Grade Your Yard Away From Your Home's Foundation

Rain that doesn't drain effectively away from your home's foundation can cause water damage and moisture issues in your basement and crawlspaces. Even a little water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. It can also cause mildew and mold to grow. To protect your property, you must grade your yard away from your home's foundation.

Steps

  1. Mark any utility lines in your yard with brightly colored flags. Make sure you know where any water, gas, telephone and electric lines are hidden so you can avoid them when grading your yard.
  2. Identify the nearest drainage area where you want the water to go. If you can't utilize a public drain, you'll have to divert the runoff to a small pond at the edge of your property.
  3. Dig {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of topsoil from around your foundation. Set it aside.
  4. Create a level surface by filling in places or removing soil in others. To level out bumpy areas, remove excess soil and then press the remaining dirt down to make the surface smooth. To level out areas of depressions, dig around the sides of the dip about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} deep. Add soil to fill in the depression and press in to create a smooth surface.
  5. Spray paint 2 stakes to use as markers.
  6. Measure out {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} away from your home's foundation and drive a stake into the ground. Do the same {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} away from your drainage area.
  7. Tie a colored string between each planted stake. This will help you determine the grade of your lawn. It may be helpful to leave the string near the drain stake loose so you can adjust it easily.
  8. Move the remaining soil on your lawn to form a downward slope. Periodically check to see if your slope is accurate by placing a 10" 2-by-4 board on the slope away from the house. An 8' (96") 2-by-4 is close enough. You need at least a 2-percent grade to achieve effective drainage.
    • Place a leveling bar on top of the 2-by-4.
    • Raise the end of the 2-by-4 closest to the drainage area until the bar indicates that it's level.
    • If the ground measures {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} below the 2-by-4, the ground slopes {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} for every {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} away from the house, which is a 2-percent grade. This is the minimum slope required, but you could have a larger slope, as well.
  9. Use a rake to smooth the grade.
  10. Use a tiller to mix the topsoil you set aside with the subsoil.
  11. Allow soil to settle a few days before planting grass seed or laying down sod. If you have achieved a 2-percent slope, an ample amount of water will be absorbed by the soil but any excess will drain away.

Tips

  • If you live on a steep slope, consider building a terrace to grade your yard away from your home's foundation.

Warnings

  • If your foundation is cracked, you may still have water issues even if you grade your yard away from your home's foundation.
  • Check with your city or county for any regulations you must adhere to before starting your grading project. Some work requires permits or inspections. A professional contractor will check for you if you have hired one to do the job.

Things You'll Need

  • Brightly colored flags
  • Brightly colored spray paint
  • 2 ground stakes
  • Colored string
  • 2-by-4 board
  • Level
  • Rake
  • Tiller

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Sources and Citations

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