Driveways & Paving

Aco drain around patio leak the water to the ground.

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.23 PM

I recently hired a builder to add aco drain brickslot around my conservatory (patio slope is toward my house and water used to stay around the patio and the house wall). Issues I have: 1- At fist he left a gap around the aco drain. So most of water was going to the ground. He was saying technically there is nothing wrong with the gap as the water will soak by the ground. Also the existing damp proof membrane will protect the house from damp. My point was the gaps are making the aco drain useless as the water was soaking through gaps instead of Aco channels. He filled the big gaps with cement but saying it was nothing wrong. I am wrong here? Or I was right to push him to fill the gap? 2- Now when I pour some water to the Aco channel, most of the water will NOT go to the connected gully. I assume there are some gaps in Aco channels that cause water leak to the ground. Again he is saying Aco drains are to avoid flooding and leaking water to the ground is nothing to be worried of. I’m worried of having subsidence or damp in future because of the Aco drain leakage around the wall. He is an individual builder who worked for cash. Not friendly and I assume I cannot do much about it. Although I have CCTV and WhatsApp messages that shows he worked and got the cash. Can you please advise if I need to fix the Aco drain leakage or I’m too worried? Thanks

W Scott Building Services

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Batley

The Aco Channel drain is supposed to be watertight if fitted correctly. Ideally, diverted into an existing drain pipe. If the water runs down the gap before the Aco, then they are almost useless. Lift out the top grills, (they snap off and on it’s fine) check the end and see if it’s fitted into a drain, or there’s probably a hole that he’s punched out of the Aco bottom. They should be fitted into a main drain. You could ensure the water flows into them by applying black exterior silicone down the front gap until it’s full, then wet your thumb and run it across once to make it smooth. Good luck

Answered27 June 2021

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Proline drainage limited

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/56 reviews

Horsham

The whole purpose of an aco drain system is to take the flowing and standing water away from the areas affected, if water is getting around the outside of the aco then it’s not doing it’s Job. It is designed to take the water in and keep it within the system taking it to either a soak away or land drainage or a public sewer in the road. If any is escaping the aco channels or the pipes taking it away from the house then it’s installed badly! If this system is holding water in the Avis then I would not be suprised if he has just poked a hole in the base and allowed it to discharge at that point. Most builders only put them in for show and do not actually connect them up. I hope this helps.

Answered27 June 2021

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3

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SOS Garden Services

Rating: 5 out of 5

5/5101 reviews

Sittingbourne

The aco should be butted up tight to the property,to carry away any rain run off,each length snapped together and sealed and then piped into a drain hopper/down pipe,a lot of builders pipe into a rubble filled soak away at best that will definitely result In subsidence of the paving later down the line,

Answered6 July 2021

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1

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Anonymous user

The advice these other guys have gave you is sound. The o ly thing I would add is it might be worth getting someone else in to either snag it as suggested below or to completely refit it. The idea of the aco drain is to run into an existing drain system, not to just hold it. Also it should be almost airtight against the paving to ensure all water goes into the drain and not I to the footing below as it will just sit there against your brickwork. I doubt you'll get your money back if there is no written agreement and proof of payment. In future always make sure you have a Co tract and a warranty with any tradesman you use, always pay by transfer and make most of your conversations over email as this creates a paper trail. Hope this helps

Answered10 July 2021

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