regrading for drainage

lauraoct10th

Is this something H and I could do? or should we really call in a landscaper? I know we would need new fill dirt and lots of it.

Any help would be great. TIA

~NB~

How big of a job is it? How much are you prepared to do? We don't have much info. You know better than anyone here what the two of you are capable of.

BBachmann

It depends on how much needs to be done.  I would suggest consulting a grader.  They would know what your city/county standards are as well as where you can get some dirt for cheap.  They might even suggest if you will need a Surveyor/Engineer to design a grading plan for you, if it's that large of a project.

alliapistor

How easy or hard it is to get to the area that needs to be regraded would also focus into my decision. 

Our backyard has definite drainage problems, some of which we cannot fix because we are in a watershed.  But we have started regrading what we can.  Because of the arrangement of our lot, we cannot get big heavy equipment (e.g., dump truck or even normal size skid loader) into the area to be regraded.  This means all of the dirt has to be hauled in with something small (wheelbarrow, dumpcart attached to riding mower, or mini-skid steer but that damaged our sidewalk).  Dirt is HEAVY.  If it is an area that is hard to get to, I would definitely see about getting a professional if you can find someone to do it.  (We couldn't for a price that we were able/willing to pay, so we are slowly doing it ourself.)

lauraoct10th

Its pretty much just around the base of the house where there as been settling. Which causes problems with the basement. I am told it is a normal problem and regarding with fill dirt with high clay mixture will fix it.

It is not a large house. Average Cape Cod style house. The back is where the most dirt is needed and that is also the harderest place to get a truck.

I will have to check if the county has any guid lines I need to be with in. I didnt even think of that. We are purchase this property and our inspector showed us the problem. Which is cause the water in the basement. 

Thank you so much ladies. If you have any more suggestions i would love to hear them.

another KT

I've never heard that adding more dirt with more clay is going to solve a water in the basement issue.  Water in the basement is more of a french drain situtation. I'd seek some more opinions. 

alliapistor

lauraoct10th:

Its pretty much just around the base of the house where there as been settling. Which causes problems with the basement. I am told it is a normal problem and regarding with fill dirt with high clay mixture will fix it.

It is not a large house. Average Cape Cod style house. The back is where the most dirt is needed and that is also the harderest place to get a truck.

I will have to check if the county has any guid lines I need to be with in. I didnt even think of that. We are purchase this property and our inspector showed us the problem. Which is cause the water in the basement. 

Thank you so much ladies. If you have any more suggestions i would love to hear them.

If you decide to DIY and get free fill dirt off of Craig's List - make sure to inspect the dirt before you let them dump it.  We didn't and ours was full of rocks.