Why Proper Yard Grading Matters
Your yard's grade—the slope of the land around your home—plays a critical role in protecting your foundation and preventing water damage. When grading fails, water flows toward your home instead of away from it, leading to basement flooding, foundation cracks, and costly repairs.
Many Pittsburgh homeowners don't realize their yard has a grading problem until water damage appears. By then, the repairs are far more expensive than preventive regrading would have been.
5 Warning Signs Your Yard Needs Regrading
1. Water Pooling Near Your Foundation
After rain, walk around your home's perimeter. If you notice puddles forming within 10 feet of your foundation, your grade is directing water toward your house rather than away. This is the most urgent sign that demands immediate attention.
2. Basement Moisture or Flooding
Even minor basement dampness often traces back to exterior grading issues. If you notice musty smells, water stains on walls, or actual flooding during storms, the problem likely starts outside with improper drainage.
3. Visible Erosion Channels
Look for grooves, channels, or bare spots in your lawn where water has carved paths. These erosion patterns show you exactly where water is traveling—and if those paths lead toward your foundation, you have a grading problem.
4. Foundation Cracks
Horizontal cracks in your foundation walls or stair-step cracks in brick veneer often indicate hydrostatic pressure from water accumulating against your foundation. This pressure builds when grading fails to move water away.
5. Dying Grass or Soggy Spots
Areas of your lawn that stay perpetually wet, develop moss, or have yellowing grass indicate drainage problems. Grass roots can't thrive when constantly saturated.
The Regrading Process
Professional regrading typically involves:
1. Site Assessment: Evaluating current drainage patterns and identifying problem areas
2. Excavation: Removing soil to establish proper slopes (typically 1 inch per foot away from the foundation for the first 6 feet)
3. Soil Addition: Bringing in quality topsoil to build up low areas
4. Compaction: Properly compacting soil to prevent settling
5. Final Grading: Creating smooth, consistent slopes for proper drainage
6. Restoration: Hydroseeding or sodding to restore lawn coverage
When to Call a Professional
While minor grading adjustments can be DIY projects, you should call a professional excavation contractor when:
- Water is actively entering your basement
- Foundation damage is visible
- Large areas need regrading
- Heavy equipment is required to move soil
- Drainage needs to be redirected significantly
At Dirt Works, we've helped hundreds of Pittsburgh homeowners solve drainage problems through professional excavation and regrading. The investment in proper grading pays for itself many times over in prevented water damage.
Get Your Free Assessment
Concerned about your yard's drainage? We offer free on-site evaluations to assess your grading situation and recommend solutions. Contact us to schedule your assessment today.
