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DIY & Home Improvement

roody

(10,849 posts) Wed Jun 8, 2016, 03:33 PM Jun 2016

I just bought a house in Iowa. [View all]

My inspector said to change the grade of the yard so that water flows away from the house, not towards it. Does it make sense to put more dirt next to the house and plant grass and clover on it, or should I remove dirt and grass further from the house?

10 replies

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I just bought a house in Iowa. [View all] roody Jun 2016 OP

Retaining walls and French drains are your best friends. Warpy Jun 2016 #1

Cut and Fill catnhatnh Jun 2016 #2

Thank you. roody Jun 2016 #3

If you have the room in height on the house side to add dirt that's what I wold do. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2016 #4

Roody might get *free* soil from a contractor who excavated for a foundation Kolesar Dec 2016 #9

There is actually a lot to the answer. rusty quoin Jun 2016 #5

Thanks. I actually "inherited" some houses. Dad is still living well at 96. roody Jun 2016 #6

Word of caution about those accordion downspout extenders LiberalEsto Jun 2016 #7

The clay soil on my house dissolved the foundation blocks and left cracks in them. Kolesar Dec 2016 #10

DIY tips lerryfindcr Oct 2016 #8