On 5 May 2007 05:35:18 -0700, wrote:

Along with what has been suggested about fixing outside grading and
downspout issues, you need to also go outside during a heavy rain and
actually see what's going on. What you think is happening and what
really goes on can be very different. I was having a problem where
water came in one basement area during heavy rain. When I finally
went outside to check, I saw that during a heavy rain, water was
pouring out from the top of one of the 4" flex pipes that I was using
to carry the water away. So, instead of flowing into the pipe, a lot
of it was pouring out right against the foundation. I just had to
secure the pipe higher up on the downspout to solve the problem.

I do realize the importance of this. I once got water in a part of the
basement that had never gotten water before. I went outside to find
one of the downspouts disconnected. So I do realize that what is going
on outside is crucial.

I have an old, rotting cement walkway about 3 feet from my house. The
downspouts empty onto it. I tried extending my downspouts beyond that
walkway, to deposit water approximately 6 feet away from the house. I
had more water in my basement. So it seems the cement walkway is
actually preventing water from seeping into the ground.

It makes me wonder what the best option is for landscaping around the
house. The situation is such that I cannot really achieve a good grade
more than 3-4 feet beyond the perimiter. Am I best off putting as much
soil as possible and planting grass and/or bushes? Or maybe putting
down some heavy plastic with gravel on top of it?

I also was planning to run the downspouts into the ground and run 4"
PVC pipe out to the street. There is a storm drain right in front of
my house, though I am not sure the city would be happy if I run
directly into it...