DRAINAGE SOAKAWAY In One Day!

Our drainage soakaway was blocked, so we needed to dig a new one to replace it. This was the hardest day's work I've ever done in my life!!!!
The Aiden Project / @the-aiden-project
Aiden's 'behind the scenes' video: • Digging a Big Hole for...
My Patio Video: • Patio / Laying Paving ...
My Slabs On A Budget Video: • Low Cost Solution // L...
🔴My channel is supported by Milwaukee🔴
Check out their full range here: uk.milwaukeeto...
Tools used in this video:
M18 Cut Off Saw uk.milwaukeeto...
M18 Grinder uk.milwaukeeto...
M12 Multi Tool uk.milwaukeeto...
M18 SDS Drill uk.milwaukeeto...
#drainage #soakaway #diy
Thanks for watching! Please subscribe, click like if you like, and hit the bell icon for future video notifications
🔨 MY TOOLS 🔨
For links to the tools I use, plus some of my favourite consumables, finishes and more see links below. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.
UK affiliate store: www.amazon.co....
US affiliate store: www.amazon.com...
🤝 HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL 🤝
Support with KZbin channel membership: / @ragnbonebrown
Support with Patreon: / ragnbonebrown
Support with PayPal paypal.me/ragn...
Shop With Amazon using my affiliate link: geni.us/iWD3K
💰 SHOP 💰
Etsy: www.etsy.com/u...
teespring.com/...
🎧 WORKSHOP BANTER PODCAST 🎧
/ workshopbanter
Also available on Spotify, Apple, Google and most other podcast platforms
🔗 LINKS: 🔗
Website: www.ragnbonebr...
Facebook: / ragnbonebrown
Instagram: @ragnbonebrown
Twitter: / ragnbonebrown
Email: [e-mail]
Second KZbin Channel (non woodwork videos): / keefykeef

[@sirhoggit]

Great video! As a drainage engineer I thought I would add a couple of comments. You’re correct with the 5m rule with regards to building regs, but I would add two points. 1. This should also apply with 5m to the boundary as a courtesy to any neighbours. You hit sand so in your case i would hope it’s not critical, but the fact you had gravel disappearing on the old soakaway does make me wonder if there is some dissolution going on?! . If anyone reading this is on chalks, notably low density chalks, I’ve had sites where the geotechnical engineer has required 20m from foundations/roads/boundarys! It’s worth noting soakaways only work where the soil conditions are suitable, if your in London clay for example there’s no real chance they’ll work. Like you say, you can check with a drainage (civil) engineer - another cheaper option is to check planning applications in your area, big sites will often have full drainage strategies which should have onsite soak away testing which will confirm its viable.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I'm pretty sure it's not 5m to a boundary. From memory it was 2.5m?

[@sirhoggit]

@@RagnBoneBrown On the face of it 2.5m makes sense, and ive seen some guidance from certain councils noting this, and other which don't even mention the boundary easement at all, but should a neighbour extend their property in the future this can lead to foundations within the 5m easment (and as I've said, 5m is a minimum and could be more subject to consultation with geotechnical engineer). Therefore the 5m easement to the site boundary is best practise and from my experience the Lead Local Flood Authorities who review planning applications (normally above a certain size) within each local authority will only accept 5m as a result. I dont want to come across critical as your in a retrofit situation where you've clearly improved what was there and what functioned reasonable well for a number of decades. Standards are always progressing, and with a lot of home projects its completely impracticable to bring everything in line with modern best practise, but I thought my comments could be something to consider if a fellow viewer was looking to do something similar.

[@gwynroberson198]

​@@sirhoggit this is pretty much why new houses and refurbs are unaffordable. Constantly increasing compliance costs. From experience I have taken on local authority housing where new doors have been cut into supporting walls without lintels causing no end of roof problems, driveway drain covers have been replaced with a15 rated covers as they were cheaper. Fence posts put through shared rainwater drains Please can local authority get it's own house in order before making life more difficult for those that do know what they are doing.

[@lokent6592]

@@sirhoggit I really appreciated your insight here. I think that as you say given the existing situation they did the best they can, but I think it also highlights where if you clearly have some existing subsidance I would never want to chance it and do a DIY job. It surely wouldnt cost the earth to get an engineer to give it a once over and you could still do the work yourself after that.

[@darrenpodger7294]

He needed a soak away and did a neat job well done doing it your self and not hiring any company to do it for you , you saved a mint

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Our drainage soakaway was blocked, so we needed to dig a new one to replace it. This was the hardest day's work I've ever done in my life!!! The Aiden Project www.youtube.com/@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT Aiden's 'behind the scenese' video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oanVf4GHp7qle68si=69z1LFqLK_VGnnVF My Patio Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4W2gaiZnteMq7c My Slabs On A Budget Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJSrea2vismGpqM 🔨 MY TOOLS 🔨 For links to the tools I use, plus some of my favourite consumables, finishes and more see links below. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. UK affiliate store: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/ragnbonebrown US affiliate store: www.amazon.com/shop/ragnbonebrown 🤝 HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL 🤝 Support with KZbin channel membership: kzbin.info/door/VyE_6jEtVZGmYGXtUOL5FQjoin Support with Patreon: www.patreon.com/ragnbonebrown Support with PayPal paypal.me/ragnbonebrown Shop With Amazon using my affiliate link: geni.us/iWD3K 💰 SHOP 💰 Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KeithBrownMaker teespring.com/stores/rag-n-bone-brown-merch 🎧 WORKSHOP BANTER PODCAST 🎧 kzbin.info Also available on Spotify, Apple, Google and most other podcast platforms 🔗 LINKS: 🔗 Website: www.ragnbonebrown.com Facebook: facebook.com/ragnbonebrown Instagram: @ragnbonebrown Twitter: twitter.com/ragnbonebrown Email: [e-mail] Second KZbin Channel (non woodwork videos): kzbin.info

[@pitsnipe5559]

I continue to find it fascinating to see how things are done in the UK as opposed to here in the USA. A bonus is seeing it done by someone who knows what they’re doing. Give the cats a neck scratch for me.

[@drahcir6590]

In what way would you do it differently?

[@SteveAddis]

@@drahcir6590 They did a great job and it will perform perfectly. Small details: I only use the black non woven geotextile fabric more durable long term and tie the cloth to the pipe with stainless clamp, overlap and staple. Deeper silt trap? If I could find one or make one. Again, everyone has their way of doing things. This is 1k times better then the previous with only stone. We once had an old house that had cisterns and a well pump. They held water and released water yet served two purposes for collecting roof water.

[@accessfm]

I really appreciate the measurements you included with this video, the depth, pipe depth, coverage depth on top etc. I'm too going to be tackling this job in the near future also and of all the soakaway videos I have watched in the past few months, they all skim over the actual measurements needed. Great job there.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidward5607]

Most people say you shouldn't use washing up liquid as a pipe lubricant. It supposedly rots the seals. Use proper pipe lubricant

[@stephenwilliams4631]

Nice work, it definitely looked like hard graft. And well supervised by Mickey and Hazel, much to the utter delight of my seven year-old daughter! Good on Aiden for helping out too.

[@thurlestonetennis2447]

Great job, well done. Just done similar for granddaughter, but am ‘Billy NoMates’ so did it on my own, with pick and shovel! Regrettably met shillet, not soft sand, so tough job at age 74. But certainly got a sense of satisfaction when shovelling last bit of top soil over the crates. Needless to say took more than one day. Just hope it works! Look forward to more of your projects.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Nice work!

[@soylentgreen326]

Great job ❤ Before you get rid of that free sand, if you got lawn it might be a good top dressing ( or whatever gardeners call it )

[@Smithb83]

Moving earth is always so much more demanding than anticipated! Another really interesting project, well done Keith and Aiden 👏

[@rush211251]

That’s one large soak away ! , great job and it’s nice to see people take pride in their DIY projects

[@SloggieBear]

Fantastic work, well edited and produced video. Very informative. Thank you

[@THE-AIDEN-PROJECT]

I wish I could afford that number plate 😂 had an awesome day playing with the digger 🙌

[@CasualDIY]

Great job Keith. Had to do something similar. I had to move a 2000 litre tank for the rain water and connect it to something similar to your crates. In my case it was a tunnel made in a way that once placed underground you could drive a car over it. Very sturdy construction and quite smart considering it was made from plastic. Had to dig out a channel 1.5m deep 80cm wide and 14 meters long for that tunnel. 6 tons of gravel went on the bottom, same as you used the fabric to coat the gravel and the tunnel. On top of the gravel the tunnel was placed (the tunnel itself can hold 2000 liters of rain water) and on top of that 50cm of soil. Had a digger to dig everything up and it was a big one lol. However the gravel and then moving the mountain of soil was done by me and some help from my dad. It was bloody hard work so I know exactly how you felt. Good job mate.

[@TehJumpingJawa]

A follow-up video in a few years time would be useful to report on any issues that might crop up. I'm thinking settling of the gravel over such a large area might cause problems for any pavers laid above.

[@haynesis]

Aiden is epic. Best crossover

[@Sean006]

Aiden is a good guy to know. Came up with some good ideas. Good teamwork guys.

[@jontymo]

Brilliant - we have just moved into a bungalow with downspouts running into tubs!!!! now I have a plan 👍

[@mandyleeson1]

What a day! I was really interested in this one as we also have a problem with water, in our case coming from a neighbouring property, down a slope, but honestly Keith I don’t think we could manage it ourselves and after seeing your slog, I now don’t think we’ll try. Really impressed with your solution. Great video.👏🏼🌟

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks Mandy. We have a similar issue here, we have the lowest house on the street and lower than the road too so we seem to get everyone else's water! 🤣 really should have considered that when we bought the place but one of those things that you don't know until you know...

[@michaelp998]

A percolation test would be a prudent move to establish whether the ground is suitable for draining into .

[@markrainford1219]

They were on sand!

[@swivvy3037]

Seriously what is going on?! Everything you upload is always 3 months ahead of what I'm planning 😂 this has been very useful as a hints & tips/do's n don'ts by using you as my Guinea pig

[@stevebettany8778]

You are buying lottery tickets while this is going on of course?

[@TheWebstaff]

​@@stevebettany8778😂

[@Bart-Did-it]

YT algorithm 😉 👍

[@karmadel786]

😂 'I love it when a plan comes together'

[@MrSmid888]

Wait till he burns the gaff down 😂

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Brilliant video gents, really enjoyed it. I was shattered just watching 😂😂

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers Leo

[@CrimeVid]

Love it ! I have a mate for doing that, no machines required ! the problem is to stop him digging, he seems to like it ! The crate thing works, but is no better in function than a properly constructed soak-away , just lots quicker.

[@JohnColgan.]

Glad You got it done , surprised you did it in 1day. You chose about hottest time of year Todo it !! Great having Aiden's assistance/direction.grwat fun using digger ...😊😅.

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

That was good value and all that lovely sand too.

[@TheDeanoc69]

Ayy, it’s Aidan. That fella cracks me up

[@simonlunt353]

I can’t understand why you’re video Channel has not got more people viewing you always give clear advice and your friend Aiden keep them coming 😊👍👏👏

[@NirreFirre]

Good day of work! The results will be good for more than a decade I reckon. I don't know if the UK has these style of automatic leaf "sieves" or if you have any trees putting any amount of leafs on your roof (and into the pipes) buy searching for 🇸🇪 "självrens lövsil" will get you pictures of what they are. Very nice to have, it's a one time job to fit and you never run the risk of clogged pipes. Extra security for vacation houses or similar when you don't visit during long periods.

[@georgeshepherd694]

Really interesting watching this project from start to finish Thanks

[@StrawbyteWorkshop]

Great video and a really interesting project. Not one I will need to take undertake where I am due to the massive balancing pond in the park opposite which handles all our storm water, but my mother's soakaway will need attention soon and I'll be sure to find a contractor for that! Coincidentally I was watching Aiden's french drain videos last night - great channel as you say.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers Karl 👌

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic, Keith! You guys killed it! Really well done! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@awladali8149]

Your work is extremely good! I have learnt soo much, thank you.

[@stuartclarke4693]

Great job. Good of Aiden to help - he has a great channel.

[@mags8014]

Great job the two of you did and well done to you for all that barrowing of soil and gravel, it was exhausting just watching! Thanks for the glimpses of the cats, too!

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hard work there Keith, come in handy that mini JCB and help from Aiden. You have done an amazing job mate well done👍

[@wc9412]

Wow for a diyer you have all best tools, more tools then a trade man

[@trentfrancis4646]

Thanks for sharing lad great job.

[@jbyeats]

Wow - what can anybody say ? Two men / one machine --- and lots of hard work . Fantastic job . Anyone would be super contented with that outcome .

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you

[@richarddicktaylor219]

Thanks. I had to dig out and reconnect an old rubble soakaway which has the rain from 4 small houses going into it. Too much water and when the soakaway pipe had blocked (before we purchased our house) it had been replaced with a surface pipe. We are now in the process of having downpipes fitted for each house (as I think is legally required) but I also added in a Rainus filter system that in theory catches the laves and moss . It was surprisingly expensive (£116), pretty poorly made (tried to get a replacement but the vendor from Wales didn't even bother to reply to our email and text . It will be interesting to see if if makes a difference and my guess is I will be digging a smaller holes for a few soakaway crates in the spring.

[@samdub]

Great job! I’m installing some French drains soon so kind of a mini version of this!

[@patrickflanagan8008]

This was a really useful tutorial, full of the information needed to do the job properly. Nice one matey.

[@StevenInCornwall]

This was a really good watch Keith. I did this on my parents bungalow about 15 years ago, the original soakaway being about 1.2 meters from the property and woefully undersized. I didnt know about those types of crates back then so had loads of large stone delivered. But the process was the same, using the membrane etc. so it was nice to have confirmation of what I have done was right. The room in the corner of the bungalow was so damp but soon dried out so it was definitely worth doing.

[@brian-jv9bt]

Keith aiden, go to Library ,construction drainage. You've just wasted time money all that hard graft, when the solution is a part of the house.

[@TheWardagh]

Great job. Love this kind of stuff. Digging is murder, fair play to you. Love your channel, cheers from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@Matlockization]

I'm just wondering whether the whole pipe drainage system could have been led into the street ? What the gradient from front of house to back ?

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice work guys Thanks for sharing the video with us!💖😎👍JP

[@garyhollywell2112]

Brilliant well done hard graft but very worth it.

[@Douglas-hw8is]

Well-done bud - really, really impressive!

[@leeedwards3783]

Nice to see a proper job done

[@simonpaine2347]

Interesting project! I did something similar last year.....should have done a video.... I put in a 50 gallon drum and a sump pump and I now pump the water out to the street. This would mean that your soakaway would last forever!

[@henley1100]

Hi Keith. No doubtvat all, mate, that was a blockbuster project! Sometimes , we wonder how we ever do these jobs. In your case, you did it , with no real need to have that particular battle ever again! Well done. Don

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers Don

[@dougdavidson175]

Watched Aiden's video last night. Needless to say I have both o ye on tap. Deffo a back breaker. Nice to have help. Take care & stay safe.

[@Milner17]

I enjoy your videos so much every time I see you have posted a new one I am chuffed haha, amazing job yet again cheers Keith 👍🏼

[@DavidLee-yu7yz]

I have been following Aidan for a while now and a Good job done guys, D

[@ericbengtson2822]

Really interesting project, well done Keith and Aiden 👏 Oh and I liked the Cat pics. ;)

[@djtaylorutube]

Oh cool, your wheelbarrow has the same "Squeaky Wheel" sound enhancement pack installed on it as mine!

[@jonathandilk5722]

Brilliant job and great video

[@tonyworkswood]

Really enjoyable Keith. It's great when you know someone who knows what they are doing. Looks like your cats were exhausted watching. I bet you were aching the day after. 👍Tony

[@PabloBD]

What a back breaking job! Could you store the rain water instead? And use it for something? Or doesnt make sense in that area? Anyway more cats B roll is welcome and needed. Great video!!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers, yeah it was hard work! We've got water butts at the top of the garden and at the front so we don't need to store anymore 👍

[@conormcgeary]

Random question . Where did you get those containers to store the gravel with the lid that clips on ! ?

[@jadr3123]

Superb and hard job. You looked tired at the end of the video, we understand. Super entertaining video as always. I’ve been watching you the last five years, or more, from Spain. Cheers from the sunny south.

[@PatrickLemay]

Exhausted just looking you do it. Well done

[@Jessie-i6s]

Great job and good Price even, thanks your vidéo 🇨🇵

[@cazee100]

That was very enjoyable to watch and your honesty will, I’m sure, aid others considering tackling such a job themselves. You both did a great job which will benefit your home over the years. Stay are x

[@Handleyman]

So what happens if it rains a lot. The “soak away” is basically just an underground tank, and when it’s full, it’s full. Can’t you pump it out to the street, or is it too flat?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

It drains away in to the sand and beyond

[@russalternative858]

Good job chaps. Another great video.

[@wgj4813]

Jolly good job. Before plastic crates were the norm i built a soakaway , bought some manhole rings and a cover set two door lintels across the base to rest the rings on lined the sides of the hole with plastic sheeting and backfilled with large rocks and added a manhole cover. Jobs a goodun 20 years later and i can still go down the manhole and clear our silt of which there is very little. I do like the idea of having access to inspect and desilt.

[@rumtumbugger]

I've done mini versions using old milk - crates - work like a charm. I wrapped them in permeable membrane and connected via orange piping - so quite good to come on here and see I actually guessed it all fairly correctly.

[@michaelmayo3127]

Well done!! to calculate the size of a soak-away, you need to know the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. You hit sand; so you are OK!!

[@BlueVelvetBear]

Hi, great video. Can you tell me how you came to decide 10mm gravel and not larger? Why is this best for this application? Many thanks 😊 really enjoyed watching, ta. 👍

[@RagnBoneBrown]

20mm is best as it leaves more voids, but much harder work to shovel and move around so that's why we went with 10mm

[@Ragnarrok2023]

where would you get those big blue containers you used? need to do a bit of landscaping myself and i've got a huge amount of decorative stone to remove and figured putting into those containers would be best!

[@herrbeethoven]

Wow Keith, that was a very intimidating project, well done!

[@radharcanna]

A great job. How would you measure the size of cage needed for a garden? I have an area of about 24 metres x 4 metres that floods in winter but I don’t know how big to make the soakaway.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

There are some websites online but you'd need to calculate the sq m of the roof area that the soakaway serves (assuming it's to capture rainwater from your roof)

[@radharcanna]

@@RagnBoneBrown Thank you. No roof involved, as it’s far from the house. I want to build a pond on the spot but don’t want to have water beneath it. I’ll have a look at those web sites. Thanks again.

[@negotiableaffections]

I think it was when you stared cementing the drains in that I had a 'flashback-ish' moment to scenes of a chap in a little shed at the bottom of his garden. Boy how things have come on since then, eh Keith? A super video of; tough work, someone has to do it, and releif & satisfaction in a vital job, well done. 💯my friend. (And cheers to Aiden for his KZbin camaraderie - I must pop over and see what he's made of this project)

[@badhorse84]

Was it also 5 meters from the neighbouring property? Because you can get quite easily into trouble, if there is any time in the future a problem on that side of the fence you might be liable for the damages. Just be careful. Great video nevertheless.

[@BLUEHORIZON-g2b]

A Great Job well done !

[@mammiemania893]

One day ! You guys rock !

[@mrmonkeynews587]

Very informative.

[@annie-centrepiecefurniture]

Great video ! Well done

[@andyc972]

That was a lot of work for one day, well done Keith, and how great that Aiden came over to help you out - top bloke, and a great channel too ! I can't believe what beautiful sand you had there just a few feet down, what a handy resource, you could have your own quarry - you'll be alright for a sand pit for baby Brown ! I have been considering doing one of these myself, but I think I should have done it years ago before all our tress got established as I think the roots would make it a nightmare !

[@wilsonbriggs1614]

Great video, I plan to do this some point this summer.

[@nooshoff]

Great work!!!

[@ShedDwellerMakerandRepairer]

Started my working life at 13 as a groundworker. Absolutely loved it... but, it is literally the hardest work you could ever do. My spine was shot to bits by the time I was 27 though. Retrained as a surveyor. Much, much easier. 😂

[@pat1walls]

Hi Keith, you should of hired small tracked wheel barrow - we’ve used them on a few jobs (filling skips etc) and they are perfect compliment to 1/2T mini digger - each bucket takes equivalent of 5 wheelbarrows

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yeah I think I've seen Stuart at Proper DIY use one. Would have been great!

[@emmavik-fredriksson640]

I watch almost every video you upload, even if I live in an apartment and never will need to know how to diy a soaker thingy. Still i enjoyed this one!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@BischBaschBosch]

Good job Keith. Hell of a task for 2 in a day! Never was happy when I got roped into groundworks - for precisely the reason mention - being absolutely fu%$#d at the end😂

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yeah I don't know how people do it every day....!!

[@MiriBON]

Another great project!

[@M6JKW]

Awesome job 👍

[@anthonymcnamara4002]

Did some serious earthworks a few months ago while terracing a portion of garden, a friend advised on hiring a power barrow on day two and my god, was that good advice!!

[@valleycarpentry5269]

What are the plastic crates for...? Are they to take up space and use less stone or what?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

They create much more space for rainwater than stone

[@studioyan]

Proper Days graft that Keith!! Great video man 👌

[@adeh503]

Good job mate and very well explained 👍

[@AudioDave1]

Can I use a soakaway in clay soil? I have done any digging to see if we have any sand below.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

You really need to get down enough to find sand

[@jasonhardy3660]

Bloody good job 👍

[@rinakaur7245]

So a soakaway is where you dig deep enough to find sand in the ground? Then you place crates or gravel over sand covered by a membrane, then channel rainwater ftom gutters to soakaway location?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Yes

[@p_mouse8676]

I can't help but thinking what is so special about an escavator to blur it hahaha. Great job!!!!

[@danielwilson5102]

Maybe because the company van that delivered it currently has an expired MOT.....

[@bosse641]

Good job you two. 💪

[@daveevans5368]

Like the cat incloser. A response owner 👏 👍now they are not pooing in your neighbours garden

[@leeedwards3783]

Great video and job. Is the soakaway aloud to be that close the the boundary I wonder though?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Technically not, but It is no closer than the old one

[@ingaberzina3713]

Great video!😊

[@pteddie6965]

I am amazed at how long that you lasted on the business end of that shovel and behind that little wheel barrow. Shovel work is some of the most demanding labor that a man can do and most regular guys just can't last all day like you did. Thanks for the video. As always, I enjoyed watching you problem solve and complete this task.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks 👍

[@elchimpo9590]

All the bodies fit! YAY!!!!!!!😂😂😂

[@kevinisaac9139]

brilliant job 👌

[@__Timo__]

You should have said to Aiden, that he can't sit down on site, too - see 13:42 Great job from you two and thanks for showing!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

🤣

[@__Timo__]

@@RagnBoneBrown Oooh, best Ideas come later: Best response on 11:46 would have been "Go get an excavator which you can only stand on, you sitting cheeky something".