Foxy, looks like a truck has rolled over that silver grate!!!
some say it is not the width that matters but the length does
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Never mind the quality, feel the widthā¦
Surely the erosion of the edges of tarmac would happen with any trench? The erosion for holes might also be limited if the holes were lined with a simple plastic tube or pipe.
Now as for the run off - the water would most likely seep through the hardcore thatās under the tarmac/asphalt surface. Then soak into the ground. The only reason it sits on the surface is because the tarmac in impermeable.
Of course simple holes would be a problem if the place heās in has a lot of rainfall. That might mean erosion under the tarmac. And would depend on the soil - if its clay that might also cause some subsidence. Thatās the trouble with lazy solutions.
yes erosion under the tarmac depending on the soil type and how well the tarmac has been laid for local conditions. Itās not something you would want to do as a DIY job and you should use a surveyor or structural engineer if you want it to last.
It doesnāt sound like this drive was laid well to start with if water is pooling there.
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I have to say ā¦ thanks to everyone whoās participated in this thread. Iāve never ever read one quite like it and itās actually rather interesting. Itās certainly different.
Inspirational and innovative problem solving.
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I wish I had been on this thread some years ago to seek advise on why my kitchen sink drain was blocked. Here is how long it took to solve.
Perhaps it was the u-bend. So put sink unblocker down. Still a problem. So removed thee u-bend and cleaned it - dirty but not blocked. The problem was further down. So rodded from the open u-bend. No effect.
So went outside and dug up the flower bed just when the sink drain is. Eventually, 50 cm down, found the drain. Cut open a square in the top of the drain pipe. The hole Iād dug filled with disgusting fatty water. Spent a day scooping the water out until I could see the hole Iād cut in the pipe.
Rodded the drain pipe as far as I could. Little effect. Bought a drain cleaning hose for my pressure washer and jet blasted down the drain pipe as far as I could. Spent a day scooping out dirty water and chunks of white fat. Eventually the water level settled and the drain seemed clear. Covered the hole in the pipe and refilled the hole in the flower bed.
2 months later, after a fair bit of rain, the same problem. Gurgling drain and then very slow draining sink. Dug out the flower bed, opened the hole in the drain pipe, jet washed the pipe. Still a lot of water half filling the hole. Worked out by rodding that there was a block or a joint preventing the jet wash hose from going further - about 8 metres from the hole Iād dug.
Decided this flower bed hole needs to be permanent. Dug out a larger square, set up wooden shuttering inside to create a wall space, filled the wall with concrete, let it set, removed the shuttering and bought a lid. I now have a āregardeā (look at) right over the hole in the drain pipe.
Spent 3 days digging in an arc 8 metres from the hole to try to find this junction or blocked pipe. Strangely it seemed this problem section was away from the sceptic tank rather than towards it. Why? Eventually through a process of tapping and listening worked where this block / junction should be. Dug down 120 cm and found a junction with another drain pipe coming from the house - roughly where the utility room is. This new, deeper hole rapidly filled with very stinky, fat ridden water. Spent a day emptying that.
Then I could see the two drain pipes joined and went out away from the house and from the sceptic. Kept digging in that direction. After a couple of metres I found a large concrete tank. Dug out the lid. It is a grease trap - this layout is so that any grease from the kitchen does not block the sceptic. Sensible except it appeared no-where in the plans in the house deeds. I doubt it had been cleaned for twenty years.
Pulled out the disgusting plastic trap inside the concrete tank, jet washed it, jet washed all the drain pipes, replaced the trap, closed the concrete tank, shoveled the earth back over it and filled in the hole.
Went inside for a beer. Oh, and a wash.
It sounds like @grovewalker might have a blocked underground drainpipe (or whatever you call a horizontal pipe). This āwet spotā could be wetness coming up from under the tarmac ???
@d00d Ah, now, I wonder if a water meter is installed at that property?
Checks on that could indicate a leaking main supply.
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on the other hand think of what that would mean. the ducks would miss their paddling pool
Youād usually see bubbles through the tarmac during a heavily rainy spell if thatās the case
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Good thinking.
annieS i aint building no french drain i dont even know what that is half the time. lincolnshire checking the hardware store online just gave me 12 diferent boxes and none say if the SAME one knocks out for 3 inch AND 4 inch. longdriver that ACO thing looks like a long trench not a square box under the drive?? oldgreyfox yeah garbage truck rolls over it so if a box just collapses then what do people put. still need the size that takes both pipes with a metal grate that wont squash
If this repair has to stand up to heavy traffic it is not a DIY job. If you dig a hole in the tarmac and put in a drain this will loosen the base material and cause the tarmac to sink further. If you put an extra layer of tarmac over the existing tarmac it will break up under the heavy traffic. The only solution is lifting the section of tarmac and relaying with the proper tools such as a vibrating roller compactor.
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scot37 hang on. your saying if i dig for a drain the asphalt sinks more so the only fix is lift the whole section and relay it with a vibrating roller?? that sounds like a whole crew not me and a shovel. so is puttin a concrete box under there just a terrible idea then. i keep seeing boxes with punch outs tho. still nobody said what size takes both 3 inch and 4 inch on the same one with a metal grate for trucks
Youāre wasting your time if your drive is badly laid.
annieS badly laid?? the asphalt has a dip where the water sits thats why i want the box there. i dont need a lecture on my driveway i need the size of the concrete box that knocks out for 3 inch AND 4 inch on the SAME one with a metal grate the garbage truck wont squash. anybody actually buy one of these or what
Best of luck in your venture.
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All driveways have drawbacks, just be glad you are not āWeedingā a block paved driveway laddie.
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