Landscaping and Grade Maintenance

When a home is new, the yard is "graded" to allow water to drain away from the foundation of the home. It is not uncommon for some settling to occur in the yard, especially in the spring after heavy rain. The grade can also be inadvertently changed when the yard is landscaped by the homeowner.

Time Needed:	less than 30 minutes
Frequency:	at least once each spring
Number of steps:	2
Tools you might need:	none
Skill level:	easy
What if I don’t do this?	Excess water can saturate your home’s foundation and leak into the basement or crawl space.

Step 1: Inspect For Problems

Every spring, or after heavy rains, check around the foundation of your home for signs of settling, pooling water, or water on the basement floor near the outside walls. If any of these conditions exist, contact your builder immediately. Make a sketch of where these areas are located to assist in prompt repair. See also: Gutter and Downspout Maintenance, Underground Sprinkler System Maintenance, Moisture Outside Your Home, Troubleshooting Damp Basements, Troubleshooting Around Your House

Step 2: Words To The Wise

Never change the grade or landscape to allow water to drain against the foundation of your home. Do not pile snow up against the foundation of your home in the winter. Be careful not to damage the insulation or siding on the foundation of your home with shovels, rakes, or mowers.

RELATED LINKS AND FILES

Landscaping and Grade Maintenance checklist.pdf (Acrobat - 12K)