Drainage Survey-Led Installation

Soakaway Installation & Clearance London

In London, a failed or undersized soakaway is a critical drainage defect, often flagged during property surveys or after persistent waterlogging. Our approach is forensic: we do not excavate or install based on assumption. Every soakaway project begins with a comprehensive CCTV drainage survey to diagnose the exact cause of failure, assess ground conditions, and determine the optimal design and location for a replacement system.

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This survey-led methodology provides documented evidence, crucial for landlords managing portfolios, commercial property managers, homeowners navigating conveyancing, and professionals preparing insurance claims. We classify defects according to industry standards, ensuring your report is a robust technical document, not just a job sheet.

From traditional rubble-filled pits to modern crate systems, our installation is based on the survey's findings and calculated infiltration rates, ensuring compliance and long-term functionality. For existing blocked soakaways, high-pressure jetting and CCTV clearance are employed only after a full assessment confirms this as the appropriate remedy.

Pricing is structured around the essential diagnostic survey and the solution it dictates. A formal quotation is provided following the initial CCTV investigation, detailing all stages from survey to installation and verification.

What you get

Diagnosis-led by pre-installation CCTV drainage survey
WRc-style defect classification in detailed written reports
Documentation suitable for insurance claims & property transactions
Design based on surveyed soil conditions & calculated drainage requirements
Installation of both traditional rubble and modern modular crate systems
Post-installation CCTV survey to verify system integrity and provide as-built records

How it works

A method, not a guess

Diagnostic CCTV Survey

Our engineers conduct a full drainage survey to map the system, locate the existing soakaway, assess its condition and infiltration rate, and identify any root ingress, structural collapse, or siltation.

Technical Report & Proposal

You receive a written report with WRc-style defect codes, video evidence, and a clear technical proposal for either clearance or a new installation, specifying design and materials.

Precision Installation or Clearance

For installation, we excavate to the specified design. For clearance, we use targeted jetting and vacuum evacuation. All work is documented with photographic evidence.

Verification & As-Built Documentation

A final CCTV survey is conducted to verify the new soakaway's connections and function, providing you with a conclusive report for your records.

Questions

Soakaways FAQs for London homeowners

Why is a CCTV survey necessary before soakaway work?

Excavating without a survey risks installing a new system in unsuitable ground or misdiagnosing the fault. The survey provides definitive evidence of failure mode (e.g., structural collapse vs. siltation) and informs the correct design, which is essential for report-backed work.

What information is in your technical report?

Our report includes CCTV footage, a system schematic, WRc-style defect classifications for any issues found, an assessment of soil conditions, and a clear recommendation. It is formatted as evidence for conveyancers, landlords, or insurers.

Can you provide documentation for a property transaction?

Yes. Our pre-purchase drainage surveys and post-installation verification reports are routinely used in conveyancing. They provide an objective, technical assessment of the drainage system's condition or the standard of a new installation.

How do you decide between clearing or replacing a soakaway?

The decision is based solely on CCTV evidence. If the structure is intact but blocked, clearance may suffice. If it has collapsed, is undersized, or the ground has failed, replacement is necessary. The report justifies the prescribed remedy.

Do you install modern soakaway crates?

Yes. We install both traditional rubble pits and modern modular crate systems. The choice is engineering-led, based on the survey's assessment of required storage volume, ground conditions, and site access, as detailed in your proposal.

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