AboutRussel Ray Expertise I can answer questions about water-wise landscaping, xeriscaping, and using native vegetation, cactus, and succulents to create a home paradise that won't increase your water bill.
Experience My wise ol' grandmother got me started with cactus and succulents 42 years ago. The rest, as they say, is history.
Organizations National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Better Business Bureau of San Diego
Education/Credentials After graduating from Texas A&M University, I started a plant-sitting business in Houston to take care of the house plants when people went on vacation. That went on for five years before I moved back to College Station and started several businesses, one of which was a landscaping business specializing in "dry" landscaping.
Awards and Honors The privilege of working with people.
Question We live in a 1900-sq.ft. split level home. We were a bit desperate when we were house hunting 10 years ago, and we liked the design of the house itself, so we bought it. Unfortunately, we did not notice that the land sloped toward the house from the right side of the property (as you look at the front of the house), as well as sloping toward the house from the rear of the property. (In addition, the previous owner lied on the housing contract, and told us, the unwary buyers, that the home had never flooded. We soon found out otherwise...don't ask why we didn't sue...just fast-forward to today...) Consequently, every time we have substantial downpours (which is frequently), our garage (open from the back of the house)floods, and every time it REALLY pours and creates a flash flood, the whole lower level of the house floods inside. We have one working drain in the concrete pad behind the house, but it can't divert all the water that flows down the slope from our neighbor's land. The den, lower bathroom and lower bedroom are on a plane which is below the level of the outside lawn.
This house is what Dave Ramsey would call a "house from hell." We are not wealthy people; we have four children, and only my husband has a full-time, steady job. What solutions can you offer??? I told him that the first thing I think we need to do is have a contractor come in here and break up and remove all the asphalt driveway, and the concrete pad in the back, and then we need to have the ground re-graded, so that water flows away from the house. Then we can address all the other issues. Once the house is no longer in danger of flooding, it can be made that much more secure. Am I thinking right? Or does something else need to be done first? Thank you so much for your thoughts.
Answer Hey, Amy.
I think there are some workable solutions to your problem that won't be overly expensive. The best to do is to contact the best landscaper you can find and let him evaluate the problem. Such an evaluation will take into account the type of foundation, the type of exterior walls (stucco, wood, brick, etc.), how much area you actually have around the two problematic sides, and what other hardscape is already present (driveway, walkways, etc.).
Options including re-grading so that water won't get to the house, but there are many ways to do that. You could build a retaining wall at your neighbor's hillside that includes a drainage system in the wall so that any water flowing from their place simply flows into the drainage system. French drains around your house, appropriately sized, are also an option. Depending on the type of foundation and exterior wall systems, you could build up the grading near the house so that there is a swale that will let the water flow around the house.
I have also seen raised flower beds created at the foundation wall to keep the water away from the house. To do that, though, really takes someone who knows exactly what they are doing, which is why I recommended the best landscaper.
You're thinking right, though. Now you just need to find the right landscaper to help you do things right. Don't take any shortcuts, though, for something like this; you'll pay in the long run.
Consider a natural driveway or at least one that uses something that will let the water penetrate, such as pebbletech, brick, or two concrete tire tracks with everything else being grass or appropriate ground cover.
Also stop by Borders Books and Music or Home Depot and look at their landscaping books. You can find some very good ideas and information in them. Really do your research about what you'd like to accomplish and who can help you accomplish it before spending a dime. Get some references, or go to an online source like Angie's List, or Done Right, or similar.
