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  Flooding, how to fix area?
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Flooding, how to fix area? Sign In/Join 
posted
I purchased a new home a few months ago and with the recent storms found something new that needs fixing. The property backs to an empty lake so the grade is at a down slope in the front yard to the house. Some photos are attached to show you how it looks and the problem. Is there an inexpensive way to fix this for now? What ideas would work?
 
Posts: 25 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: Jun 15, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Ok lets try adding photos again...

Front of house.
 
Posts: 25 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: Jun 15, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Seems linking and url won't work, so one at a time!

 
Posts: 25 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: Jun 15, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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The temporary and cheap fix is to dig a trench to lead most of the water away. This is only temporary and you will have to regrade and install french drains. You may also want a decorative dry creek bed in the front yard which will capture some of the water and lessen the strain on the drains.
 
Posts: 5964 | Location: North MN & Northern AR | Registered: Oct 01, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I like the creek idea, thanks! Smile
 
Posts: 25 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: Jun 15, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of Sparky
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In Florida your ground water level is very close to the surface, during a heavy rain puddling is pretty common and the water will drain quickly in the sandy soil. When I lived in Cocoa Beach surface flooding was pretty common durning/after the normal afternoon thunderstorm but normally the water was gone half an hour after the rain stopped.

If you have enough elevation change you can do the dry stream bed to the lake. If the lake is coming up to your house you can't lower its overall level to make it stop coming to your house. In flood prone areas people have raised their house above the flood zone and regraded their yards. It can be done even with a slab house but it isn't cheap. HUD has an online book on raising houses. I saw it done in Mississippi when I did some volunteer work there after Katrina.


General Disclaimer

Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.

My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 
Posts: 6656 | Location: Cary, North Carolina | Registered: Sep 18, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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