Just one inch of rain deposits over 600 gallons of water into an
average-sized backyard. If it soaks into the ground or drains away properly—no
problem. However, if not, a flooded backyard can be an ongoing source of water
damage to your house every time it rains. Standing water around the perimeter
can seep beneath the foundation, causing the soil to subside and the foundation
to crack. Water from a flooded backyard may also inundate the basement. Soil that is deeply saturated due to
flooding also remains continuously wet even between rains, deteriorating
basement walls and floor.
Here are some ways to get the upper hand on backyard flooding:
Divert Water
Grading the landscape can help move water away from your
backyard and house.
- Make sure that the grade of the soil around the
immediate perimeter of the house slopes away to keep water from
accumulating near the structure. The slope should decline at least one
inch per foot to adequately move water away. - If standing water accumulates in the yard, the contour
of the land can be graded to create a swale—a gentle depression that
redirects the flow of water to an area of the yard with better drainage,
such as a bed of rocks or a garden.
Extend Gutter Discharge
Standard gutter downspout extensions often don't discharge water far enough
from the house to prevent seepage back under the structure. During the rainy
season, flexible roll-out plastic extensions up to 50 feet long that can be
readily installed and removed are helpful to relocate roof runoff further out
into areas of the yard where it will not pool and cause flooding.
Install A French Drain
In areas of the backyard where soil remains saturated causing chronic poor
drainage and flooding, a french drain offers a solution to relocate accumulating
groundwater. Installed in a gravel-filled trench topped with soil, the french
drain consists of a perforated plastic pipe that collects accumulating
groundwater. The pipe extends to another area of the property, continuously
conveying collected water further away from the house and dispersing it
underground.
