Drainage Systems near you

Think of drainage in two layers. Above ground, the goal is to keep rain and snowmelt from soaking into the soil right against the foundation. Below ground, the goal is to collect the water that gets there anyway and send it somewhere harmless. A weakness in one layer usually shows up as extra load on the other, which is why a good drainage contractor walks the whole lot before recommending anything.

Grading is often the simplest drainage fix and the first one to check. The Government of Canada's flood-prevention guidance says the soil beside the foundation should be about 8 cm (3 in.) higher than the soil 1.5 m (5 ft.) away. It calls a 5% slope ideal, notes that a 2% grade is often considered the minimum, and says paved areas may need a different slope that a professional should set.

Regrading usually means adding and compacting suitable soil against the house, shaping it away from the walls and re-sodding or replanting, while keeping enough clearance between the soil and the siding. Where the yard itself slopes toward the house, a swale can intercept the runoff and lead it around. The same federal guidance says to keep swales and ditches between properties clear, to check with your municipality about permits or inspections before changing a lot's grading, and to look over the grading every spring and fall.

Where a drain or downspout empties is regulated in many Canadian cities, because roof and foundation water sent into the sewers can overload them during storms. In Toronto, it is mandatory for all property owners to have their downspouts disconnected from the City's sewer system. The disconnected water has to flow away from the foundation, must not run onto a driveway or sidewalk and must not damage a neighbour's property, and owners can apply for an exemption where disconnecting would be hazardous or isn't technically feasible.

In Montreal, the City says gutter water must be directed to a permeable surface, such as a flower bed or the lawn, at least 1.5 m from the foundations, under its by-law on connections to the water and sewer networks and stormwater management. Connecting a gutter to the foundation drain, or pointing it at a paved surface or the street, is prohibited, and fines apply. Other municipalities set their own rules for downspouts, sump pump discharge and storm sewer connections, so check with yours before redirecting any water, and never send it onto a neighbouring lot.

When the foundation drain is missing, crushed or clogged beyond cleaning, a new one can go outside along the footing or inside under the edge of the basement slab. Both collect groundwater; they differ in where the water is caught and in what the job disturbs. Either way, a camera inspection of the old drain comes first, and the discharge point has to meet local rules. When the new drain feeds a pit, the sump pump page covers the pumping side.

When grading and downspout extensions can't move water far enough, for example on a small lot, a flat yard or a driveway that slopes toward the garage, a contractor may add a collection point and a buried route for the water. Whether each option is allowed, and where it may discharge, depends on your municipality and your soil.

Almost every drainage job involves digging, and buried gas, power, telecom and water lines can sit closer to the surface than you'd expect, especially near the house where the services come in. In Quebec, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec asks contractors to submit a free locate request to Info-Excavation at least 4 business days before starting. In Ontario, a locate through Ontario One Call is free and legally required, at least 5 business days before any digging. Private lines to a garage, a shed, a pool heater or outdoor lighting aren't covered and have to be found separately.

Grading and yard drains are best done once the ground has thawed and dried, so the soil can be shaped and compacted properly and new sod can root before winter. If the plan moves water near a property line or along a shared swale, talk to the neighbour first: water sent onto their lot leads to disputes, and rules such as Toronto's forbid it from damaging a neighbour's property.