Proper grading around a home’s foundation is essential to direct surface water away from the structure, preventing water pooling, soil erosion, and moisture issues that can lead to foundation damage over time. By ensuring the ground slopes outward from the foundation, homeowners can maintain a dry, stable environment around the home, which protects against potential structural issues. Here’s a guide to understanding why slope is critical, options for achieving positive drainage, and recommendations for effective water control.

Water pooling near the foundation can seep into the soil, causing it to expand, soften, or erode, all of which can impact the stability of the foundation. A positive slope directs water away from the home, reducing the risk of soil saturation and pressure against the foundation.

Moisture buildup around the foundation can lead to water infiltration in crawlspaces or basements, which can cause mold growth, wood rot, and other moisture-related issues. Ensuring proper drainage helps prevent this by keeping water away from the foundation perimeter.

Saturated soil near the foundation can expand, shift, or settle over time, affecting the stability of the foundation. Proper grading ensures that soil around the home remains stable and provides adequate support.

Here are several options for creating or restoring a positive slope to direct water away from the foundation effectively:

Regrading the soil around the foundation is a straightforward and often cost-effective solution to improve slope. By adjusting the soil level, homeowners can ensure that surface water flows away from the home rather than pooling around the foundation.

• Process: Regrading involves adding or reshaping soil around the foundation to create a gentle slope of about 5% (or 6 inches over 10 feet) outward from the structure.

• Cost and Labor: Regrading is generally minimal in cost and can be completed as a DIY project or by a qualified landscaping company. It’s a practical solution for most homeowners and often sufficient to achieve effective water control.

If areas around the home already have hardscape (such as concrete walkways, patios, or tightly spaced pavers), adding new hardscape with a positive slope or adjusting existing surfaces can be an effective drainage solution. Properly sloped hardscape directs water outward, providing a durable and low-maintenance drainage solution.

• Process: Install new hardscape with a slope away from the foundation, or adjust existing hardscape with methods like mud jacking (also known as slab jacking or poly-leveling), which involves lifting one side of a concrete slab to create a slope.

• Cost: For an average-sized home, the cost of installing sloped hardscape on one side typically ranges around $6,000 +/- 30%. For areas where existing hardscape slopes toward the house, mud jacking to adjust the slope would cost approximately $4,000 +/- 30% per slab area.

• Advantages: Hardscape provides a stable, impervious surface that won’t shift over time, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas or areas where soil may be difficult to regrade.

For homes with persistent water issues around the foundation, subsurface drainage solutions, such as French drains, can provide an effective, long-term solution. French drains consist of perforated pipes installed in a gravel-filled trench that collects and redirects water away from the foundation.

• Process: French drains are typically installed along the perimeter of the foundation, capturing water and channeling it to a designated discharge point away from the home.

• Cost: Installing full French drains around an average-sized house can be a significant investment, with a cost range of approximately $45,000 +/- 30%.

• Advantages: Subsurface drainage is a comprehensive solution for properties with high water tables or severe drainage issues, providing excellent long-term water control.

For most homeowners, Option 1 (regrading the soil) will likely be sufficient to achieve a positive slope and improve drainage around the foundation. Regrading is cost-effective, relatively simple, and often enough to address minor drainage issues and protect the foundation from water buildup.

However, in areas with hardscape or where the property experiences significant water accumulation, Options 2 and 3 offer additional stability and control:

• Option 2: Use this option if existing hardscape needs adjustment or if adding new hardscape is part of landscaping plans. Properly sloped hardscape is a long-term solution that provides added durability and stability.

• Option 3: This is ideal for homes in areas with high water tables or severe drainage problems, where surface grading alone may not be enough. Subsurface drainage systems provide a robust and permanent solution to redirect water away from the foundation.

Maintaining a positive slope away from the foundation is essential for keeping the foundation dry, stable, and protected from water-related issues. By implementing the appropriate drainage solution—whether regrading, installing hardscape, or adding subsurface drainage—homeowners can prevent moisture buildup, preserve soil stability, and ensure the longevity of their home’s foundation. Each option offers effective water control, and the best choice depends on the specific needs, budget, and landscaping plans of the property.