Damp Proofing

High level garden causing damp

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 2.58 PM

I am purchasing a property, which has a few minor damp issues, one of which is a high garden to the rear which is slabbed. It is currently close to the DPC and causing some damp on the internal wall. Long term I want to fix this properly but can anybody advise on a quick fix. The yard is shared and the slabs will all need to be lifted an relayed in due course, but just want to prevent damp this winter. The ground slopes toward the house but the paving is relatively flat, just uneven. I was hoping to lift the slabs next to the house, dig a trench along the wall, say 12" wide and 12" deep, relocate the soil and backfill the hole with large gravel, then put the slabs back down, to improve the drainage so water cannot pool close to the DPC/Concrete floor. Would that be beneficial? I think the next step would be to cut the slabs so they are 6" or so away from the wall. Beyond that I think lowering the garden would be the solution but it would be more expensive, complicated and involve the neighbour/freeholder approving it. Additional: Chemical damp proof course has been installed very recently and there is also the original slate damp proof course