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Planks in garden

sassdonaghysassdonaghy Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello, new to the forum. My daughters new build house, around a year or so old I think  has a waterlogged garden. Her hubby has turned some of the lawn over and has discovered planks of wood beneath the lawn, surely  this cant be right. The builders previously  cisited before this was discovered  and stood in tje garden and said because the water from lawn didnt cover their boots at the front, it wasnt their responsibility.  They are due back out in April but the planks discovery is a tad strange.Has anyone any udea why thete should be grass covered planks in a garden?Thank you in advance 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I'm afraid it's quite common in new builds to bury the waste materials (including damaged scaffolding boards) under a few inches of topsoil and then lay turf.  Make sure they are well exposed when the builders next visit and ask for the situation to be resolved.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • sassdonaghysassdonaghy Posts: 4
    Thanks Bob, would this  cause the waterlogged garden tho? 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Very likely, and the ground may be compacted from the heavy machinery used, which will add to the problem.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • sassdonaghysassdonaghy Posts: 4
    Thanks Bob, have told daughter to get photos taken and get back onto the builders .
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    In a past new build I have dug up those striped barriers, a huge empty tub of tile adhesive, numerous bricks,  bits of plaster board, wall ties a penalty of buying one of the last houses to be built.
    In this house a layer of solid mortar, bricks, wall ties, bits of plastic and of course solid compacted clay under ungraded   top soil and grass. 
    This seems to be  normal for most new builds!
    I'm quite envious of your planks!
  • sassdonaghysassdonaghy Posts: 4
    Thats ridiculous!!! Id be going off my head with the builders!!!🤨🤨🤨I do agree planks are the crem de la crem lol. Tub of adhesive made me lol
  • shane.farrellshane.farrell Posts: 207
    Part of the problem will be that they will have changed the structure of the soil too digging foundations etc. All of that will have possibly been spread about on top of building materials. 
    There have been some houses built at the end of my garden and some areas were covered with broken fence panels, garage doors, and all manner of rubbish just (for some reason that I'll never understand) dumped over the fence by a couple of neighbours that are clearly very lazy. 
    The builder literally covered it all with soil from around the site or brought in by the truckload. 
    I presume it's motivated financially. 
    Poor drainage is s common issue in new build gardens I fear.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Many moons ago I worked as a Quantity Surveyor and in those days it was common for the rules to be that no top soil could be removed from site and all rubbish must be removed.  Looks like these builders do precisely the opposite.
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