Surface Drainage

​Proper grading

Proper grading is critical in preventing water from getting into your home. Grading starts at your basement wall and moves water away from your home towards the street. Dirt or sod should slope down from the wall at a continuous angle for at least 1.5 to 2 meters. If you have decorative rock next to your foundation, take measurements from where the dirt begins.

Water pooling in your yard

• Did you know?

  Good eavestroughs, downspouts, and extensions help improve your outdoor drainage.

  Check your grading annually and correct as necessary to ensure proper slope, the ground settles over time, particularly near your basement wall
• Check under the stairs, steps and decks for voids and backfill as necessary
• Check the driveway, sidewalk and patio for any cracks or spaces that are next to the foundation wall, caulk or waterproof as necessary
• Inside your house, check for moisture around the foundation walls and the floor, fill and seal any visible cracks

For more information about lot grading requirements, visit the City of Edmonton's website.