Backyard Slopes Towards The House? (We Have a Few Fixes)

Jennifer Eggerton
by Jennifer Eggerton

A property that is built into a hillside sounds like the ideal location for a house. The views are magnificent, and there is a special character to the landscaping. Backyards that slope towards the house have to be carefully planned, though, to protect your home.

A backyard that slopes towards your house jeopardizes the foundation. Water running downhill causes soil erosion, and the water collects near the foundation. This creates cracks and shifting of the concrete. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover damage caused by a sloping backyard. Fix the problem by regrading a section of your yard. Add terraces, a French drain, or retaining wall.

Let’s take a closer look at problems that arise due to a backyard that slopes towards the house and some ways to work with the uneven landscaping.

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Problems with a Sloping Backyard

The problems with a backyard that slopes towards the house is not obvious until it rains or snows. Water runs downhill, and this is where the trouble begins.

Foundation Damage

Water that collects around your house creates enough pressure to crack and bend the foundation. Minerals in the soil increase the pressure by absorbing water and expanding. Water around the foundation erodes the soil that holds it in place, causing the foundation to sink. The shifting of the foundation cracks the concrete.

Erosion

Soil erosion is a problem that occurs when backyards slope too much towards the house. Instead of soaking into the soil, the water stays on the surface of the ground. The moving water carries soil, plants, and small rocks downhill towards your house.

Poor Water Retention

Poor water retention is a common problem with steep backyards. The water does not have enough time to soak into the soil. Without proper moisture in the soil, you have a hard time growing grass, trees, and plants.

Yard Maintenance

Mowing the lawn on a steep backyard slope is literally an uphill battle. Tilling soil for your garden is another challenge with a backyard that slopes towards the house.

Open Space

With a sloped backyard, landscaping design is determined by the terrain rather than your own imagination. You have limited options for areas to use for an outdoor kitchen, patio, deck, and play equipment.

Feng Shui

According to Feng Shui practices, a backyard that slopes towards the house limits supportive energy for your home. Having too little supportive energy is believed to be linked to misfortunes and poor health.

Recommended Slope for a Backyard

Drainage is best when the backyard has a 2% to 5% downward slope from the foundation. This equals about 2 to 5 inches for every 10 feet. The first 10 feet from the foundation should be at a 5% to 6% downward slope. Determine how far out to take the downward slope from the foundation by watching how water runs towards your house.

Turn on the sprinklers or wait for the next rain. Go out in your yard and look for the point at which the water starts to run directly towards your house. This is the endpoint for the downward slope from the foundation.

Check the Side Yards

As you make plans to regrade your backyard to create a safe zone for your foundation, check the side yards as well. These areas should have the same downward grade and safe zone for the foundation. Have a 5% to 6% downward grade that extends at least 10 feet from the foundation, and a 2% to 5% downward grade to the point where water runs towards the house.

4 Ways to Fix a Backyard Slope

Fortunately, you can fix a backyard that slopes towards the house without tearing out the landscaping.

Regrade Near the Foundation

Regrade a large enough section of soil to create a safe zone for your foundation. Create a downward slope of 5% to 6% for the first 10 feet from the foundation, and then 2% to 5% to the point where the water runs downhill directly towards your house.

Terraces

Terraces are great for a backyard that slopes towards the house. The idea is to create several flat areas along the slope where water can absorb into the soil rather than run downhill. Edge the terraces with decorative stone, and use the flat areas for seating, flowers, or a BBQ grill.

French Drain

If you don’t want to regrade your backyard, a French drain is a great alternative. Put the drain where water collects in your backyard, and choose a second location where you want the drain to empty, such as a side yard. Dig a trench that measures 9” to 12” wide and 18” deep with a 1% slope (1” for every 10 feet).

Use filter fabric to line the trench, and fill it in with small gravel. Install PVC pipe or flexible gardening tubing along the trench. Finish the job by adding a decorative grate at the starting point of the French drain.

Retaining Wall

If you want to maintain the sloped look of your backyard, a retaining wall is a great way to prevent flooding near the foundation. Grade the backyard enough to protect the foundation. Install a vertical wall of decorative stone that is level with or slightly higher than the edge of the negative grade slope of your backyard.

Erosion-Resistant Plants

Plants with root systems that spread out near the surface of the soil are ideal for preventing soil erosion. You can find grasses and ground coverings that work well for preventing erosion and add interest to your landscaping.

One More Reason to Fix a Sloped Backyard

Most homeowner’s policies cover damage to your home and property that is caused by “natural perils.” Water runoff from a sloped backyard is not considered a “natural peril.” You are responsible for the cost of repairs to the foundation of your house.


Related Questions

Can I seal cracks in my foundation?

Repair cracks in your foundation with an epoxy sealer. Make the repairs as soon as you notice the crack. Small cracks in a foundation grow quickly.


How do I find a leak in my foundation?

Spray water from a garden hose around the outside perimeter of your house. Saturate the soil and create a puddle. Go inside and inspect the walls and floors for signs of water infiltration. Listen for sounds of dripping, and check the flooring.


What are the best plants to prevent soil erosion?

Plants that spread out the roots are best for preventing soil erosion, such as clover, ivy, periwinkle, and creeping juniper. Grass helps prevent erosion, and the best choices are smooth brome, Timothy grass, and foxtail. Terraces, coir netting, and mulching are other great ideas to prevent soil erosion in your yard.


What is a dry stream in landscaping?

A dry stream is a trench that is filled with decorative rock. Rain fills the trench, and the water runs downhill by gravity. Dry streams are decorative and help control water runoff in your yard.


How do you replace a foundation?

It is possible to replace the foundation of a house, but the job is very expensive and time-consuming. The soil around the perimeter of your home is removed with excavators. The house is elevated on special jacks, and the concrete foundation is demolished. The ground is leveled, and new concrete is poured. Once the concrete is set, the house is lowered onto the slab. It is not uncommon for the structure of the home itself to suffer some damage.Replacing a foundation does not guarantee that you won’t have problems in the future. The primary reason why foundations fail isn’t the concrete, but the soil. Companies offer foundation repairs with metal columns that reach firmer soil and bedrock. This provides a better support for your foundation and home.

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Summary

Sloped backyards add interest to your landscaping, but they can also be problematic. Water that runs down the slope collects around your foundation, causing cracks and shifts in the concrete. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover damage that is caused by runoff from a backyard that slopes towards the house.

Sloped backyards have other disadvantages. Mowing and gardening with a sloped backyard is challenging. There is little room for seating areas, play equipment, and BBQ grills. The slope of the backyard encourages soil erosion. According to Feng Shui beliefs, a sloped backyard diminishes the supportive energy of a home.

A backyard that slopes towards your house may not be a problem if there is an adequate downward slope from the foundation into the yard. The ideal safe zone for your foundation drops 5% to 6% for about 10 feet from the foundation. Beyond that, the grade should slope downward 2% to 5% to the point where water runs directly towards your house from the downward slope of the backyard.

If water collects around the foundation, regrade a section of your backyard. Be sure to check the grade and water flow of the side yards. Other measures to control water flow when you have a sloped backyard are terraces, French drains, and retaining walls. Plants with root systems that spread out just below the surface of the soil help reduce the amount of water that flows towards your house.

Jennifer Eggerton
Jennifer Eggerton

Jennifer L. Eggerton loves being hands-on, whether it's with a home DIY project, making repairs, re-decorating a room, or keeping life organized. She enjoys helping people by sharing her knowledge, insights, and experiences, as well as her lessons learned. In addition to her work as a writer, Jennifer is a Jeep® overlander, self-published author, and nature photographer who loves being outdoors.

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