Landscaping grades are carefully designed to direct water away from the home and are the contouring of land around the homes. They can only be altered by a professional. You need to learn the process of maintenance of yard drainage, for keeping grade intact and helps in preventing water damage to the house.
Landscaping Grade:
To provide drainage away from home they are designed by professional engineers. They are established in the grade of the home side to prevent water from damaging the house and in some areas, a certain amount of water retention on a site is managed by using a system of berms and swales. It is very essential to maintain proper drainage away from the house. Drainage slope is established during the landscaping of the yard is extremely important to be maintained. If you are installing anything new as a fence or swimming pool, avoid altering the drainage of the house as it is the most required stuff for protection against heavy downpours.
Termites:
Proper grade established away from the home helps to prevent termite infestation as subterranean termites are usually found in the soil below the house. If there is no direct contact between the wood framing and the soil, termites build tubes or tunnels for traveling between each other. The presence of these tubes is an indication of an infestation.
Care and Maintenance of Landscaping Grade:
The following are the guidelines for care and maintenance to prevent moisture and termite in the house.
For Maintaining Yard Drainage:
- Avoid changing the drainage pattern on the home site designed for water retention.
- Maintain a 6-inch minimum vertical space between earth and any siding or stucco as water can enter the joint between the footing and the wall material or deteriorate the siding.
- Drainage dishes and swales should be free of leaves, debris, plants, and other elements that may interfere with the water flow.
- The original grade of the home site needs to be re-established if the soil settles over time.
- Avoid any major landscaping projects until the house is one year old at least as most of the soil settlement occurs during the first year.
- For modifying and installing a major landscape hire a professional landscaper.
- Never plant new plants or grass too close to the house as watering them can cause leaks into the interior.
- Do not change the drainage pattern on your property during landscaping projects as they can cause serious water problems.
- Before digging in your yard call your local utility to have buried electrical, gas, water, and telephone lines.
- Do not forget to check for termites each year in spring and look for remains of winged insects.
- Inspect the sides of the footing walls for the earthen tubes termites build to reach the wood framing above the foundation. To test the wood for soundness use the blade of a knife. If found to be present, consult a professional.
