HOW TO FIX A NEGATIVE SLOPE | Basement Drainage Tips!

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  • Опубліковано 3 жов 2019
  • Here's some tips on how to drive drainage water away from your house and keep it protected!
    There's a hammer drill, an impact drill, a back hoe... and Rod.
    #Drainage #PrepWork #BasementFix #NegativeSlope #Backhoe #doitright
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 582

  • @Observercom
    @Observercom 2 роки тому +292

    I just love when people have to the point clear tutorial videos. 6mins and I walk away wiser. Not like the 29min videos of excessive information and you don’t walk away any wiser.

  • @golden2534gmailcom
    @golden2534gmailcom 3 роки тому +60

    👍🏽an old guy taught me this when I bought my first home. He said, before you go paying $$$$ to water proof, clean your gutters, down spouts and check your slope. 💯%

    • @ipitrader
      @ipitrader 2 роки тому +2

      @Brandon Pleasant > Thank you for passing on that great advise ! Much appreciated.

  • @82accs
    @82accs 4 місяці тому +1

    I did this for a neighbor's house. After we built up the slope and tamped in in place we covered it in several sheets of black plastic and added a layer of decorative white stone. Looks great and two years later still no leaks into the basement!

  • @pourindiesel
    @pourindiesel 2 роки тому +7

    Amazing how many people and so called experts don't know the difference between ground and surface water.
    Good info!

  • @DougieL
    @DougieL 16 днів тому +1

    Loved this and I was about to ask about groundwater and you answered that question. Fantastic!

  • @veronicaschuder5332
    @veronicaschuder5332 2 місяці тому +1

    Thanks, Uncle Larry! I have a terrible water flow/erosion issue in my crawl space ever since a neighbor dumped a foot of hot pack in the alley, and I’ve been scratching my head ever since. I think I’ve got it figured now. 🎉

  • @mr.mikepu
    @mr.mikepu 4 роки тому +28

    This video is very simple, easy to understand, and straight to the point! None of that 5 minute intro/marketing before the video starts. Thank you!

    • @spunkyvic77
      @spunkyvic77 3 роки тому +1

      My sentiments exactly! He's a great teacher!

    • @ipitrader
      @ipitrader 2 роки тому +1

      @@spunkyvic77 Yes! he is great!

  • @Mixdplate
    @Mixdplate 2 роки тому +21

    Thank you for pointing out ground water vs surface as well as the crawl space tid bit. Informative video overall!

  • @beb1527
    @beb1527 8 місяців тому +16

    My negative slope was nowhere near as bad as the one in the video. Nevertheless, heavy spring rains would always flood my basement. In the summer, I collected my bagged lawn clippings and placed them along the foundation, it composts into the soil and builds it up. Haven’t had any water in the basement in over 10 years. The negative slope is completely gone.

  • @JessicaMartinez-fn3cs
    @JessicaMartinez-fn3cs 2 роки тому +18

    Fantastic video. After looking online for articles on this as a new homeowner I come across your video and get more info and real world examples/explanations than all those articles combined. Thank you for this! So great to hear someone who knows what they are talking about explain the topic in a clear, concise and easy to understand format.

  • @vaibhavsharma9370
    @vaibhavsharma9370 2 роки тому +5

    Buying a house and had foundation concerns. This was actually super useful.

  • @TheDriftingStig
    @TheDriftingStig Рік тому +4

    This was probably the best tutorial for grading your yard! An invaluable amount of information here

  • @vic_con_carne5137
    @vic_con_carne5137 4 роки тому +6

    PHENOMENAL! This is a huge problem here in Nashville. Love seeing this and this market is wide open!!!!

  • @harsh2209
    @harsh2209 2 роки тому +1

    Very simple yet extremely important information. Thanks for sharing this!!

  • @TheAlpine49
    @TheAlpine49 4 роки тому +10

    Short, informative, correct! Good video.

  • @WillLeingang
    @WillLeingang Рік тому +1

    Thank you. As others have said: great information and straight to the point. I’m going to get some window wells right now!

  • @saschaweyman7690
    @saschaweyman7690 3 роки тому +22

    lol not only is this informative, the editing and animation is on point!

  • @Smokey4462
    @Smokey4462 4 роки тому +32

    On each side of the house, you could also cut a swale so that water drains towards the swale and away from the foundation of the house. The swale would then carry water to the back of the property.

  • @Thinknappythoughts
    @Thinknappythoughts 2 роки тому +36

    Really appreciate the clear and concise tutorial…the comedic value and whimsical production gives it a cherry on top! Bravo folks!!!!

  • @mr.edmunds
    @mr.edmunds 3 роки тому

    Great easy explanation and fun interaction. Thanks for the quick and easiest explanation.

  • @CP-lo2bh
    @CP-lo2bh 2 роки тому +9

    I was wondering how to deal with sloping the grade when the windows set low, your info on the use of window wells is valuable, also the difference between ground and surface water, good stuff.

  • @pmcleod6844
    @pmcleod6844 4 роки тому +6

    great video...its all about directing water folks, positive drainage.

  • @samp.3117
    @samp.3117 2 роки тому +1

    Amazing video, very informative funny and straight to the point, thank you for sharing your expertise!

  • @mark6309
    @mark6309 4 роки тому

    Thanks for this helpful video, this will help me keep water away from the basement.

  • @neilp192
    @neilp192 Рік тому

    I did this exact thing on the most deeply buried wall of my basement. I installed tall window wells and clear covers. I used Flex Shot to create a seal against the walls, but put it on the outside edge to keep water away from the screws. I then built a grade that drops at least six inches and extends eight feet from the foundation. At the bottom of the slope I dug a 6" x 6" trench the whole length of the grade. I put a plastic landscaping barrier against the side of the trench closest to the foundation and filled the trench with gravel. I then surrounded the grade with 4x4s, put down 6 mil plastic sheeting from the wall to the gravel and covered it 3-4" deep with river rock. Added similar installations around the corners of of the house.

  • @hillarykingart1983
    @hillarykingart1983 4 роки тому +6

    Thank you! I’m in Great Bend trying to do something similar

  • @drearoach
    @drearoach 3 роки тому +1

    Super clear information. Thank you!

  • @wonderfullymade8690
    @wonderfullymade8690 3 роки тому

    This is what I need done. Very informative. Thank you

  • @danielfronc4304
    @danielfronc4304 4 роки тому +20

    Two points, as someone who's done this work before and even ran underground 160 feet of the white schedule 2 indoor plumbing pipe (thick and which won't collapse like the black coiled flimsy crap meant for above ground use) tied into downspouts, with surface drains around the back and side of my parents house at a 1/4 inch slope as their backyard was a hill, digging down to just over 3 feet before hitting the downhill slope at the front of the yard :
    1) You should've used a sod cutter or lacking that a simple flat edged shovel to cut underneath the existing sod under its roots and rolled it up to save it and put back in place after grading and compacting the added soil -it still will settle, and
    2) in lieu of using 2 inch thick sod, from your view of the finished soil it will settle and compact at least two inches at the house's edge (personal experience from putting in and grading four complete yards, soil, sod, and seed). You could have rented and used a steel roller (light when empty til you get to work site where you fill it up with water, which works great since water weighs 8 pounds/gallon) to compact the soil but still the soil should have been added up to the tops of the installed cellar wells before compacting and putting back the sod. Soils degree of compacting over time is considerable and not to be underestimated. Leave household electricity issues to a certifed electrician, landscaping issues to a landscaper or a professional groundskeeper with experience.
    Still, your concept was correct. How they put those cellar windows in at construction without cellar wells at probably $10. cost to the builder and maybe 30 minutes time is criminal. Also, the building code at the time was lousy.

    • @marcellomastroianni6725
      @marcellomastroianni6725 Рік тому +3

      In response to your comments. Not sure what your local building code is, but in Ontario, Canada, the black coiled flimsy crap which is actually called weeping tile is what is run around the perimeter of the footing which is at one point run through the footing into the basement terminating into a sump basin where a sump pump is installed. The weeping tile around the perimeter of the footing must be encapsulated with 6 inches of clear stone on the top and outside of and the weeping tile should be pinned tight to the footing and should be at the same height as the footing. So I'll have to politely disagree with your assertion that it is meant for above ground use, because it is not. As for window well drainage, building codes here require a vertical piece of weeping tile that is tied into the footing weeping tile, strapped to the foundation wall and terminating just below the sill of the window. If your concern is that the weeping tile has the potential to collapse, which should not be a concern under the pressure of settling or compacted soil, then you can fill the weeping tile with clear stone. This is typically done by some not for the concern of it collapsing, but more so to prevent soil from plugging it should the top be left wide open, but it would ease any concerns one might have of it collapsing, but is not required by building code regulations. To collapse a piece of weeping tile it requires a direct blunt force impact. Settling or compacted soil would apply equal pressure around the weeping tile which would make it impossible to collapse. Using solid pipe is a bad idea for 2 reasons. 1) Cost 2) It does not allow for any of the rain water to dissipate through it so you therefore will be pumping 100% of the rain water that uses that path of least resistance and you will be burning sump pumps out more often than you should aside from the added hydro costs for that sump pump to run that frequently. Window wells cost about 100 bucks. Using 2 inch pipe for outdoor drainage is foolish....just my 0.02.

  • @vipahman
    @vipahman 9 місяців тому +2

    Awesome information. Surface water = slope repair. Ground water = Sump pump.

  • @darrylthornton5377
    @darrylthornton5377 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks Uncle Larry...very informative video.

  • @sherrizeckser2074
    @sherrizeckser2074 3 роки тому

    Good information. We are currently dealing with this problem. Thank you.

  • @mroberts566
    @mroberts566 4 роки тому +38

    LOL @ "If this is my level, which it is..."

  • @82dupont
    @82dupont 2 місяці тому

    His comment about spiders is spot on. I didn’t know this till I purchased a home with water issues that were not completely disclosed to me. However I put a sump pump in basement slab and the hydraulic pressure is relieved so no more water problems. I use a dehumidifier to keep the basement dry and no more spiders, they love moisture.

  • @humblerawat
    @humblerawat Рік тому

    Love the clear language in the video thanks for sharing

  • @l.a.l.a4949
    @l.a.l.a4949 2 роки тому

    Thank you. I just learned something that you were just taking care of surface water and if it is ground water then we have to locate our water table which is tough and then you said the perforated and solid pipes would take care of that.

  • @recobb56
    @recobb56 4 роки тому

    Well done explaining the issues and solutions

  • @PappyNet01
    @PappyNet01 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks for sharing your experience. We have to improve the drainage around our house, but it is very hard because we get a lot of rain and a few feet above sea level. We only have to dig 18 inches before we hit ground water. Our house sits on a slab foundation and I cannot find the line where the slab stops and the brick begins.

  • @anthonydahl5454
    @anthonydahl5454 2 роки тому +3

    I have this exact problem ! Took me like 3 years of investigation and struggle (water comin in the house) to figure out my slopes and window well were the root cause. I really whish I had seen this video sooner. Perfectly explained ! Thanks a lot !!

  • @realuxx
    @realuxx Рік тому

    Extremely informative video. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge 🙌.

  • @gr8dvd
    @gr8dvd 3 роки тому +4

    @5:30 gold, the first of many videos I’ve seen that distinguishes between groundwater (high water table) and surface-water issues.

    • @ipitrader
      @ipitrader 2 роки тому +1

      @David S > Exactly, no one talks about groundwater ever! Everyone tells you dig around your basement wall and insulate it, cover it ! and put a drain around the house perimeter. But I have never heard of the option of installing a sump pump or doing the French Drain around the basement. Or about the two different issues of Surface water and underground water like you said. I didn't understand before ... now I do. I love his videos.

  • @sl5311
    @sl5311 4 роки тому

    This guy is a master. Thank you.

  • @lauracampos6183
    @lauracampos6183 Рік тому

    Great video. Will be taking on this project this Fall.

  • @POWERHALTON
    @POWERHALTON 2 роки тому +1

    thanks! just what I was looking for for slope calculation!

  • @vincegray7206
    @vincegray7206 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks, I’m doing this, this week!✊🏽

  • @user-un7xu2cd4k
    @user-un7xu2cd4k 3 роки тому

    This is a very useful video, thanks. Make water flow away than seal the cracks.

  • @Leonbartolome
    @Leonbartolome 3 роки тому

    The thing with the windows... amazing

  • @johnbedell2376
    @johnbedell2376 3 роки тому +2

    Very informative video - thank you.
    I have a fenced yard and the right 1/3 turns to a swamp when it rains.
    I need to find someone in my area to do this for me.
    Not sure if I need to search for a "landscaper" or "yard grading".

  • @MrAchilleez
    @MrAchilleez 4 роки тому

    Great informative video, guys!

  • @craigrussell3516
    @craigrussell3516 2 роки тому

    Good video. I like the 1inch per foot of basement wall. Thank you

  • @treelynn1533
    @treelynn1533 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks for the tips!

  • @infiniti2015
    @infiniti2015 Місяць тому

    Great video. We were having the same problem. Very clearly put. 😊

  • @comoelitamelendez8467
    @comoelitamelendez8467 4 роки тому +2

    Yep, I AM NEWLY SUBSCRIBED! ;) Great stuff!

  • @MaximPowers
    @MaximPowers 3 роки тому +6

    Great explanation of negative slope fix, HOWEVER I would run a compactor and get all your soil compacted maintaining proper slope away from the house foundation.

    • @Cyborg9799
      @Cyborg9799 3 роки тому

      I like that idea.

    • @Lenser
      @Lenser 3 роки тому +1

      Without compaction that fluffy 1' dirt will shrink down to 3" and recreate the negative slope problem.

    • @ipitrader
      @ipitrader 2 роки тому

      @Max > Yes, that's a good strategy, but I rather build up a sloping away concrete pad of at least 4 to 5 feet in that area, to never have that problem again. Provided is a surface water problem of course, and is an area where it rains often.

  • @ghostingalong
    @ghostingalong 29 днів тому

    Underground flashing is getting my interest love to hear your take

  • @Given2Fly7173
    @Given2Fly7173 2 місяці тому

    this really helped me and I don't even have a basement. lol - BUT I do have a drainage issue in my new backyard because sections of the ground around my concrete patio just outside my backdoor is around 5 or 6 inches lower than the rest of the yard. They joys of buying a "new" home!

  • @LucasOliveira-fl7tt
    @LucasOliveira-fl7tt 10 місяців тому

    Excellent tips! Thanks!

  • @HB-yq8gy
    @HB-yq8gy 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you great explanation!

  • @adamaye7665
    @adamaye7665 4 роки тому

    You are awesome. Thank you for this information.

  • @ipitrader
    @ipitrader 2 роки тому

    I love the tips ! Great teacher! Thank you! Subbed.

  • @truthseekerKJV
    @truthseekerKJV 9 місяців тому +4

    I would have done two things different.
    Instead of calking the wells, which will only last a short time, I would have used a rubber seal for far more durability and better sealing. Also, I would have brought in enough sod to give the area the required amount of grass to protect the soil from being washed away in the next torrential rain. I would also put covers over the wells to keep rainfall from flooding the window wells.

  • @wildhogs2849
    @wildhogs2849 3 роки тому

    I have this same issue in Hungary. Garden slops towards the house, so walls are taking water in. Thanks for the video

  • @chriswebb6153
    @chriswebb6153 Рік тому

    Hey good video don't forget the vapor barrier talking about putting that in your crawl space.

  • @webby8005
    @webby8005 2 роки тому +2

    as a first time home buyer, i've been looking into stuff I was told during my house inspection to work on. Degrading the house was one of the topics. This video is super helpful!! I'll be using this once I get a chance to work on my house!

    • @a.h.6404
      @a.h.6404 2 роки тому +1

      Hi. I bought my house 3 years ago. After a few months in the new house, my basement got flooded. Then again it got flooded in May 2019, May 2020, July 2020, and today. I don’t know who you are, but please make sure your new house doesn’t look pretty but has hidden issues.

    • @ezze-does-it
      @ezze-does-it Рік тому

      @@a.h.6404 Did you do something to address it the first year? It will flood every year if you don't

    • @a.h.6404
      @a.h.6404 Рік тому

      @@ezze-does-it I just had a very expensive dewatering system put in in April. It's been really dry in Illinois this year so I haven't gad a chance to see if the new dewatering system ia good.

  • @daniellehunt3449
    @daniellehunt3449 10 місяців тому

    This was really informative!! I have water issues in my basement but I think it’s a combo of the slope and water seeping up through the floor 😭

  • @robbyers7614
    @robbyers7614 3 роки тому

    Good video. I don't know why it came up on my UA-cam but I liked it. I do have some slope issues.

  • @agervais8383
    @agervais8383 Рік тому

    Very helpful! Thank you, and God bless!

  • @jordanseirer6947
    @jordanseirer6947 4 роки тому +7

    I was just looking for a how-to and ended up finding this video, I’m pretty sure lived across the street back in college.

  • @EhsOfBass
    @EhsOfBass 2 роки тому

    Okay thank you guys! I will try this on a smaller side of the house

  • @DakGeorge
    @DakGeorge 12 днів тому +1

    Fellow Kansan here preparing to fix this common Kansas issue lol

  • @lindamccarthy5550
    @lindamccarthy5550 2 роки тому

    Thank you - this was very helpful

  • @keithowen4698
    @keithowen4698 Рік тому

    Awesome video man, thank you!

  • @jamestun1104
    @jamestun1104 10 місяців тому

    Thank you so much for the idea. I have the same problem

  •  4 роки тому

    Thanks for sharing this video.

  • @obi1988
    @obi1988 2 роки тому

    This is exactly my situation. But its the whole house.. Great video. New sub. Great content.

  • @daver2964
    @daver2964 3 місяці тому +2

    Won't the top soil wash away over time?

  • @thetwogardens6048
    @thetwogardens6048 4 роки тому

    Yeah , I will call in some dirt to fix my problem. Thanks for the Vid. Problem solved !

  • @fernandotejero698
    @fernandotejero698 3 роки тому

    Thank you sr, your video really help me alot!!

  • @margaretgonzalez1838
    @margaretgonzalez1838 Рік тому

    Thank you!!!! This was super helpful!

  • @justindanatos9159
    @justindanatos9159 2 роки тому +1

    Buying a house right now, shit a brick when I saw water in the basement until the inspector pointed out the negative slope and pooling on the outside the soil has deteriorated 4” but the wall in the basement hasn’t bowed yet... this video put my mind at ease lol very good video. Reassured myself that I can do the grading myself

    • @ipitrader
      @ipitrader 2 роки тому

      @Justin Donatos > You shit a brick? lmao ha ha ha...

  • @rm-on9co
    @rm-on9co 9 місяців тому

    Thanks for sharing nicely explained

  • @markahad6583
    @markahad6583 2 роки тому

    Great tutorial. Thanks.

  • @jhors7777
    @jhors7777 2 роки тому

    Thank you for posting this

  • @mikolishken23
    @mikolishken23 3 роки тому

    Great video! Thank you

  • @JimVincitore
    @JimVincitore 2 роки тому

    GREAT VIDEO. VERY COOL. THANK YOU!

  • @raulwitdatool5039
    @raulwitdatool5039 Рік тому

    Great explanation 🦅

  • @menachemfischer5957
    @menachemfischer5957 Рік тому

    Amazing video thanks bro!!

  • @eatonvaughan6727
    @eatonvaughan6727 4 роки тому

    Thanks, Larry.

  • @jimjohnston7688
    @jimjohnston7688 Рік тому +2

    Years ago we had an inground pool installed. When the crew came out to lay out the pool dimensions he asked us how high up do you want the pool. We had no idea what he was talking about (it's an inground pool after all). My wife and I looked at each other not knowing what to say and asked them for their recommendations. Six inches was their recommendation. Well that six inches was enough to create a negative slope towards the house. I had one heck of a time getting water away from the house. I had to cut out sections of the sidewalk to install drains, I had to dig trenches to lay pipe to carry away the water. I actually had to bury a 25 gallon holding tank and install a sump pump to pump out the rainwater (our ground has a lot of clay so it drains slowly). To this very day, if a heavy storm knocks out the power during a heavy rain I'll get flooding.

  • @derickchana
    @derickchana 4 місяці тому

    Nice looking out Larry

  • @jamespamhoover6586
    @jamespamhoover6586 2 роки тому

    Excellent video

  • @VeganRocker3
    @VeganRocker3 25 днів тому

    I dug up my landscape years ago and am finally trying to put in new items… glad I came across your video on accident bc I would not have sloped!!
    I am wondering how do I slope when it’s landscape next to my driveway? Do I use my driveway as the “bottom” where water rains drain down and then build up inch by inch from the driveway?? And does water sloping down toward the driveway ruin it from water underneath it?
    Or do I still do your rule of them for sloping and the driveway might be up higher from the landscape - I worry about this if I drive off of it and land in my landscape aka a ditch lol

  • @kweenree5550
    @kweenree5550 4 роки тому

    Thanks Uncle Larry!

  • @joejesus9902
    @joejesus9902 2 роки тому

    Awesome video, thank you

  • @douglasrawe
    @douglasrawe 4 роки тому

    Fantastic video, easy to see what you did being im not necessarily handy around the house. Should you install some sort of drain to channel that water away or something ? I have seen a couple of videos about french drains? Not questioning, simply inquiring. i got problems here.

  • @tiffanysmith8821
    @tiffanysmith8821 Рік тому

    this is amazing, thank you!

  • @devonopdendries7722
    @devonopdendries7722 3 роки тому

    This was great, thanks!

  • @normstangl3499
    @normstangl3499 3 роки тому +8

    I've always understood this procedure as the best first go to."Get the water away!!!" We purchased a new home some years ago. The water was getting through the poured concrete foundation. Under warranty the builder came into to inject some plugs. Still a problem. I observed that the soil on the outside of the foundation had a negative slope. I pushed the issue for them to come in and regrade the area and sod over. Problem SOLVED! Kris' methodology is bang on.

    • @dedoderecho5344
      @dedoderecho5344 2 роки тому

      So the Issues is solve redirecting the water obviously towards your neighbors?

    • @ipitrader
      @ipitrader 2 роки тому

      @@dedoderecho5344 Presumably your neighbors are not 5 feet away....

    • @ezze-does-it
      @ezze-does-it Рік тому

      @@ipitrader well they dont really sell homes with land like they used to so thats a real possibility.

  • @bruce7595
    @bruce7595 4 роки тому

    Great video!

  • @justasiam777
    @justasiam777 4 роки тому +7

    I really appreciate the video. Wish you could show how you moved the air conditioner. I have the same problem and need to raise ground under the air conditioner

    • @industrialawnllc4239
      @industrialawnllc4239 4 роки тому +3

      Simply just lift it up and place blocks under it. You will most likely have to disconnect the copper line and re weld it.