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I’ve had issues with water going underneath my house installing a drain was a failure and made it worse in cyclone, can anyone recommend what I should do I’m at my worst right now health wise and so over trying to fix this problem, I’ve just thought this morning maybe I should get a landscaper to reslope the courtyard or build a deck on top or roof it the neighbours house is pouring water into my area and it is just getting worse I’ve already had so much done and with limited funds done mist myself but am I just going to have to sell this house , the idea is them get it ready to rent so I can take a break to get my health on track
Hi @angelique5,
It sounds like there’s quite a bit to unpack here, and more details would be helpful in understanding the full extent of the issue. The first thing to clarify is whether the water going under your house is actually entering the dwelling or causing damage. If not, water flowing beneath a house is quite common, and unless it’s leading to structural problems, it may not be as critical a concern as it seems.
Regarding the courtyard flooding, could you provide more details on why the drain was a failure? In theory, any significant water buildup should take the easiest escape route, which would be the drain. Did the drain become overwhelmed due to the volume of water, or was there an issue with installation or grading? Also, does the area flood under normal rainfall conditions, or is it primarily a problem in extreme weather events like cyclones? If the drain is ineffective even in regular rain, there may be a need to reassess its placement, capacity, or the overall grading of the courtyard.
The water from your neighbour’s property is another key factor. Could you describe exactly how it flows into your space? Is it running off a hard surface, like a driveway or roof, and directly into your courtyard? If so, is there an opportunity to have a conversation with your neighbour about redirecting it to their drainage system? If their runoff is significantly contributing to your flooding, property owners are generally responsible for managing their own stormwater.
If regrading the courtyard is an option, that could help improve drainage, but it depends on where the water has a natural path to exit. A deck or a roof might provide some relief by covering the area, but they wouldn’t necessarily solve the underlying drainage issues. Since you’re considering renting out the property, any solutions would need to be long-term and practical.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and limited on funds, a landscaper or drainage specialist might be able to provide a professional assessment and prioritise cost-effective fixes. Let us know more details, and hopefully, we can help work through the best approach for your situation.
Mitchell
My courtyard is constantly flooded from all this rain and after installing a drain pit it has now made the situation worse with water going underneath the house when it wasn’t before unless with a extreme weather event, I think it’s because they positioned it in a high point , I’ve run out of money so I’ll need to tackle this myself, I’m looking for basic instructions on how to do & what specific sand extra to use I realise I will need to slope it away from house and remove some underneath so it flows better downwards to yard , I have a neighbour right above with solar panels very close to the gutters so it seems like I just get too much of her rain also . Otherwise maybe I should eventually put a sloping extension from my gutter which would fix it too but carpentry isn’t really in my knowledge, however I could maybe do a course on it & save up for materials, for now I just want to stop the rain running under my house and all the stress this is causing me can you please advise me best course of action thank you 🙏
Hi @angelique5,
I note you've made a similar post in the past. Sorry to see it's still a problem for you.
Would you please be able to take a look at my previous response above and provide a bit more information to answer my questions? That would greatly assist us in providing solutions.
Many thanks,
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell, thanks for your message
the neighbours roof has a solar system which I think was installed too close to the gutters and a roof guy on inspection had mentioned by law they need to be a certain way back so it flows down to gutters not jumping straight over the roof . I’ve got a landscaping guy coming today to have a look and quote so I’ll be interested to see what he says and let u k know his opinion. My neighbour has consistently been extremely hard to deal with in getting answers and it’s actually creating a complete run like a river down & out of the courtyard to gate and garden path I’ll add pictures it just seems when it heavy rain it pools up so the drainage installation I feel should have been placed more out instead of under eaves where it’s dry for now it’s stopped flooding but I guess because it’s so close to ground there I don’t want so much water & moisture causing rising damp . I will get her solar company to talk with me as she’s obviously not following it up as it’s not impacted her property I guess she dosnt really have a problem, so I will see what I can do it’s just I’m trying to sort this out so I can move forward to other concerns and the cyclone situation was a big set back .
do you know what I would need to use to fill in all the space from the water running off under my house around the structures holding it up is it a specific sand soil because I think it should be filled in again or am I worried about nothing maybe it’s just I don’t know what to do about underneath I’ve heard you can get vapour barrier or something and insulation but I think I’ll try to get water runoff sorted first then fill in all the gaps that are there after
this is an update on the last message I was adding pics must have liost the whole new post but as you see it is luckily draining away and down the hill but I don’t understand why I have to deal with so much of it, the gate is now rotting and I just feel like I shouldn’t be getting all her rain fall as well as mine but maybe it’s a problem for another day as I have a family emergency in Brisbane now thanks if you understand my post I realise it might be confusing so I’ll definitely do another once I can get time .
Hello @angelique5
Thank you for sharing those extra pictures of your home. Adding more material to your path will not stop the water from flowing. If anything, any added material will get dragged away to the bottom of the water run. I propose thinking about installing a proper drain channel like Everhard 3m EasyDRAIN Polymer Grate And Prejoined Channel and paving the rest of the area so that the water can be directed to the drain and out of the area.
Adding more soil or gravel will only produce a delaying action, and as I mentioned if the water gets strong enough all of it will get dragged away. A flat surface means that water will flow over it and can be directed away. Please note that a plumber will be necessary if you are linking your drain to the storm water pipe of your property.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
