It's usually advised that paving should be at a level of at least 150mm
below the DPC where it joins the house wall.

Is this an absolute minimum, or is it OK to have a reduced gap where
it's difficult to maintain the full 150mm ?

wrote in message
oups.com...
It's usually advised that paving should be at a level of at least 150mm
below the DPC where it joins the house wall.

Is this an absolute minimum, or is it OK to have a reduced gap where
it's difficult to maintain the full 150mm ?


It's all to do with rain splashing back up from the paving to hit the wall,
and I presume that experience has shown that 6" is a good minimum
height to avoid many splashes hitting the wall above the DPC. That said,
ISTR that in case of difficulties, a layer of gravel close to the wall
instead
of paving will stop rain splashing nearly so high as when it hits hard
paving, so that is one option for you to avoid penetrating damp if you
can't maintain at least 6".

Andy.

andrewpreece wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...

It's usually advised that paving should be at a level of at least 150mm
below the DPC where it joins the house wall.

Is this an absolute minimum, or is it OK to have a reduced gap where
it's difficult to maintain the full 150mm ?



It's all to do with rain splashing back up from the paving to hit the wall,
and I presume that experience has shown that 6" is a good minimum
height to avoid many splashes hitting the wall above the DPC. That said,
ISTR that in case of difficulties, a layer of gravel close to the wall
instead
of paving will stop rain splashing nearly so high as when it hits hard
paving, so that is one option for you to avoid penetrating damp if you
can't maintain at least 6".

Andy.


Yes. I have grevel edging all round the house, about 6" below DPC, and
the wall is rendered above that.
I left a slate lying on the gravel all winter.

The wall above that shows signs of frost damage to the paintwork.
Nowehere else tho.

What Andy describes is real and relevant.