7 Expert Methods: How to Redirect Water in a Yard and Near the House

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Knowing how to redirect water in a yard is important for property owners. Excessive moisture and standing water risk foundation damage, wilted greenery, and other issues. Water can also attract bothersome, damaging insects to your property!

How to redirect water in a yard:

1. Install grading
2. Construct swales
3. Install French drains
4. Create dry wells
5. Build retaining walls
6. Use rain gardens
7. Direct downspouts

When redirecting water in your yard, it's important to consider local regulations and potential impact on neighboring properties. Also, remember that many solutions require regular maintenance over the years.

Additionally, a foundation repair contractor or landscaping engineer can help with water in your yard. Their expertise ensures a dry property and strong, stable foundation.

How to Redirect Water in a Yard and Near the House: 7 Methods to Try

Redirecting water in a yard is important for preventing water damage, erosion, and pooling. If it's not redirected, this can cause basement water leaks or crawl space issues. Check out 7 steps you can take to effectively redirect water:

1. Install grading: Proper grading involves shaping the terrain to direct water away from structures and toward designated drainage points. The ground should slope away from buildings and toward a suitable drainage area.
2. Construct swales: Swales are shallow, gently sloping channels that direct water away from problem areas. They can be landscaped with plants to absorb excess water.
3. Install French drains: French drains are trenches filled with gravel and a perforated pipe. They help collect and redirect water underground, preventing surface water accumulation.
4. Create dry wells: Dry wells are excavated pits filled with gravel that collect and gradually disperse excess water into the ground.
5. Build retaining walls: Retaining walls can help prevent erosion and direct water away from certain areas. They can be used strategically to control water flow.
6. Use rain gardens: Rain gardens are designed to capture and absorb rainwater, allowing it to gradually infiltrate the soil. They can help reduce runoff and promote plant growth.
7. Direct downspouts: Extend downspouts away from the foundation of your house to prevent water from pooling around the structure.

In addition to these solutions, you can also create small ditches around your property to direct water away from your house. Berms or small hills can stop water from flowing in the home’s direction and mulch beds also keep water in place.

For severe flooding, consider a sump pump for your property. These collect water in a pit and then pump it to a nearby drain or another receptacle. Sump pumps are excellent for removing large volumes of water, protecting a foundation against water damage.

How Do I Slope Water Away From My House?

Sloping water away from your house prevents water from pooling around the foundation. Proper grading and drainage are key to ensuring water flows away from your home. Here's how you can slope water away from your house:

1. Create a grading plan

Develop a grading plan that establishes the desired slope away from your house. The ground should slope downward at a gradual angle. In most cases, this is 1 inch per foot (2% slope) for the first 10 feet away from your house.

2. Use stakes and string for markings

Use stakes and strings to mark the area where you plan to change the slope. This will serve as a guide as you work on reshaping the terrain.

3. Decide where you need to excavate or fill

Depending on your yard's current state, you may need to excavate soil in certain areas and fill in others to achieve the desired slope. Remove excess soil where water accumulates and use it to build up the areas where you want the water to flow away.

4. Compact the soil

Ensure that the soil you've added is well compacted to prevent settling. Use a tamper or compactor to firmly pack the soil.

5. Shape the slope

Use a rake or shovel to shape the slope gradually away from your house. Avoid creating sharp drops, as these can cause erosion.

6. Dig out shallow swales if necessary

If your yard has specific low areas that collect water, consider digging shallow swales or channels to guide water flow away from the house. These can help direct water to appropriate drainage points.

7. Install landscape edging to prevent erosion

Install landscape edging or other barriers along the base of the slope to prevent erosion and keep the soil in place.

Remember that your yard needs regular checks and maintenance to keep it graded properly. Periodically inspect and maintain the graded slope to ensure it remains effective. Address any erosion or settling issues promptly.

How Do I Divert Water Runoff Away From My House?

Diverting water runoff away from your house is crucial! This will prevent water from accumulating near the foundation and causing potential damage. Here's how you can effectively divert water runoff:

• Install gutters along the edges of your roof to collect rainwater. Connect downspouts to the gutters and direct them away from the foundation. Downspout extensions can be added to ensure that water is carried farther away.
• Ensure that downspouts discharge water at least 5 to 10 feet away from the foundation. Use downspout extensions, flexible drainpipes, or underground drainage systems to guide water to appropriate areas.
• Gradually slope the landscape away from your house's foundation. This can be done by adding soil and shaping the ground to create a gentle slope.
• Dry wells are pits filled with gravel that collect and disperse water underground. They can help manage excess runoff.
• Install catch basins in areas with concentrated water flow. Catch basins collect water and divert it to an appropriate drainage system.
• Plant grass, shrubs, or ground covers along the path of runoff. These plants can help absorb excess water and stabilize the soil.

By effectively diverting water runoff away from your house, you can help protect your foundation and landscaping from water damage, erosion, and other related problems.

A Quick Word From Our Team

Grand Rapids Foundation Repair Pros is happy to explain how to redirect water in a yard or near a house. If you’re near the city, call our Grand Rapids foundation repair contractors if you’re in need of expert services. We’ll start you off with a FREE inspection and price quote. For more information, reach out today.