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Until you do call us, here are some suggestions to help.  Always check with your local building department first:

  1. 1. Fix or attach drains, rain gutters and leaders. This will properly redirect rain and snowmelt.
  2. 2. Invest in a subgrade dry well. Roof gutters can be installed to funnel the rainwater directly to this storage unit.
  3. 3. Dig a trench to catch the rainwater. Line it with fiberglass fabric or plastic and lay-in perforated pipe. Fill the trench with small stones to allow water into the trench.

  1. 4. Add a French drain and run the pipe to a safe seepage area or the street if allowed by local regulations.
  2. 5. Build up the slope of the ground around the house. This will move water away from the foundation.
  3. 6. Attach storm chambers to the roof. This unit carries the rain away from the house and releases it underground.
  4. 7. Use a barrel to catch and store rainwater for your garden.
  5. 8. Improve the health of your lawn with mulch. Organic materials absorb more moisture.
  6. 9. Plant more trees and shrubs; their roots trap and hold water.
  7. 10. Aerate the lawn, which will keep it healthy and able to absorb more moisture.
  8. 11. Install multiple sand and gravel subsurface drains.
  9. 12. Remove clay from the lawn. This type of soil is non-permeable, which can trap water.
  10. 13. Plant a rain garden. This will slow down rainwater runoff, absorb the surplus water and prevent soil erosion.  Choose your plants wisely.
  11. 14. When you plant rain gardens, don’t water these areas as much; they will soak up rainwater faster.
  12. 15. Construct a rock bed runoff diverter. This will redirect the water and add an interesting feature to the landscape.
  13. 16. Fill and level the potholes in the driveway with gravel and sand.
  14. 17. Instead of using thick plastic in the trench, use sand and gravel, then place pavers over the top.
  15. 18. Grasspave systems allow water to permeate back into the soil but at reduced rate. It’s made to border rain gardens and take out pollutants.
  16. 19. Gravelpave is a porous paving system that could replace your soggy driveway. It allows rainwater to filter into the ground and recharge groundwater.
  17. 20. Pervious stone is another paving system. It’s primarily used for walkways but can smooth out uneven driveways.

Article by Steven Secon