Original research
Signs of bad yard grading, and how to confirm them
What to look for after rain, what else causes it, and a check that takes ten minutes.
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Written by HyreYard Research Desk Research and fact checking
The short answer
The clearest sign of bad yard grading is water that stands or soaks in against the foundation after rain; the confirmation is ground that drops less than six inches in the first ten feet out from the wall. That six-inch figure comes from the International Residential Code, which tells builders to grade lots so surface water drains away from foundation walls, falling at least six inches within the first ten feet.
Where a lot line or wall makes that impossible, the code accepts drains or swales instead. Hard surfaces such as patios within ten feet of the house should slope at least 2 percent away.
Other signs follow from the same water: damp basement or crawl space walls, soil that stays soft for days, plants near the house failing, and mulch washing toward the wall.
Downspouts dumping at the foundation and clogged gutters cause many of the same symptoms, so rule them out first. The check below needs a stake, string and a tape measure.
Eight signs, and what else could cause them
| Sign | Where to look | Rule out first | Points to grading if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water standing against the foundation | Around the house within an hour of heavy rain | Downspout outlet next to the wall; overflowing gutter | Water pools even where no downspout discharges |
| Soggy strip along the house | Lawn or beds within a few feet of the wall | Leaking hose bib or irrigation head | Strip stays soft for days after rain with irrigation off |
| Damp basement or crawl space walls | Lower walls, corners, after rain | Plumbing leak; condensation in humid months | Dampness follows rainfall on the uphill side |
| Mulch or soil washed toward the wall | Beds along the house | Hose or sprinkler spray | Wash lines point toward the foundation |
| Soil above the siding or weep line | Base of exterior walls | Beds topped up year after year | Grade sits high against the wall all round |
| Patio or walk tilted toward the house | Hard surfaces next to doors | Settled single slab | Water runs to the wall across the surface |
| Erosion channels in the lawn | Slopes leading to the house | Neighbor’s downspout | Channels start uphill and end at your wall |
| Plants near the house failing | Foundation beds | Wrong plant for the light; pests | Roots sit in wet soil; plants farther out are fine |
Signs compiled from contractor and inspector guides in the SERP; the rule-out column is HyreYard’s own checklist.
The ten-foot slope check
Drive a stake into the soil at the foundation, and a second stake ten feet straight out.
Tie string to the wall stake at ground level and run it to the outer stake. Level it with a line level.
At the outer stake, measure from the string down to the ground. Six inches or more meets the IRC figure. Less, or ground higher than the string, means the grade falls toward the house.
Check every side and each corner where water collects. Write down each reading; a contractor will want them.
On a patio or walk next to the house, a 2 percent fall is about a quarter inch per foot. A marble or a level tells you which way it runs.
Which trade to call
Downspouts and gutters
Gutter and downspout problems go to a gutter installer or handyman. Extend outlets away from the house before paying for regrading, then watch through the next storm.
Regrading and swales
Regrading goes to a drainage and grading contractor. Ask for the finished slope in writing, the fill material, compaction, and where the water ends up. Moving water onto a neighbor’s lot can create a dispute. See landscape grading.
Drains where grade cannot be fixed
Drainage systems are the fallback the code itself names. Read French drain and dry well, and our soil drainage research.
Foundation cracks or movement
Structural concerns go to a structural engineer or foundation specialist before any landscaper. Grading may stop the water, but it does not assess the damage. Clay soils add movement; see expansive soils.
Before anyone digs
Regrading moves soil around utility lines near the house. Call 811 or confirm the contractor has, and keep soil below siding and weep screeds when the new grade is shaped.
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Questions
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