skip to main content

Landscape Design Plumbing Exterior

Drain downspout, away from house

3 years ago

Hi,

im writing on behalf of someone. They need help, advice on how to extend a drain. right now the spout ends right against the house over last step main entrance.

main entrance is at side of the house across side yard with grass. But the grass area does not slope down...

there used to be a cement walkway, but got torn out when waterproofing the basement.

but now you can see the ground/dirt erroding.

at This time they cannot budget changing the downspouts. the old downspout is aluminum steel. the new ones are PVC.

they kind of are trying an option of having it on last bottom step, so they don’t have to dig really low.

temporarily they placed brick around it (elbow pile).

how would it look if they just later cemented it? Maybe cover it with a flower pot During the summer?

Once the downspoit issue is resolved, they plan to make a walkway around the house with patio stones and gravel. (Economical and DIY possible for inexperienced).

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Yardvaark
3 years ago
"how would it look if they just later cemented it?" Terrible. This needs to be fixed right, or it is only temporary. Rule 1 is that grade slopes away from the foundation. I can't imagine where water is going to go at the end of the pipe in the ground.
Me AGirl
Original Author
3 years ago
Yes it’s temporary... but there is no graded slope unfortunately.

what if they extended the red pipe a few meters, (near fence line), and then used an elbow, and had a ”trench” dug with rocks under (Towards the end), so that water can be trickling.
Related Discussions
Keeping Grass Away from Downspout Extensions
Q
Comments (2)
Presumably true. *sigh* I realize that there's no permanent fix, short of concrete. But most of our grass is the clumping type, so hopefully the edging would at least slow it down. Which leaves the question of what to put inside the edging. Maybe some vigorous annuals?
...See More
Reduce sound of rainwater drained through downspout
Q
Comments (8)
If the sound is coming through the wall, resilient washers can be installed between the downspout brackets and the wall. If the sound is coming through the window, first make sure the window is closed, then go find a rope . . . . Can you hear the rain when it is raining? Is it a high pitched sound or a low pitched sound? Can you provide images?
...See More
Why do I hear water in pipes 40 ft away from draining washing machine?
Q
Comments (1)
My house is 1300 sq feet, one story, The pipe from the washer would be a straight line from the washer through the kitchen to the two bathrooms. We have sewers. Why am I just now hearing it, I've lived here 46 years?
...See More
Need a solution to drain water away from garage slab in small space
Q
Comments (13)
A "french drain" is the current go-to word that most think is a panacea for anything water. Only if you have no where to slope grade to, and can wait for water to filter through the surface, would you then add underground piping to the above ground solutions already conceived - and then you still have to worry about how you discharge underground piping. The first order of business is understanding grade elevations on the entire lot. For this back area, there is room to put a low height garden wall (e.g. retaining wall only 2 or 3 blocks high) on your side of the fence so you can minimize the neighbor's sheetflow (if any exists), keep the dogs apart, and have room to still slope your grade around the garage. A review of gutters and downspouts should accompany the grade analysis.
...See More
Me AGirl
Original Author
3 years ago
(For the 1st, main entrance).
Me AGirl
Original Author
3 years ago
In the 2nd downspout picture zoomed Out picture, can see the grass does not slope away from house.
Me AGirl
Original Author
3 years ago
If the grey ”catch basin” is at ground level (yellow in my drawings), 1st or 2nd option? Or any other suggestion.
PRO
Yardvaark
3 years ago
I don't get how any of the reconfigurations of the last pictures help or make a difference.

Running the outfall farther away, into a hole in the ground, depends entirely on the size of the hole. If it fills up with water in a rain, it's not big enough. Then there is the problem of having a maybe big hole occupy part of a yard. Not a great asset.

Pictures don't show anything about the problems of fixing grade. That would be the first idea to explore. One pretty much needs to have understanding of the grade all the way to outside of the property lines. Without that, it's hard to go anywhere.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Step Away From the Wallpaper: Why Decorating Risks Are Overrated

By Laura Gaskill

Want to find your signature style? Try staying inside your comfort zone

HOUSEKEEPING Protect Your House From Winter Water Damage

By Buckminster Green LLC

Avoid costly repairs by learning to spot potential problem areas before water damage is done

REMODELING GUIDES 8 Lessons on Renovating a House from Someone Who's Living It

By Restoring our 1890 Victorian

So you think DIY remodeling is going to be fun? Here is one homeowner's list of what you may be getting yourself into

VACATION HOMES Houzz Tour: From Ramshackle Beach Shack to Storm-Resilient House

By Becky Harris

Architects honor Old Florida style while designing a raised bungalow that can stand up to extreme weather

PETS Protecting Your Pet From Your Yard and Your Yard From Your Pet

By Gwendolyn Purdom

Check out these tricks from vets and landscape designers for keeping your pets and plantings safe in the backyard

SELLING YOUR HOUSE A Moving Diary: Lessons From Selling My Home

By Laura Gaskill

After 79 days of home cleaning, staging and — at last — selling, a mom comes away with a top must-do for her next abode

EXTERIORS Take a Designer Approach to Your Downspout

By Rebecca Gross

These cool, contemporary drains will maintain your home’s good looks and keep the water flowing

MOST POPULAR 9 Real Ways You Can Help After a House Fire

By Alison Hodgson

Suggestions from someone who lost her home to fire — and experienced the staggering generosity of community

SMALL SPACES Life Lessons From 10 Years of Living in 84 Square Feet

By Mitchell Parker

Dee Williams was looking for a richer life. She found it by moving into a very tiny house

REMODELING GUIDES 11 Ways to Hurricane-Proof Your House

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

From smaller tasks you can do right now to bigger renovation projects, these strategies can help keep you high and dry at home

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is there a reason Helleborus niger are so hard to find these days?

22

Growing taters as perennials?

19

landscape question

7

Advice for front of house?

2

Advice for front of house?

11