Rain has come and gone but there is still water by your foundation? Or perhaps you are of a mind to put off walking the lawn because it is too wet and shows no sign of drying. Then there are the unexplained cracks in the driveway or an area of grass that will not put in an appearance.
You would be hard pressed to find a homeowner who does not have these issues, for they are telltale symptoms of landscaping grading done poorly. We at A+ Tree & Landscaping have been in Brunswick County for 30 years now and have had occasion to witness the insidious way bad grading can take its toll on a property. Should your yard’s drainage be an ongoing concern, we are at (910) 507-7273.
In essence, grading is what gives the ground around your home its shape and slope. Do it correctly and the water will make its way off your property of its own accord. Do it wrong and it goes where it should not. In coastal North Carolina with our share of heavy storms, that is a recipe for trouble.
But you can head off costly repairs by being aware of the warning signs. Here are a few of the more usual drainage problems we see that are attributable to bad grading.
Water Pooling Near Your Foundation
When the ground is not sloped to carry rainwater away from the house, it will collect against the foundation. Water will sit on the concrete and eventually make its way in. Before long you may have:
- Cracks in the walls of the foundation
- Seepage in the basement or crawl space
- The structure settling unevenly
- Wood rot at the base of the home
- Mildew and mold
Once you have a foundation problem it is only a matter of time before it worsens. It is much less expensive to address the grading than to put in structural repairs.
Soggy Lawns and Standing Water
After the rain lets up some of your yard is still wet; chances are poor grading is to blame. Flat areas and low spots do not allow water to run off so you are left with puddles for days. Not to mention it is unsightly, the standing water will drown plant roots and kill your grass, leaving you with a mud pit. In a warm Brunswick County summer it also invites mosquitoes, which is nobody’s idea of a good time.
Washouts and Erosion
Grading that is overly steep can have the opposite effect, sending water across the property with undue force. This is particularly damaging as it robs your plants of the good topsoil they require. You will see it in the form of:
- Roots of trees and plants left bare
- Gullies or small ditches after a rain
- Patches of earth devoid of grass
- Mulch or gravel that has been washed away
- Soil accumulating at the foot of a slope
Near a walkway or driveway a washout can erode the surface and be a tripping hazard.
Trees and Plants Taking a Beating
Your home is not the only thing poor drainage gets to. Any tree or shrub in waterlogged soil is prone to root rot and will be weakened if not killed outright. Our team is led by a fourth-generation tree climber and master arborist with ISA certification, so we are well aware of the link between a healthy tree and adequate drainage. An unstable tree is a risk when a storm rolls in. If a tree in a wet corner of the yard is having trouble, it could be a question of grading and not the tree itself.
Hardscaping and Pavement
A patio or driveway needs solid ground to rest on. Let water pool or erode the soil under them and they will start to shift and sink. Hardscaping is not cheap to fix and you will be doing it again and again until the drainage is put right.
We Can Put Things Right
With the right approach to landscaping and grading, most of these problems are correctable. A little reshaping of the land and the water will be sent where it is supposed to go.
A+ Tree & Landscaping is a family operation, veteran owned, fully licensed and insured. For over three decades we have made it our business to serve Brunswick County. We provide free estimates so there are no surprises and we are on hand 24/7.
Do not let the next storm compound the damage to your home or yard. Get in touch with us at (910) 507-7273 and we will help put your property in order.
