how to grade against house

See below for a shopping list and toolsSUBSCRIBE to This Old House. Use shovels to remove any grass or plants.

Keep Dirt And Mulch Off Your Siding Land Designs Unlimited Llc

Homeowners can use simple tools such as stakes string and a line level to measure their yards rise the vertical distance of the slope and run the horizontal distance of the slope.

. Slope swales per the plan typically at least 2 percent. The consensus seems to be that a good slope to aim for when grading land extending out from a house foundation is about 6 inches for the first 10 feet that translates to a slope of 5 percent. Remove any decorative rock or mulchyou want to take the measurement on bare ground as water flows right through rock or mulch.

Put the piece of wood or metal on the ground next to the house. One of the simplest things you can do to reduce the risk of water damage in your home is to make sure the soil next to your home is pitched or sloped away. Add fill dirt or topsoil to raise the level at the foundation.

The soil type used for the grading process is important. Youll need to dump enough dirt so that this problem spot low point becomes your high point. Measure the slope in the soil surrounding your house to determine the amount which the soil grade needs to be raised.

If you find the process confusing bring in a local landscaper to do it for you. Shovel the dirt into a wheelbarrow and dump the pile of dirt at your low point. Heres what you do.

Youll need a level and a flat straight piece of thin plywood or metal that wont sag. Tamp the soil down so that there is a sloped. Many professionals grade land successfully using a lesser slope than that but those who wish to be on the safe side err on in the direction of the greater slope.

Its easy to check the grade around your house. Use fill dirt if you plan on covering the area. Remove any debris from the perimeter of your houses foundation.

The grade has to be sufficient to drain water from the lot in accordance with the overall drainage plan for the site. In order to prevent oversaturated soil around basement walls from leaching water into your home the ground must slope away from the foundation for several feet at a grade of at least 1 inch per foot. Slope the rough grade away from the home to meet local code typically so that it falls a minimum of six inches within the first 10 feet from the foundation.

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook saves a soggy foundation. So if the water is draining toward your house youll want to dump a big old pile of dirt against your foundation so you can reverse the grade. Lift the opposite end of the board until the level shows that the board is sitting even.

Set one end of a 10-foot wood board on the ground directly next to your homes foundation and set a level on top of the board. From there you can calculate your grade.

How To Grade Around A Foundation This Old House Youtube Floor Framing Home Maintenance House Foundation

Keep Ticks At Bay With 9 Smart Landscaping Tips

10 Ways To Dress Up The Side Of A Garage Or Wall

Landscaping And Grade Maintenance

Karon Triple C Farmhouse S Instagram Post Final Grade Work Is Complete And Fence Is Up We Just Need The Two Gates Installed And Fencing Will Be Complete Everything Is Starting To