metres of large orange piping to which they cut a variety of grooves into it. Joined it all together and connected it to my existing rainwater pipework which runs under my drive into adjacent woodland.
Had dry weather for it which was good.
This morning they covered most of it with 10mm shingle. I asked them not fully go overboard as I want to see the new french drain working before worrying about making it look perfectly neat and permanent.
Hopefully this is the solution and it all works as any new rainwater will be taken away from the side and back of the house - which is hasn't done since 2005 when the property was altered by the previous owner.
Team seem really confident in their work as they do this work every week they said.
Have booked them to come and run a drain pipe under my driveway further up as the rainwater from my garage runs onto the drive and then down it! If it's not one issue it's another....

 

[Cherryburn]

Did they lay down an appropriate membrane before the drain and shingle went into the trench? It's quite important to prevent clay and silt from working into the drain over time and blocking it, but seems to be a step that's often missed.

 

[Eric56]

No they did not. House is on sand. They wanted to fill a lot more shingle. I want to see it all work first before I fill in and make it permanent. Of course nothing but dry weather now since have had it done.
Also had rainwater drain laid on sloping drive. Could see the path of water down the driveway moving the shingle. It doesnt look pretty but will address next year.

 

[Lacan07]

An update after eight months.

Has been a year of a LOT of digging and excavating. The beds front and rear were removed. And it's now nearly waist deep around the walls. It wasn't a great Summer. But new lime pointing and "some" sun has been drying the wall. Also cement was removed inside the wall adjacent to the wettest looking part. Also removed part of the steel above my stove to vent the chimney space more. I think I look at this wall every single day.

This morning I had an electrician over to remove some sockets inside my entrance hall. There was heavy corrosion which proves that high ground level and little shade wasn't helping. And there was traces of moisture in the wall.

We went outside - in very heavy rain. It was powerful enough to make water pool in the lower left corner and in the three holes at the back of the house. This really highlighted that the walls are soaking up rainwater from the ground. It needs to be addressed and addressed immediately. So I have a drainage firm coming Thursday morning to have a look. I think it looks like I will need three land drains taking the rainwater away from the house South in the adjacent woodland.

Having a wet wall is a worry and whilst not the end of the world, I feel a bit better today knowing something is going to get done and *hopefully* this tale will close with "now the water is getting away from the house the wall dried out" as the ending.....

Keep digging everyone! Lower those ground levels!

So are you saying the channels you've cut around the house are filling or pooling with water when it rains?

This happened to me at the back of my house which is mostly consists of clay, water would collect in the channel and pool up against the house. I realised digging a trench just wasn't enough (making it worse in fact) and it showed me how slow the water sinks into the ground, so a french drain was the order of the day.

 

[Eric56]

At the rear yes. I had three separate holes. Two would fill a little. In the recent very heavy rain it became apparent. It was not much. But yep drainage is now in. Yet another issue the previous owners failed to address AND they had it all dug up for underpinning works.