How to add drainage for path next to house?

[DIYLuke]

Hi team

im looking to remove concrete from the side path of my house and lay a gravel path. A section or the house at the back doesn’t have an eve and I’m worried if I remove the concrete the rain water will drain through the gravel and next to the stumps, thereby risking destabilising the foundations. Should I simply angle the path away from the house for drainage or look to include some drainage under the path?

thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @DIYLuke,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Have you got any photos showing the current path that you could share? Having a visual of what you are working with can certainly help. Let me know if you need a hand uploading images. I am happy to help if required.

You’re right to think carefully about drainage before removing the concrete. If rainwater collects or drains too close to the footing line, it can soften the soil, cause movement, and, in the long term, affect the stability of the foundations.

I'd suggest that the simplest and most effective solution is to build in fall and drainage away from the house. When preparing the base, ensure the ground slopes at least 10mm per metre away from the wall so that surface water naturally runs off rather than soaking in. I'd suggest you can do this by laying a compacted base layer of road base, before laying your gravel on top. This helps keep the surface stable while maintaining good drainage. The water will drain through the gravel, hit the compacted layer and then flow away from the foundation.

Adding a french drain alongside the path is also a smart idea to capture any groundwater that finds it's way in and take it away before it can get to the stumps. Check out How to install garden drainage for an example of a french drain being installed.

You can run the agi pipe along the house side of the path, and surround it with coarse gravel wrapped in geotextile membrane to help capture and redirect any excess water. The pipe should lead toward a safe discharge point, with a stormwater line being the best option, although this would require the assistance of a licensed plumber.

Whatever steps you can take to improve drainage would certainly be worthwhile and can give you some peace of mind that your homes foundation is protected.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[DIYLuke]

thanks very much for all the helpful tips @JacobZ 

Lots of options for me to consider. Glad to get your reassurance that if I include a fall away from the house drainage should be ok. 

I've included some photos here. I'll be putting the house battery on concrete plinth and build the gravel path around it. The deck I'm building under the window has concrete under it, which I will remove now and ensure there's a soil fall away from the house under the decking, as well as tilt the decking so water runs off it too. 

I'll look to put a treated timber edging under the weatherboard along the path to hold the base/gravel path in place. The fall would be left to right away from that side of the house.

Would I build the French drain on the fence side of the path? Does the drainage through a French drain need to go into a proper plumbed storm water drain off the property, or can it just sink into the ground after it sits in the drain? 

thanks again.

Luke

[EricL]

Hello @DIYLuke 

I believe @JacobZ was referring to have the agi-pipe on the house side not the fence side. The French drain must be properly plumbed into the storm water drain. Please note that you will need the services of a plumber to connect the agi-pipe to your storm water drain.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric