Trying to find some specifications DPC

[fraserde]

Hello, I've just had some concreting done which isn't the minimum depth below the DPC. In places it's above it

I've been told by the guy from the local council that it must be a minimum of 50mm when undercover or 75mm not under cover and wouldn't pass a building inspection but I want to show this to the guy who says he's never heard of it.

I've been searching the net and can't find these facts anywhere, I would be really grateful if somebody could point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

[silentC]

It can be difficult to find that kind of information in writing. In lieu of someone having a link, you could try asking the council guy if he knows where it is set down. Or you could try a private building inspector - but it may involve a fee.

Stands to reason that you'd want it below the DPC. I usually try to have finished ground levels at least 100mm below any slab or other spill over point, not that this helps you.

Do you have a contract with the concretor? The only way might be to get it inspected, have it failed, and then go through the legal approach. Could be there's an simple way of fixing it using a waterproofing membrane, but it shouldn't be at your cost.

[fraserde]

Thanks for your reply, I have no contract and I haven't paid any money.

From what I can make out most people want it as high as possible because of the step out from the doors and they may be used to doing it this way.

I used to be in the building trade before emigrating and as soon as I saw it I knew it wasn't right but wasn't sure of the specs here so called the council.

[SAISAY]

'scuse my ignorance, what is DPC???
Wolffie

[fraserde]

'scuse my ignorance, what is DPC???
Wolffie

Damp proof course.

[SAISAY]

Thanks
A day without learning something new is a day wasted
Wolffie

[Make it work]

Hi Fraserde, the guy from the council is spot on and knows the BCA well. It is on page 206, under the heading of Waterproofing of Masonry, section 3.3.4, it is probably available at the local library, possibly in the reference section, if so you can't borrow it, but you can copy it.

I can email you the page if you like, as a jpg file.

[fraserde]

Hi Fraserde, the guy from the council is spot on and knows the BCA well. It is on page 206, under the heading of Waterproofing of Masonry, section 3.3.4, it is probably available at the local library, possibly in the reference section, if so you can't borrow it, but you can copy it.

I can email you the page if you like, as a jpg file.

Thanks, but there's no need as I phoned back the guy from the council and he was nice enough to photo copy that very page for me.

Hopefully when I show this to the concreter he'll have to agree he's at fault although I wont hold my breath.

Thanks again.

[Brickie]

http://www.concrete.net.au/pdf/HousingWEB.pdf

Page 38

[fraserde]

http://www.concrete.net.au/pdf/HousingWEB.pdf

Page 38

Thanks

[fraserde]

The guy has just come round, the boss that is. He walked around the back looked at it and said it's a lovely job what's your problem? I told him about the minimum depth between DPC and finished concrete, he said it was rubbish I've never heard of it. I showed him the regs, he then said it's rubbish and to go and have a look at other concrete round here and most of them are that height. I said I haven't got to sell those houses.

He then started going on about the crack in my front drive and said I should be more worried about somebody trying to knock money of for that than the back, I obviously said that it had nothing to do with it.

He took some pictures and said he was going to speak to an engineer, still insisting it didn't matter what the regs say.

I asked him why he didn't dig down the two inches required and he said it would have been a lot more work which he hadn't charged me for, yet he'd already charged me for a bobcat to come and clear the old concrete so surely it would have took just one sweep with that

[Brickie]

Common sense tells you that by breaching the damp course you will get rising damp in the brickwork above it.

[fraserde]

Common sense tells you that by breaching the damp course you will get rising damp in the brickwork above it.

He said it runs away from the house, I said what about cappilary
action? He didn't know what that was and said it was rubbish when I explained. I then asked him what he thought the regs were for? I said it's obviously that distance for a reason.

He also argued that because the concrete was levelish with the weep holes any damp would get out ok

[Brickie]

Obviously youre dealing with a dill.

[fraserde]

Obviously youre dealing with a dill.

The thing is he seemed genuinely surprised when i showed him the regs, he probably does it all the time and has no complaints.

But I guess most people wouldn't know.