IT’S tempting to give house hunting a miss when the weather turns inclement but actually this is the exact time you should be viewing your next possible home
Water has a very destructive nature and can absolutely destroy a property’s garden and residence if not directed around the site properly. An example of this relates to the fall on hard surfaces, like paving and concrete, this should always fall away from the residence so internal flooding doesn’t occur. On a dry day it’s very difficult to see, without the help of a spirit level, if the fall moves correctly away from the properties entrance points.
Sometimes it is impossible to fall hard surfaces away from a property and a drain must be installed. It’s surprising how many drains we come across that are not connected to the storm water system so simply collect water and overflow once full. You may be a bit embarrassed to pull the homeowners hose pipe out to see if the drain works with a torrent of water rushing through it – a rainy period will highlight this quickly for you.
Guttering and roofing are the first line of protection when it comes to managing water on a property so check they are in good order and not rusted through. All down pipes should be hooked up to the storm water system and clear from debris. A wet day will quickly tell you if there is a hole or a blockage.
Soggy grass shows poor drainage, which can be detrimental to lawns and garden beds depending on the species of both growing not to mention an inconvenience to live with. A sub surface drain is relatively cheap and easy to install and this can help to move water in the soil to a point where it no longer pools or straight to a drainage system. The drain is installed in the ground and then surrounded by aggregates and filter fabric to keep the drain clear of soil however its vital the drain has fall on it or water will just fill the pipe and maintain the moisture content in the surrounding ground.
