Problem: Spring Flooding

Spring is a prime time for flooding in basements and lawns. There are a number of causes of and solutions to this problem.

Surface Water

Spring flooding is often due to excess surface water from snow melt and rain. The ground is frozen, so water travels across the surface rather than seeping into the ground. Add to that water flowing toward your home from higher ground, nearby, and you can experience flooding in your lawn, and worse, inside your home.

Lawn Grading

Poor grading also contributes to flooding. The soil along your home’s foundation needs to slope down and away from the foundation wall. Your entire landscape and lawn should be graded “downhill” so that water flows “through” your property and does not accumulate against your foundation or in your lawn or landscape.

The result of accumulating water along your foundation is flooding in your basement. The result of flooding in your lawn can be damaged grass, a habitat for mosquito breeding, or a messy mud hole!

Drainage Solutions

To prevent flooding in your basement:

• Increase the slope along the outer foundation wall. This is done by removing the surface rock or mulch, poly or fabric, and exposing about four feet of bare dirt.
• Add a dense soil (something with clay in it is best, not sand) along the foundation, rake so it slopes downhill away from the foundation and tamp.
• Replace the fabric, poly, mulch, rock with the old material or with new.
• This is also a great time to plant new foundation shrubs.

To prevent flooding in your lawn:

• Re-grade the lawn so it slopes away from the house toward the property lines. A drainage “swale” may be necessary if the surrounding terrain slopes toward your lawn from multiple directions.
• Regrading usually requires professional equipment and experience, as well as replacement of some lawn. Great Goats Landscaping can help. We do this type of work frequently.
• Other solutions include drain tile (underground tubes to collect and channel water). We install drain tile.
• Sump pump installation and foundation water proofing are services we do not provide.

Good luck this spring and all year long enjoying a beautiful, DRY home and lawn!