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yard slope

From: POPTOPWATER@aol.com
Category: Landscaping
Remote Name: 205.188.116.136
Date: 18 Jan 2006
Time: 07:17 PM

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Question: My front yard slopes away from the house down to the main driveway where there is a drain system. However, over time the ground level has sunk at the lower end before the drain. How can I re-slope the yard back towards the drain system?

Builders Websource® Answer: If your soil was not properly compacted at some point in the past, it's common to experience some settlement over time. To remedy this situation, simply add more soil to your yard and grade it towards the drain. If you have a lawn, for example, you'll need to pull up the existing lawn in the area that has settled, and build it back up to the proper grade. Be sure to tamp the soil firmly before replanting, otherwise you may experience further settlement.

In some situations, the settlement may be a sign of a more severe problem, such as ground subsidence due to water table fluctuations, poor soil, and/or a water leak in a pipe running through the area. Carefully inspect for any signs of water or other leaks. If everything else appears  normal, you probably just have some minor settlement that you can fix as noted above. You may need a couple of tries over the next few years, since the ground will continue to settle slightly. If possible, slightly "overfill" the area, as it will tend to compact over time and settle back down.

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