Landscaping - Grading issue

Hello,

I'd like to do some regrading on the front of our house.

The problem is, I'd have to add top soil pretty high up to create the slope I need. This would put the soil against the siding of the house (which would slowly rot away then).

Is there a remedy? Flashing against the siding?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Steve

I wouldn't put the grade above the siding! Not only will it cause rot, but it's an invitation for insects to enter your home :eek:

Would a retaining wall a couple of feet from the house be feasable? maybe plant flowers between the wall and house.

What if I built the dirt up high enough, but didn't touch the house. Between the dirt "wall" and the house, would be a tile drain under the ground. Would that work?

Thanks.

That might work. You'd want to make sure that it will quickly carry away water if you have a down pour. How high would this dirt 'wall' be? Would you plant grass or something to prevent erosion?

Skbohler, you might do better to regrade, either removing the soil that is near the house and grading from there, or starting at the level at the house. The top of your soil level should be 8" to 12" from the sill plate and the siding.

Newt

When you say "regrade", what do you mean?

Thanks,

Steve

Rather than adding soil, regrade to move around or remove soil to provide the proper slope.

When you say "regrade", what do you mean?

Thanks,

Steve

It means to move the soil you already have into a slope.
http://www.askthebuilder.com/B67_Tips_on_Foundation_Soil_Grade_Around_Houses.shtml

That should help explain it.
Newt

I see. Unfortunately, I don't think regrading is an option.

The property slope starts out high and then comes down to the driveway and then flat to the house. There's nothing I could really lower because the driveway is there.

I'll give it more thought, though.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve, pictures are always helpful. Can you post some pics?

Newt

If house sits at bottom of a slope, then a drain at the bottom of the slope to intercept the water before it reaches the 'flat' area and the house can be installed. The flat area should still slope away from the structure.

OK, I've uploaded some photos in a Picasa web album (since I can't attach here apparently).

Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/skbohler/Grading?authkey=b1fRJcu6fqU

Hopefully they explain the landscape enough.

I'd be interested to know your thoughts on the ideal placing of a drain. Note that a drain currently exists just to left of the area, right in front of the driveway. Ideally, I guess I'd connect up with that drain.

Thanks,

Steve

Have you tried watching the area after it rains to see where the puddles are? Sounds basic, but it does help you see how the water is flowing. Another thought is to dig out an area and add a section of decorative gravel/rocks as a secondary catch basin.

Steve, sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. In picture #1 it appears the soil level is very high against the house. I'm thinking this picture is where the garage and house meet.

In picture #2 I would grade the soil from the house to the area where the slope meets the flat area and put the drain there.

Newt

Hi Skbohler,

Are you familiar with perforated drain tile?
It's a flexible, corrugated piping with uniform holes, which is used to absorb moisture from the surrounding soil and transport it to more desirable locations. Most often it is used in conjunction with rain gutters to carry water away from foundations as well as used behind retaining walls to alleviate the water pressure that can build up behind them.
Such drain tile can be used with French drains by utilizing adapters.
In and away from the problem area, a trench would be dug that slopes down. In your last photo, it appears the property grade slopes down to the right. This would be the natural direction to dig the trench. Once the trench is far enough away from the problem area, then the top of the end of the drain tile can be poked out above the grade to discharge the water.

Putting "perforated drain tile" into a search engine will yield photos of the product, and its application it is discussed in further detail at the web addresses below.

http://pros.servicemagic.com/article.show.Foundation-Drainage.13702.html

http://www.oxfordplasticsinc.com/residential.htm

The whole drainage issue gets complicated, but here's an article with lots of details and ideas. A little technical, but use what you need. Good luck!

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/10286.shtml