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Grading land around house to keep water from entering basement DaileyJohn.20.decij@spamgourme 07-06-2006
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Posted by DaileyJohn.20.decij@spamgourme on July 6, 2006, 2:43 pm
I have a small house where there is a substantial slope toward
the basement in the rear of the house from the midpoint of the backyard
(about 30 ft.) that causes the house's basement to leak. (The furthest
part of the backyard away from the basement slopes away from the house
and that is where I would direct the water to.) I have been told
numerous times that keeping water away from a house is 90% of the
solution to a leaky basement. I am wondering whether it is possible
for me to obtain the dirt necessary to change the slope (At some
points, I will need 2 ft. of dirt to raise the slope up the back wall)
and to do this work myself. Also, I would appreciate tips on commonly
made mistakes in this type of work so that I could avoid them if I
decide to do this work myself.

Thanks,

JD


AppliancePartsPros.com, Inc.
Posted by digitalmaster on July 6, 2006, 3:25 pm

> I have a small house where there is a substantial slope toward
> the basement in the rear of the house from the midpoint of the backyard
> (about 30 ft.) that causes the house's basement to leak. (The furthest
> part of the backyard away from the basement slopes away from the house
> and that is where I would direct the water to.) I have been told
> numerous times that keeping water away from a house is 90% of the
> solution to a leaky basement. I am wondering whether it is possible
> for me to obtain the dirt necessary to change the slope (At some
> points, I will need 2 ft. of dirt to raise the slope up the back wall)
> and to do this work myself. Also, I would appreciate tips on commonly
> made mistakes in this type of work so that I could avoid them if I
> decide to do this work myself.
>
> Thanks,
>
> JD
>
a French drain may be appropriate in this case.



Posted by on July 6, 2006, 3:36 pm

digitalmaster wrote:
> > I have a small house where there is a substantial slope toward
> > the basement in the rear of the house from the midpoint of the backyard
> > (about 30 ft.) that causes the house's basement to leak. (The furthest
> > part of the backyard away from the basement slopes away from the house
> > and that is where I would direct the water to.) I have been told
> > numerous times that keeping water away from a house is 90% of the
> > solution to a leaky basement. I am wondering whether it is possible
> > for me to obtain the dirt necessary to change the slope (At some
> > points, I will need 2 ft. of dirt to raise the slope up the back wall)
> > and to do this work myself.

Last time I checked topsoil and/or fill is readily available just about
everywhere. Whether you can do it depends on what shape you are in and
how much time you have. You can also rent a Bobcat or similar to make
it a lot easier.

The bigger question is whether it is really possible. There aren't
that many houses where you can raise the grade 2 ft at the house
without running into problems like the siding, existing sidewalks,
entrance doors, patios, etc. But if it takes 2ft to fix this, clearly
something needs to be done, cause that's a hell of a slope in the wrong
direction.

Assuming it's raised 2ft at the house wall, what pitch does that give?





Also, I would appreciate tips on commonly
> > made mistakes in this type of work so that I could avoid them if I
> > decide to do this work myself.


Posted by Banty on July 6, 2006, 3:46 pm
trader4@optonline.net says...
>
>
>digitalmaster wrote:
>> > I have a small house where there is a substantial slope toward
>> > the basement in the rear of the house from the midpoint of the backyard
>> > (about 30 ft.) that causes the house's basement to leak. (The furthest
>> > part of the backyard away from the basement slopes away from the house
>> > and that is where I would direct the water to.) I have been told
>> > numerous times that keeping water away from a house is 90% of the
>> > solution to a leaky basement. I am wondering whether it is possible
>> > for me to obtain the dirt necessary to change the slope (At some
>> > points, I will need 2 ft. of dirt to raise the slope up the back wall)
>> > and to do this work myself.
>
>Last time I checked topsoil and/or fill is readily available just about
>everywhere. Whether you can do it depends on what shape you are in and
>how much time you have. You can also rent a Bobcat or similar to make
>it a lot easier.
>
>The bigger question is whether it is really possible. There aren't
>that many houses where you can raise the grade 2 ft at the house
>without running into problems like the siding, existing sidewalks,
>entrance doors, patios, etc. But if it takes 2ft to fix this, clearly
>something needs to be done, cause that's a hell of a slope in the wrong
>direction.
>

Yes. In this case, it may be better to create a swale in the yard on that side
of the house.

Banty


--


Posted by Goedjn on July 6, 2006, 3:44 pm
On 6 Jul 2006 11:43:32 -0700, "DaileyJohn.20.decij@spamgourmet.com"

> I have a small house where there is a substantial slope toward
>the basement in the rear of the house from the midpoint of the backyard
>(about 30 ft.) that causes the house's basement to leak. (The furthest
>part of the backyard away from the basement slopes away from the house
>and that is where I would direct the water to.) I have been told
>numerous times that keeping water away from a house is 90% of the
>solution to a leaky basement. I am wondering whether it is possible
>for me to obtain the dirt necessary to change the slope (At some
>points, I will need 2 ft. of dirt to raise the slope up the back wall)
>and to do this work myself. Also, I would appreciate tips on commonly
>made mistakes in this type of work so that I could avoid them if I
>decide to do this work myself.

You shouldn't need any more dirt than in already in your yard.
You just move dirt from where you want the low spot to where
you want the high spot, until it is so.

Note, of course that this only works if there is some point
on your property that's lower than either.

The most common mistakes are, in no particular order,
(A) Piling dirt somewhere to keep water away without
providing a place for the water to go,
(B) Pissing of the neighbors and/or municipality
by dumping excess water someplace you shouldn't.
(C) Hitting something important while digging.
(D) Letting your trench collapse and damage your
equipment, your house, or your body.


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