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Groundwork & Foundations

French Drain or Repoint Walls?

Anonymous user 05/03/2024 - 2.30 PM

I’ve currently got a situation at my parents home where there’s rain water coming through the bricks (maybe cracks below ground) or possibly even the air bricks as it’s not either the plumbing or the drainage as they’ve had a look and scan and nothing appears to be pipe related. I’ve had a few discussions with bricklayers and what their opinions where and it was to either repoint the wall entirely to clear of any cracks OR have a french drain installed to direct rain water away from the house. What would be the best option? i’m not extremely knowledgeable in old houses and their maintenance so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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4 Answers

ADR Property Maintenance

Rating: 5 out of 5

Boston

depends how old the house is, if its solid brick no cavity it was most likely built with lime mortar this allows any water ingress to wick out through the mortar lines, if you repoint with cement this seals the wall trapping any water ingress in the brickwork creating cold walls penetrating damp high humidity internally which increases the chances of condensation on the walls it is commonly mistaken for rising damp. French drain will stop water gathering at the base of the house allowing it to seep into the ground providing it is earth under the French drain & not clay. good luck Alex

Answered4 October 2023

Jt Clarke

Rating: 5 out of 5

Ellesmere Port

If you excavate the area then install tanking to the wall this will seal the wall and prevent water getting to the brickwork this would be a more cost less than pointing the brickwork Then lay clean stone to the trench to form a french drain,

Answered4 October 2023

Martinhickey ground work

Rating: 2 out of 5

Carshalton

If the damp is going up the wall you left, you would have to pump it with insulation. If the water is large in at the bottom of the footing, you would have to on the pendant to get it hundred percent right that would be my answer.

Answered12 October 2023

Anonymous user

If rainwater is seeping through the bricks or potentially the air bricks and the issue isn't related to plumbing or drainage pipes, the better solution among the two would likely be to install a French drain to divert rainwater away from the house. This approach can help manage surface water and prevent it from accumulating around the foundation, potentially causing seepage. Repointing the wall might not fully resolve the issue if the water infiltration is primarily due to water pooling around the house.

Answered18 December 2023