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Author Topic: Garden Drainage Issues  (Read 3455 times)

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shelby

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Garden Drainage Issues
« on: January 11, 2021, 12:28:28 pm »
First time poster!

I just wanted advice on issues with our lawn. We've been in the house a little over a year now and this is our second winter.
We have issues with the garden drainage every winter - the lawn makes a squelching sound walking on it and there are very small pools of water sometimes. It is squelching every single day throughout the winter and we pretty much can't walk on it the whole winter. We kept off it October through to March last winter.

Last year I reported it and they tried to blame it on the flooding we had. I told them the flooding was in February and we had first reported the lawn back in October but they pretty much ignored me. Now they are blaming the heavy rainfall even though I've told them the lawn is like this every day. Also the lawn should be able to cope with rain!

I excavated a raised area of the lawn in the summer and put sleepers in to make some raised flower beds and I know full well there is tons of clay underneath it which is clearly causing the issue. The problem is I have really kicked off with them about it and been very firm and we've reached a point where they just won't do anything.

The lawn has been re-turfed by them twice because they prepared the ground so poorly and when they did it in the summer I asked about getting some drainage in whilst I had the digger and the lawn was being ripped up and the customer care manager promised me if it was still an issue this winter he'd come back and rectify it, now he's basically fobbing me off.

I haven't been to the NHBC, I've read enough reviews to know they will pretty much fob me off and technically it's only areas within 3m of the house that they cover for water logging.

Just wanted people's opinions and advice! The reason I am not doing drainage myself is that there are no pipes at the back of the house to connect in to and I'd have to put any drainage under the patio and part of the block paved drive to get to the nearest drain. I did have some videos that were very good for seeing the issue but I cannot upload them so I've put a couple of screenshots in.


Maxell

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Re: Garden Drainage Issues
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2021, 07:27:36 am »
Unfortunately many gardens have clay subsoil both new and older properties. Depending on the clay depth you may be able to install a soak away and drainage .
It sounds like your builder has been reasonable. 


New Home Expert

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Re: Garden Drainage Issues
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2021, 07:36:48 am »
It would appear the cause is compacted clay under whatever topsoil you have.
Indeed, even the topsoil may have been left in haps and compacted to a degree too.

I am assuming your garden is level so one alternative would be to raise the lawn in the middle and slope it down to the edges and install a French drain around the perimeter ending at a gully connected to the nearest storm water drainage.

What you have is surface water that becomes stagnant and will kill you lawn and plants.

The builder doesn't have to do anything as you rightly say the warranty doesn't require drainage for standing water within 3m of the actual home.
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