Basement Floor Getting Water...Pics

[DKAudio]

Cool, thanks. I have some ideas now. Unless I think of something else I probably won't post until spring once the snow is all gone as there is nothing I can do right now.

Thanks

[DKAudio]

Ok, I started shaving away grass in the front yard. I decided I will just scrap off the hill and make a proper grade. I still want to do some landscaping though. Was thinking about plastic edger but it usually doesn't look too nice. Then I thought about doing concrete edgers like the ones shown...

If I put some river rock between the house and the edger should I use plastic underneath or the fabric type? The rock can go directly on top of the material, I don't need to put soil down first, do I?

Do you have any better ideas than the plastic or concrete with river rock? It seems like so many houses have it, I would like to do something different. Money is definitly an issue though.

Finally, unless I shave off half my yard there may be a small valley at 8-10' out from the house. My front yard is a hill going down to the street so most of it is great for the grade, it just has some small humps which may create this small valley.


This pic is exagerated for clarity.

[DKAudio]

Bump, Pushkins, you around

It has been 3 days since my above post and I got all the grass shaved off up to about 9' from the house. I am now working on removing dirt to get a proper grade. It is very tough because the dirt is so hard and compacted. I am slowly making progress.

I have some nice fabric type weed blocker but if I should use plastic I will go buy some.

One other question in addition to my ones in the above post...
Is there a trick to get the slope flat? I am using a spade shovel to remove the dirt and it leaves a very uneven surface. I made a tamp out of scrap steel but it doesn't change it much since the dirt is so hard. Then I bought a bow rake but again, the earth is too hard. Any tips?

[pushkins]

Sorry DK for not getting back to you sooner.

Your plan your the grade 9' feet out is good, the further the better if you cannot get it totally graded away. Your lucky that your front yard slopes away so well it gives you an easy place to send water.
If you grade 1/4 in 1' then the weed fabric will be fine, it's obviously not going to stop water but your grade will push the water away from the home.
The rock or mulch or whatever your using for a garden cover can go straight over the weed fabric, you could still plant some small plants or shrubs in this area, that too would help with any extra water.

As for the "flatness' of the grade, the easiest way by hand in challenging soil is to get it as close to graded with your hand tools, shovels etc... then get some nice top soil and rake it over the area to smooth out the grade, then lay your sod. If your not laying sod on any of this area then just hand grade to 1/4" in 1' doesn't have to be pretty then cover with your ground cover material.
No matter how you put it though, this is pure "grunt" work by hand.

Bottom line is.....as long as the base ground slope is away from the house, it doesn't matter how deep your mulch or river rock is, it could be 3' deep against the house and 6" deep 4' out, (the depths are for explanation only..... ) the water will drop through the rock to the ground and then be sent away from the house and on it's merry way to the street.

[DKAudio]

Great thanks. I bought a square point shovel today and that helped. However, there still are some areas that are lower (small valleys). I am worried that water will pool in these areas. The grade looks great until I use a 2X4 and see how un-straight the slope is. You're right, this is very hard work, probably spent 20 hours on it now and I still have to do the other 2 sides of the house and build up the back!

As for landscapping I am thinking the following...
Make a walking path out of large natural shaped (wavy cut) pavers. Use the concrete pieces shown in the pic above as my edging and then fill with river rock. Make a area for the wife to plant as well
If I do those walking pavers, do I still need a 4" class 5 paver base and then 2" sand? I will probably use the whole 9' area for this.

On the driveway side of the house (paver patio area) I am thinking about using the same natural cut pieces. Since that is going to be a large area then I know I need the 4" base with 2" sand, I am going to have to move a lot of earth for that!

Thanks

Dan

[pushkins]

For the walking path I'd just use paver base 4" thick at the site of each step paver and maybe make it about 4" bigger all round the paver.

[DKAudio]

Ok, I bought a square point shovel and graded the front pretty good. Yesterday it was pouring out for around 15 minutes. I watched the front and didn't see any of the water slide down the grade and away from the house. Keep in mind that right now it is still just hard tamped old black dirt. I assume once I put down the fabric and river rock it will help move it along better but should I be concerned?

I know I already asked you this but do you think I should use some 6 mill plastic instead of the fabric or should the fabric be good?

[pushkins]

The grade is meant to take away excess water, a 15 minute downpour might night be enough to notice a great deal.
I can guarantee you if you have at least 1/4" fall in every foot away from the house then your on the right track, it's even code compliant . Anything more than that is a bonus, but from your previous posts getting more would be very difficult.
You can put down plastic to prevent 100% any water getting onto this area, but you will then have problems with "rushing" water and washing out any mulch etc...

[DKAudio]

ok, so fabric would actually be better? Today it rained for a while again and I noticed it pooling at the edge where I cut (where concrete edging will go) so it is getting the water farther away. My slope is WAY more than 1/4" per foot, I know that. I removed so much earth it is getting nuts that I only did it with a shovel. I only have about 5' left to do then I am done!

At the base of my slope where it meets the lawn I cut probably 6-8" deep. The concrete edgers that I want to be flush with the lawn (mow strip) are only, guessing 3-4". I was thinking I would put a 3-4" class 5 base under the edgers that need it, does that sound like a good idea? The other edgers I will just put on top of soil, is that ok?

I am going to have to get my river rock delivered, I need roughly 8 yards to fill the area I took out! Average of 4" deep with 70'X9' average. I also want to do it around my deck and shed as a "ramp" against all sides so my dog/other criters/leaves can't get under them. Therefore, maybe more like 10 yards!

[pushkins]

Sounds good, seems like your almost to the finish line.