Question
I am need some help. We have a drainage problem in that the water runs to the house and collects at the house foundation. Then it runs along the foundation from right to left (west to east)then out the gate, also it runs into the neighbor's yard. During heavy rains it fills the hot water shed and leaks into the house. We've change the carpet padding twice. I dug a trench and put in a plastic pipe to try to run the water away from the house. It's better, but still the water runs up against the house. I need to know what to do to take care of the drainage problem. Cost is an issue, I am hoping for a solution that I can implement with very little professional assistance or.... Do you have any advice, suggestions or resources that can help me in my decision?  I have included a web page with some pictures so you could get an idea of what I have to do. Thank you so much for your help.

http://www.geocities.com/rbs122755/drainage.html


Answer
You have three things you can do.

1. Re-grade your yard so that there is a swale directing water around your house. The center of this swale should be a minimum of six to ten feet away from your house. That means the soil around your house must slope a minimum of 1/4" per foot away from your house all the way around. Where the soil meets the walls of your house should never be the lowest pot.

2. Excavate the soil around your house down to the foundation or footing. Then waterproof the walls using the latest fluid applied or spray on water proofing (requires a professional but is the best and only way I would do it). Then apply a drain mat and ploy liner against the water proofed wall so that when water is moving through the soil below the surface it will be intercepted and directed down to the bottom where a pipe will collect the water and drain it to a low spot in your yard. Google NDS products, wall drains, french drains, etc to learn all about these types of products.

3. Install area drains in your swales(from 1 above) or create depressions with area drains to intercept the water running towards your house. Pipe this water away from and around your house to a lower spot in your yard. NDS offers area drains and they are sold through most home supply stores. I recommend 12x12 or 18x18 drain boxes for serious problems. Google NDS area drains for more on this.

Honestly drainage is a serious issue and is not easy to fix without a professional's help. Digging hundreds of feet of trench and laying pipe and gravel is not easy. Not to mention getting the grade right without a level and rod and experience is not going to be easy.

But best of luck,
Sean J Murphy, LA,ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my blogs and articles on landscape topics like this on my websites.
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://amenityarchitects.com