Fix Drainage Before a Damp Course in Adelaide

What fix drainage before a damp course in Adelaide actually involves

At the foot of the wall, the council fact sheet says downpipes should discharge into a sealed stormwater system, not at the base of walls.

How much wall to show

The two sources give different clearances, and we state both as printed. The council fact sheet says ideally at least 100 mm of wall should be exposed below the original tar-and-sand damp-proof course. The guide's checklist says to maintain about 200 mm between damp-proof courses and ground level. Ask the provider which applies to your wall, and why.

A year of watching, and the ground under the house

The guide asks for the basic measures to be completed and then assessed for at least a year before any form of damp-proof course goes in. It also says to consider what drying out the soil beneath a building does: on reactive, or expansive, clay soils, excessive drying could lead to structural cracking as a result of differential settlement. No source we read says which Adelaide addresses sit on reactive clay, so ask whether the question has been considered for your building.

The guide is general guidance written for historic and older buildings, not a rule that binds any owner. The options page covers what comes after the year.

Fix Drainage Before a Damp Course in Adelaide — common questions

How long should I wait before a damp-proof course?

The guide says not to insert any form of damp-proof course until the basic housekeeping measures have been completed and their effectiveness assessed over a period of time, at least a year.

Where should downpipes discharge?

Into a sealed stormwater system, not at the base of walls, according to the council fact sheet.

How far should the ground sit below the damp-proof course?

The two sources differ: the council says ideally at least 100 mm of wall exposed below the original tar-and-sand course, and the guide's checklist says about 200 mm between damp-proof courses and ground level.