Soakaways in Nunhead that take surface water away from your home and garden. We design, size and install compliant systems—crate or rubble—with proper testing and tidy reinstatement.
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If rainwater is pooling on patios, drives or lawns, a properly designed soakaway can make a lasting difference. We install systems across SE15, including streets near Nunhead Cemetery and Telegraph Hill Park. Our work diverts surface water safely into the ground, reducing slip hazards and damp risks. Every installation starts with the right checks, not guesswork.
Nunhead’s Victorian terraces, Edwardian houses and period cottages often have compact rear gardens and older drainage layouts. Downpipes may discharge into tired gullies, and hard landscaping can leave little space for water to soak away naturally. We plan soakaway locations to suit tight access, shared side returns and existing services. Where needed, we add inspection chambers so future maintenance is straightforward.
We carry out percolation tests, complete sizing calculations and recommend the best system for your plot. Installations include correct connections from downpipes or channel drains, with attention to Building Regs and safe overflow routes. Homeowners choose us for clear communication, neat workmanship and dependable results. You’ll also receive practical maintenance guidance to keep the system working year after year.
We’re used to the mix of clay-heavy and variable ground found across the London Borough of Southwark, which can affect infiltration rates. Access can be tight around period terraces, so we plan spoil removal, materials delivery and reinstatement carefully. Parking restrictions and narrow residential roads near Nunhead Green can influence logistics, so we schedule efficiently. Our approach is tailored to the property, not a one-size-fits-all trench.
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Costs vary with soakaway size, depth, access, and whether you need new channel drains or downpipe connections. As a guide, a small rubble soakaway for a single downpipe often starts around £900–£1,800. Crate systems with geotextile wrap, inspection chamber and more excavation commonly fall in the £1,800–£4,500 range. Complex drainage reconfiguration or restricted access can increase this.
Most domestic soakaway jobs take 1–3 days on site, depending on excavation depth, the number of connections and reinstatement (turf, paving or gravel). Percolation testing and design can be completed ahead of the main works, and sometimes on the first morning. Tight access through a house, manual digging, or unexpected services in the ground can extend timescales. We’ll confirm a realistic programme before starting.
In many cases, soakaways and garden drainage works are permitted development, especially when they don’t alter the building’s structure. However, rules can change if you’re working near boundaries, affecting a listed building, or within special designations. Building Regulations and safe discharge principles still apply, and you must avoid directing water to the public sewer where not allowed. We check the constraints and advise what approvals, if any, are needed.
Yes. We provide a 10-year warranty on our soakaway installations, covering workmanship and the integrity of the installed system when used and maintained as advised. This includes correct assembly of crate systems, connections, and reinstatement related to our work. It doesn’t cover issues caused by later alterations, blocked gutters, or damage from third-party building works. We also recommend periodic checks via inspection chambers where fitted.
We typically install modern crate systems (high void ratio, compact footprint) or traditional rubble soakaways where ground and space allow. Options can include silt traps, geotextile membranes, inspection chambers, and connections from ACO-style channel drains or downpipes. The right choice depends on percolation results, available garden area, and how much runoff you need to manage. We’ll explain the pros and cons and design the most suitable solution.
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