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Author Topic: Is this topsoil and lawn adequate?  (Read 2689 times)

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Jarvo273

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Is this topsoil and lawn adequate?
« on: February 19, 2022, 06:04:29 pm »
Linden homes just laid my lawn. I wasn't in when they did it but prior to it being laid there was heavy impact as they were still building last minute after topsoil went down. There was also loads of cement from a wall being laid and rocks and stuff.

I've lifted up some of the turf and they clearly rotovated the cement and everything else in.

The land is marshy and the top soil they laid very clay based.

The soil doesn't seem prepared well either for the turf. See picture.

Reading the NHBC standards they need to rotavate 30cm deep and sort and impacted areas that occurred  on the top soil after it is laid. Which clearly it was.

Should I accept this? Can you get someone independent to look at it and say if it meets the standards. The NHBC say the lawns should be suitably prepared to drain also. In a wet marshy area with clay shouldn't they have some kind of drainage in?

Thanks
Neil



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Re: Is this topsoil and lawn adequate?
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2022, 07:54:55 am »
No you shouldn't accept this and now is a good time to reject the turf.
Write to Linden and clearly state this doesn't in any way,  meet NHBC standards and it will all die in the summer.

The preparation does not meet NHBC standards in that rubble and debris have been left in inside the top 300mm.
That said, the NHBC inspector will dig trial pits is a few areas and should they not find debris or consider it to be minimal they will nto require any action from Linden Homes (Vistry)

It is pretty much clear the "topsoil" is mainly clay based and unacceptable too, irrespective of compaction.  It will waterlog and flood.  You will ned to get in professionally analysed to give you evidence to prove its  unsuitability.

It would be a good idea to install land drainage at the time of remedial works but you may need to pay towards this as the area within 3m from the house is the only part which NHBC require not to flood or waterlog.
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