ᐅ Moisture in Neighbor’s Garage: Should You Use Dimpled Membrane with or without Fleece?

Hello everyone,
we have the following situation: there is a difference in ground level between our neighbors’ property and ours. As a result, soil was piled up by our garden landscaper against their garage. He only used a dimpled membrane as protection for the garage wall. After about 4 years, the entire length of the garage showed moisture damage inside the neighbor’s garage at approximately 5 cm (2 inches) above floor level. Until then, apparently only the garage base had some form of damp proofing. The landscaper does not consider himself responsible, arguing that the neighbors should have waterproofed the garage higher since they should have known the neighbor’s property was at a higher level, but that is not the point here. We have now excavated a trench and applied a bitumen coating to the garage façade and installed a cove fillet at the bottom.

Now we would like to refill the soil and have some questions: 1. Is a renewed dimpled membrane sufficient in combination with the bitumen layer and cove fillet? 2. If yes, which way should the dimples face? It seems there are benefits in both directions. My instinct is to have the dimples facing the garage so that the wall can be ventilated behind it. 3. Would using a dimpled membrane with a geotextile fleece provide additional protection?

I would really appreciate some advice.

Thank you in advance.

I will upload photos tomorrow.

Hmm, does no one have any ideas? Or am I in the wrong forum section? ;o)

Here are at least the photos I mentioned.

Check out building trades: Where to place the studded membrane.

"For this reason, pressure-sensitive waterproofing membranes should always be installed with drainage membranes that include a slipping layer, protection layer, and load distribution layer. These prevent indenting of the waterproofing and the resulting damage. [...] Drainage membranes with slipping, protection, and load distribution layers are installed with the protection and slipping layer against the waterproofing. The filter fleece therefore also faces the soil."

Thank you for the response. Just to make sure I understand correctly: Since the coating on the garage is a liquid-applied bitumen layer, I now need a 3-layer dimpled membrane in order not to damage this layer?

Has your neighbor given you permission to backfill against their garage? Have you or your neighbor altered the terrain?

jani83 schrieb:

Thank you for the response. Just to make sure I understand correctly: Since the coating on the garage was a liquid-applied bitumen layer, I now need a 3-layer dimpled membrane to avoid damaging this layer?

That’s how I would interpret it, yes. And I’d rather be on the safe side anyway. For 20 square meters (215 square feet), it’s a difference of less than 100 euros. It’s worth it to me, especially since I already caused damage to the neighbor...