Grading and Drainage

Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines

The final grades around your home have been inspected and approved for proper drainage of your lot. Our surveyor completes a drainage certification and then the local building authorities as well as LaMontagne Builders inspect the site. Yards drain from one to another. You and your neighbors share an overall drainage plan for the community. Use caution when installing landscaping, fencing, or additions to your home to prevent causing water problems on adjacent lots.

Drainage

Typically, the grade around your home should slope away from your house to provide adequate drainage so that water will not stand or pond within 10 feet of the home (including deck) for extended periods after a rain (up to 48 hours). In most cases, drainage swales do not follow property boundaries. Maintain the slopes around your home to permit the water to drain away from the home as rapidly as possible. This is essential to protect your foundation. Failure to do so can result in major structural damage and will void your warranty.

Exterior Finish Materials

Maintain soil levels 6 inches below siding, stucco, brick, or other exterior finish materials. Contact with the soil can cause deterioration of the exterior finish material and encourages pest infestations.

Roof Water

Due to the many roof lines found in today’s home designs, you may experience large amounts of water which run down the valleys during heavy rains. This can create depressions in your lawn.

Rototilling

Rototilling can significantly change drainage swales. You can minimize this by rototilling parallel to the swales rather than across them.

Settling

The area we excavated for your home's foundation was larger than the home to allow room to work. In addition, some trenching is necessary for installation of utility lines. Although we replaced and compacted the soil, it does not return to its original density. Some settling will occur, especially after prolonged or heavy rainfall or melting of large amounts of snow. Settling can continue for several years. Inspect the perimeter of your home regularly for signs of settling and fill settled areas as needed to maintain positive drainage.

Perimeter Drains

LaMontagne Builders installs a subsurface drain around the entire perimeter of your foundation to ensure that water drains from a yard adequately. Periodically check the end of this drain (where it daylights) to make certain it is free and clear of debris. You will be shown, at your final walkthrough, the location of this drain. A blocked or frozen Perimeter drain will cause water to seep into your basement