Good morning!
I’m new to the forum and hope to find some help here. Around our house (a semi-detached property), there is a strip about 40cm (16 inches) wide right next to the exterior wall, filled with lots of small stones. I would like to look it up on Google, but honestly, I don’t know what this edge or channel is called. After every rain, our façade looks terrible.
My brother once said we should remove the stones and replace them with gravel or something similar.
What options are there since the drainage system is still located in this “channel”?
Best regards,
Else
I’m new to the forum and hope to find some help here. Around our house (a semi-detached property), there is a strip about 40cm (16 inches) wide right next to the exterior wall, filled with lots of small stones. I would like to look it up on Google, but honestly, I don’t know what this edge or channel is called. After every rain, our façade looks terrible.
My brother once said we should remove the stones and replace them with gravel or something similar.
What options are there since the drainage system is still located in this “channel”?
Best regards,
Else
Hello Else,
what exactly do you mean by small stones? Are they lying directly on soil?
Your brother is quite right. A good solution is to remove the “stones” deeply enough, then lay down a non-biodegradable weed control fabric, and cover it with a layer of gravel to your preference. Gravel comes in various sizes and colors, and also mixed varieties.
The gravel prevents soil from splashing onto the exterior wall. If any weeds grow between the gravel, they can easily be pulled out.
In my opinion, this solution looks good and requires very little maintenance.
what exactly do you mean by small stones? Are they lying directly on soil?
Your brother is quite right. A good solution is to remove the “stones” deeply enough, then lay down a non-biodegradable weed control fabric, and cover it with a layer of gravel to your preference. Gravel comes in various sizes and colors, and also mixed varieties.
The gravel prevents soil from splashing onto the exterior wall. If any weeds grow between the gravel, they can easily be pulled out.
In my opinion, this solution looks good and requires very little maintenance.
This is called a gravel edge. Below the gravel, there is usually a sand and crushed stone mixture in which a drainage pipe wrapped in a geotextile fabric is placed. You can use any material that allows sufficient water drainage and is frost-resistant.
Coarse gravel is the classic option.
Coarse gravel is the classic option.
Hello Else, hello Jörg,
A drainage pipe in a gravel board in front of a house wall is not mandatory and, in my experience, also not necessary.
Drainage pipes with the appropriate protective covering are required according to DIN 4095 (drainage for the protection of building structures) and DIN 18195 (building waterproofing) outside of a basement slab in conjunction with the corresponding waterproofing of the exterior basement wall. This is to drain non-pressurized water away from the exterior basement wall using a drainage system.
Above the drainage pipe and the surrounding filter gravel layer, a filter/infiltration layer and/or a filter/infiltration board should be installed.
The gravel board you mentioned is installed above this. I have already explained its construction earlier.
An important point to consider is that, for cavity walls with two layers, there must be a minimum height difference of 10cm (4 inches) between the top edge of the gravel and the ventilation openings.
For buildings without a basement, drainage is not necessary.
If pressurized water (usually groundwater) is present in front of a basement, it must be sealed according to DIN 18195 part 6, typically by using a "white tank" waterproofing method.
So, Else, you can continue with confidence. However, the stones you use there should be clean.
A drainage pipe in a gravel board in front of a house wall is not mandatory and, in my experience, also not necessary.
Drainage pipes with the appropriate protective covering are required according to DIN 4095 (drainage for the protection of building structures) and DIN 18195 (building waterproofing) outside of a basement slab in conjunction with the corresponding waterproofing of the exterior basement wall. This is to drain non-pressurized water away from the exterior basement wall using a drainage system.
Above the drainage pipe and the surrounding filter gravel layer, a filter/infiltration layer and/or a filter/infiltration board should be installed.
The gravel board you mentioned is installed above this. I have already explained its construction earlier.
An important point to consider is that, for cavity walls with two layers, there must be a minimum height difference of 10cm (4 inches) between the top edge of the gravel and the ventilation openings.
For buildings without a basement, drainage is not necessary.
If pressurized water (usually groundwater) is present in front of a basement, it must be sealed according to DIN 18195 part 6, typically by using a "white tank" waterproofing method.
So, Else, you can continue with confidence. However, the stones you use there should be clean.
Similar topics