Patio Has Been Laid To Damp Course 

In the process of having my garden transformed with aco drainage, porcelain patio and turf using a contractor. Was concerned about the height of the aco drainage vs DPC when I came home from work having had issues with this on a previous property. Came across this video which educated me more about this topic. Still feeling like I needed reassurance, I decided to call John in the evening earlier this week. He invested 20+ min of his time, reviewed some pictures I shared and provided sound advice based on his technical knowledge and years of experience - If I lived in a nearby radius I would not hesitate to use John for all my landscaping needs - what a polite and caring guy! (apologies again for disturbing your haircut ;-) and wish you all the best!.

Good morning John.. My husband Harvey has just spoken to you regarding our patio project. Thank you so much for your sound advice, and for taking the time to answers questions regarding dpc levels. I can honestly say you've now put his mind at rest. Have a good day :)

Top advice as always John. 👍

Hi John, you sound like a very honest and genuine person well done for having morals. I have a quick question, i have a Timber Framed House, with block work on the outside, and Timber Framed inside, I've ripped up decking that was installed in our house we purchased as it was very slippery and unsightly. It was installed approx 1.5ft above the DPC. I've removed everything now and I'm back down to ground level and its all Type 1 at ground level, however I'm installing a patio, however it will be impossible to install it 150mm below the dpc as it would involve a serious amount of material being removed and the patio would then be approx 2ft below the rest of the surrounding garden and paths to the side of the house. The side of the house has block paving and quite a large gap between that and the house which is filled with stone chippings. My finished patio level will be approx 60mm below the DPC and just below the air bricks. Would this be OK? I was planning on leaving a gap between the house and the patio and then either installing a grating cover between the patio and wall of the house and dig down below that back down to the ground level that was there below the original decking (which will then just let the rain water flow through as it did the decking) (I can't install an ACO drain as cant tie into any of the guttering drains) or alternatively would it be ok to just leave just a gap between the patio and the wall of the house and just fill thar with stone chippings? Would I need to make sure the ground below the stone chippings is 150mm below the DPC? Would this the be OK?

I would have liked to have seen the work hope your well John

Not a question about your main point but what grout do you use? I brush in with a resin called joint it and it’s great, seems to last years. Staining can be an issue as you say but I (now) just carefully clean

nice videos very good , i have a little quiestion if i want to put a patio along the damp course level threshold level . by having the fall away from the house can i put a layer of dpm against the house in between the slabs and the wall. or should i leave a gap and fill with stone perhaps something close to the slab colors (and put dpm between wall and stones perhapes) . i know really patios should be well bellow any damp proof course really

What Grout do you recommend for porcelain chap, I'm about to use Mapei keraquick, is this something you would trust?

Just some general advice please. Considering laying a porcelain patio at the back and side of the house. Likely to be about 9 or 10 metres wide by about 4 metres. Thinking of going 1 brick below the DPC as our doors have been set quite high. Looking at placing something similar to ACO threshold drainage against the house wall between the pavement and wall, but with the fall towards the drainage system, so in effect from the slabs towards the house, but into the threshold drainage of course and the threshold drainage ever so slightly angled with a fall away from the house. Have a number of downpipe points to be able to connect the threshold drainage into as well. Do you think that would be OK or risking problems?

great information.I have had a porcelain patio laid.I have many issues.They grouted with a wet mix grout which as they had uneven slabs and unequal spacings has been finish with a trowel,sponge and float so all areas are different and poor, also rained heavily just after grouting so the finish is bad.Patio is also higher than the air bricks to the house,bad cuts and the edging bricks havent been flaunched so are breaking away.The main issue is the drainage,the patio runs to the house and they haven't installed any drainage to the house.I did comment about this at the time but I was told as soil is good soil an aco wouldnt be required.Anyway being a plumber myself I just presumed to have a professional job but it seems there's bad eggs in your industry as there is in mine..great videos

hi john I've watched so many of your video's and learnt a lot, I'm in the process of getting my garden done for my daughter for summer, I'm getting different advice regarding my DPC with the fall on my garden and patio if i can get in contact and ask for your advice as i would trust in what you tell me. Its hard because i don't want to waste a lot of money doing it wrong. Thanks

Iv'e got my neighbour doing my patio so he best do a good job ! lol, I've seen his work and its top notch......shame for that couple as its such an expensive outlay

I see damp coarse bridging time and time again. Most of the time it's because they can't be arsed digging it out to the correct depth to allow for that 1 or 2 brick below DPM. If they can't be arsed to spend the time to dig it out they most certainly are not going to do a good decent job with any thought about it. Drainage and where the water is going to go is the first thing I do when I design and build a garden or patio. And up here in Carlisle it rains alot and I discuss this thoroughly with the customer and drill it into them it's the most important part of patio design and build. My simple sentences to alot of customers that want to know why landscaping is expensive I simply say it's the biggest most expensive room in the house to do properly and say to them what makes them think a garden or patio will cost any less than a kitchen or Bathroom to do. Then I tell them about the drainage and all the details that go into building and designing there gardens. Explain things properly and customers will understand and constant communication is key

Flopast flodrain drainage channel from Screwfix is good. Always worth a look.

Great information, would you recommend to use grano dust instead sharp sand to lay bricks paving?

Sounds like a looming disaster. They will probably need to cut the closest slab to the house in half and pull the drain off the wall and dig down and put in a 50mm gravel border lower than DPC so any run off from a now deeper channel drain soaks into the gravel. The also want to be raking out that brush in grout and replace with a proper porcelain grout. The video would have been nicer if we could see the patio in question but I understand the sensitivities around that.

Hi John, im glad ive found you on here as i also need some advice before commencing with new porcelain patio being laid finishing at dpc level . My building inspector said it will be ok as long as acco drainage system is layed level along dpc along new extension . I havent yet had extension walls rendered and my thought process is saying lay acco drains first and then apply render drip bead onto wall so it sligtly over hangs acco drains and then apply silicone render to external walls then lay patio with a slight fall to acco drain. Do you think i may still end up with damp issues or does this method seem ok. Thanks for any advice , Terry

Hi, I have watched your earlier videos and at the time you seemed to be happy with Easy Joint. I am currently using it on my sandstone project and am now concerned that you no longer seem to recommend them?

Can aco be laid at damp proof level of patio slopes away from house

Not fit for purpose,,,so get them back in or solicitor if company will not comply to the customer rights.

Moving forward… I’d suggest they get in contact with the company, they could be surprised by the result?!! If the company doesNt help, then consider legal action? Or ask for some money back to rectify… the problems will only get worse..

Dont understand your comments regards to brush in grout. I've used a brush in grout with my porcelain installation. All materials were purchased from Marshall's and I haven't had any staining issues.

Send us pictures we don’t want talking we want pics 😳

Tip: When talking about this stuff, mix in a phone video of the actual problem over your voice. high five