Practical moisture management around old buildings.
Perimeter drainage designed to move ground water away from traditional walls — supporting the long-term health of solid masonry.
Many damp problems in old buildings do not begin in the wall itself. They begin at the base, where ground levels have been raised, concrete paths have been laid tight to the fabric, or drainage has failed.
A well-considered French drain — permeable, correctly graded, kept clear of the wall — can dramatically reduce ground moisture reaching a solid masonry base. It is a heritage-friendly intervention when specified as part of a wider moisture strategy.
- Rising damp at the base of an external wall.
- External ground levels sitting above internal floor levels.
- Impermeable paths, patios or concrete tight to the wall.
- Persistent internal damp after other interventions have failed.
- Drains specified as part of a wider building diagnosis, not in isolation.
- Permeable materials that do not create a new impermeable barrier.
- Correctly graded outfalls and inspection provision.
- Sympathetic reinstatement — no plastic edging or hard modern finishes at the wall.
Frequently asked.
Will a French drain solve rising damp?+
Sometimes on its own; often as part of a wider strategy alongside cement removal, lime plaster and internal ventilation. Diagnosis first.
How close can it run to the wall?+
Close enough to intercept ground water, but detailed so that no new hard barrier is created at the wall base. Every wall is different.
Do you carry out the excavation?+
Yes — we plan and execute drainage works ourselves or in coordination with trusted groundworks contractors.