DIY peanut nearly dropps a house.

[bricks]

Just thought Id show you what not to do..

This is my house which we are slightly renovating at the moment ( just got it). The previous owner has put this green Corregated roofing up to help screen the neighbours yard at some stage and help hide two downpipes from the roof.

The first downpipe is in bad condition dented and buckled to keep the water flow behind the roofing sheets and out of sight.
the other downpipe is also directed away from the concrete path/ gardens and right down into the bottom corner of the building


There was a nasty musty wet smell permiating from this area constantly, all enclosed, no ventilation, mould and mildew had movie nights behind the screen

The water coming off the roof straight into a 6m x 150mm wide dirt trench right next to the house

Just a few pics, notice that tree roots now grow above ground and up into the air at my place, and the nice hole that has been eroded under the concrete .

Ive demolished the offending structure now and plan to fill the hole in the ground with stabilised sand, the downpipes are directed out towards the back lawn until i can put them inground or to a tank ( still deciding).

Me and the other half can finish our indoor renos now, yard work will wait for summer.

When doing your own work fella- use your brain and think. PS: I did the building inspection here before we bought it, yes I knew about the problem, no It hasn't actually wrecked anything. Point is if left in that state definately would have.

Have fun, save money, don't be to proud to ask a silly question like " if i hide my downpipe will that mean that water won't come out of it any more?"

[bricks]

more pics!

[ozwinner]

Sorry, I dont really see the problem, ok the downpipes dont go down the stormwater drain, but its not like the building is going to collapse from it.

Al

[bricks]

The problem is the 400mm hole that's been eroded right next to the back corner of the house. The cracks in the concrete around the area ( and the neighbours carport). The tree roots growing there? Some heading straight for the corner of the house?

All the water from those pipes was soaking in under the ground even without rain it was constantly wet and really stinking to high heaven out there? The mould and slime growing behind was quite a fair bit.

PS: the first photo is when ive nearly finished pulling the sheets off and I just thought then to grab the camera because it was ( i thought pretty bad).

Why do you say it's not so bad?

[ozwinner]

The problem is the 400mm hole that's been eroded right next to the back corner of the house. The cracks in the concrete around the area ( and the neighbours carport). The tree roots growing there? Some heading straight for the corner of the house?

All the water from those pipes was soaking in under the ground even without rain it was constantly wet and really stinking to high heaven out there? The mould and slime growing behind was quite a fair bit.

PS: the first photo is when ive nearly finished pulling the sheets off and I just thought then to grab the camera because it was ( i thought pretty bad).

Why do you say it's not so bad?

How is "all" that going to drop a house?
I think you are over exaggerating it a tad, dont you.

So there is a wet patch, and tree roots.

Al

[bricks]

Yeah maybe, hope not, might've wasted my weekend?


Either way it had to go coz of the smell, and it looked pretty average,

[peter_sm]

It is a good feeling to change something for the better. Yeah?

[bugsy]

you have also done your very own bit of termite prevention treatment.
good work

[bricks]

yeah I've heard termites follow water? in much the same way as tree roots?