Wet Basement? Your Yard Might Be the Problem

No one likes a wet basement, but if your yard isn’t graded right - it can happen. Here’s the right way to do it. First, I put down filter fabric to keep silt from mixing with the drainage stone. Then, I backfill with good clay. When the clay is packed tight against your foundation it creates a cap so most of the water runs away rather than down the wall. This house isn’t framed yet, so I’m careful not to backfill too high and put pressure against the walls. I just want the water to run away while it’s under construction. Also, I watch out for big rocks, you don’t want them against your foundation. We put foam board over our waterproofing to protect it, but big rocks like this can damage the foam and even the waterproofing as the dirt settles over time. It’s really important that you slope the grade away from the house. Code requires a minimum of 6 inches of fall over the first 10 feet. I’m leaving enough room for a layer of topsoil. Honestly, a lot of you with wet basements could fix it by doing two things: Regrade your yard so there’s slope away from the foundation and bury your downspouts. @hausplans #build #howto #construction #diy #contractor