Question

Water Drainage   How can I slope my yard so the rain water will drain away from the house. It appears my home sits lower than the rest of my yard. It also has a few low spots where water gather and drains towards the house. I have sent a picture that may help.

Answer
Hello,

I would suggest building a swale around your house. The french drains may be carrying some water away but it doesnt appear they are effective to control flooding around your home. If the french drains were not covered by the sod and had an open design they would be more effective but still not as effective as a swale,combined with drainage pipe and trench drains or catch basins if necessary.

If a swale is too disruptive of the landscape,catch basins,located at strategic low points or an open inlet trench drain may also prove effective or perhaps these devices could be integrated with a smaller swale. The swale and any other drainage device will of course need a discharge point for the water.  Regarding that hump indicated by the red box,you may want to try and level that out. Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.

Mark Harshman


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