When summer in Victoria is long gone and it is time to store the patio furniture, barbecue and garden tools, but before you pack those away there is one last project that might need your attention. Are you aware of the impact that poor grading (the level of the ground around your home) can have on where stormwater will flow?
Positive and Negative Grading
The difference is as basic as it sounds: positive grading is good and negative could have unfortunate results if not corrected. When properly done, positive grading directs stormwater away from your home, while with negative grading stormwater is directed towards your house. Water that consistently pools and collects over time can only result in damage to your foundation. What better reason to take some time to inspect the grade around the perimeter of your home.
How to Tell if the Grade is Positive or Negative
Having a home inspection prior to purchasing a home is accepted as standard procedure in order to avoid hidden surprises down the road. While a check for proper grading should be of the items on the inspector’s list, it only reveals any issues at the time of his inspection. If conditions are dry it may not reveal what happens to stormwater during heavy rainfall. After moving in many homeowners often perform home maintenance, and gutters, downspouts and grading after heavy rainfall should be a priority. Be aware that well over 95% of water penetration problems in Victoria happen below the grade areas of homes and is due to failure of the perimeter drain.
Fixing Negative Grading
Correcting negative grading is as easy as shoveling soil away from your foundation or bringing in soil from other parts of your property to increase grade. Be careful not to cover up siding as you fix the grade around your foundation.
If taking the above measure doesn’t fix your seepage issues, it may be time to call a perimeter drain contractor in Victoria BC. Give us a call today to help find a solution for your surface water problem.
