Building up dirt around foundation (1 Viewer)

[rockstate45]

Hey guys, figured I'd run it by some of you more knowledgable folks. The house I'm buying is getting the termite treatment about two to three weeks from now and that means I have to put some dirt around the foundation to build it up.

I have done a little research on how to build it up properly and the general consensus is that more slope is better and that a 6" drop over 10 foot span is good.

Here are some pics from around the property. My thoughts are to bolster the back of the house with some topsoil.

Here's a picture of the left side of the house.. Looks okay minus the cleanup that will happen..

Back side:

I will bring this up but I'm unsure of what I want to do about the concrete base. Is that something that should be torn up? From experience, is it something that's poured in a square and only goes down about half a foot or so?

Other side around back:

I think I may stack some stones against the trellis and put some dirt there. This, ideally, would move water away from the house and the stones would help protect the stairwell area from both water and dirt.

Front right side of the house.

Looks good to me.. Could probably use a little bit of work but it's pretty close to the siding on the house. I think the main area here is that in front of the bushes, it slopes a little toward the house. I may try putting dirt behind the bushes to slope it, even if it's just a 6" area that I can slope.

Anybody feeling bored this weekend and want to drink a beer? No help needed but company is always welcome. Oh, and if anybody has a trailer ($$$?) or cares to guess how many yards of dirt, I'm always open for suggestions.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[kc_chevota]

I've never heard of a termite treatment requiring dirt to be built up around a house. I have heard the opposite where the dirt was contacting the siding and needed to be removed. Usually the only reason to add dirt is to correct drainage issues, looking at the pics the drainage looks good.

 

[rockstate45]

I've never heard of a termite treatment requiring dirt to be built up around a house. I have heard the opposite where the dirt was contacting the siding and needed to be removed. Usually the only reason to add dirt is to correct drainage issues, looking at the pics the drainage looks good.

Haha yeah, I wrote that pretty misleading up in the first line. The foundation company came out and said that the back could stand to use a little more dirt to help with drainage and to do it before the termite treatment (since the soil could bring in termites). The seller is paying for it (by contract I'm pretty sure) and it could run like $800 or so (according to my agent). That's the suggestion anyway.

Anyway, I'm trying to get it looking decent back there and think adding dirt would be beneficial for drainage but also spruce up the place. After the dirt, I may put some mulch down (away from the foundation) and put some orange-sized rocks the first foot or so near the foundation. All up in the right right now and that part may not happen for a while.

 

[FZJ80 in KC]

Haha yeah, I wrote that pretty misleading up in the first line. The foundation company came out and said that the back could stand to use a little more dirt to help with drainage and to do it before the termite treatment (since the soil could bring in termites). The seller is paying for it (by contract I'm pretty sure) and it could run like $800 or so (according to my agent). That's the suggestion anyway.

Anyway, I'm trying to get it looking decent back there and think adding dirt would be beneficial for drainage but also spruce up the place. After the dirt, I may put some mulch down (away from the foundation) and put some orange-sized rocks the first foot or so near the foundation. All up in the right right now and that part may not happen for a while.

Yep, seems to be pretty standard thing that inspection companies are noting now. My Dad just bought a house in Piper, and they had the seller do this as well (add fill dirt around the foundation for a 6" slope/grade).

Congrats on the house Jack!

 

[rockstate45]

Yep, seems to be pretty standard thing that inspection companies are noting now. My Dad just bought a house in Piper, and they had the seller do this as well (add fill dirt around the foundation for a 6" slope/grade).

Congrats on the house Jack!

Thanks man! Once I get moved in, I'll have to plan a Saturday/Sunday get together. I didn't realize how long and drawn out the process was.

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

ahh.. Always fun the first one is..
later.. you find a shop with a house attached that meets the signifcant other requirements..

 

[DLPDLP]

Yes congrats on the new house Jack. Drainage is important. Get it right. But it looks pretty good as Rob said.

Along what Erik said, garage size and garage door height are critical. Many homes around my area have short garage doors my cruiser won't even fit in. That is a "deal breaker". Erik you would like my neighbors place..... it's a house with one garage plus a detached garage/building with a double wide garage door and a single door on the other end. That shop is bigger than the house itself. You need a place like that! The guy who lived there was an awesome mechanic. He was a Chevy guy from KS actually. He and his wife sort of vanished. Weird.