Landscaping - drainage concerns

Hi all, first time post (so be nice):). I'm doing some landscaping in my backyard and my issue is the grade slopes to the back of my house. I am re-doing my interlocking stone patio and am wondering if I should continue a path along the back of the house or can I actually put up a small garden with some cedars? My concern is I want to keep water away from the house to prevent possible leaks in the basement. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi mcarn and welcome to the board. This is not my specialty but I'll get you started. My son built a new home a few years ago and his property slopes high in the back to low in front, which would dump all of the run-off up against the back of his foundation. His solution was to increase the slope behind the house so the grade would be 2 feet lower, 30 feet from the house. Then slope it up to the house and to both sides on past the house. It has worked great.

You may not have that option, but directing the water away at a point as far from the house as reasonable is always good. Being in frost country, me too, you have to allow for 6 to 12 inches of lift during the winter. The worst I have ever measured is about 8 inches, but it all depends on your soils.

You can post pictures at photobucket.com and drag the link over here, it always helps.

Good luck,
Bud

Thanks Bud, much appreciated. The slope is not too severe, maybe 1.5-2 ft from the peak in the middle of the backyard. It slopes downwards to my house and to my neighbour's yard. When I work on my landscaping I will definitely build up the ground against my house so that it slopes away but my question is, how should I finish the landscaping at the back of my house to help with drainage, a interlocking walkway or a flower box/garden? Any suggestions?

Hi Mcarn,

I agree you need to grade the soil so the slope is away from the house. Here's some ideas.
http://www.askthebuilder.com/B67_Tips_on_Foundation_Soil_Grade_Around_Houses.shtml
http://pros.servicemagic.com/article.show.Foundation-Drainage.13702.html
http://www.askthebuilder.com/175_Drying_Soggy_Soil_-_A_Simple_Trench_Drain.shtml

When I work on my landscaping I will definitely build up the ground against my house so that it slopes away but my question is, how should I finish the landscaping at the back of my house to help with drainage, a interlocking walkway or a flower box/garden? Any suggestions?

Without pics it would be difficult to say, but keeping in mind your location, if you drain the water to the patio pavers, you will have frost heave.

Newt