Plan First, Dig Later
I just recently bought a trampoline for my grandkids. I was so happy to give them that. But you know, trying to find an 11′ by 17′ spot in the yard that was flat, to put that in was difficult. Can you imagine trying to find a place for a pool or an addition?
So before you buy materials or start swinging a hammer, make sure you have a plan in place for your new home addition.
Most homeowners complete an addition by hiring a remodeling contractor or builder. You should also work with a foundation expert to make sure you’ve thought of everything. We can consult with your contractor, to make sure all the water issues of your new construction have been addressed.
Homeowners also need to be involved with every step of the process. Right or wrong, you’re going to have to live with the final result. So ask lots of questions about what you see. If you have questions about how the new construction will affect your existing home, or where the water will go, feel free to contact us.
Location, Location, Location
A few years ago my daughter added a sizeable addition to her home. Almost immediately after completion, she called me saying “Dad, my yard’s a swamp now.” I said, “Yeah, I told you”. But you know dads, we’re only so smart so long. I love my daughter, but the reality of it is right now they’re looking at spending about $5,000 to $7,000 getting all this water that’s now trapped in this area, and move it away from the house. My grandkids can’t play in the yard. I mean, they’re tracking mud in this house. Not to mention it’s going to start to affect their basement.
Foundation
Your addition will need its own full-scale foundation. Depending on the plans, the crew will begin pouring a concrete slab or excavating for a crawlspace or basement. Then they will pour concrete footers and foundation walls. It’s so important that this is done correctly. If the foundation isn’t right, nothing else will be either. This is another area where Waterproof Solutions can help. Feel free to call before you pour. We’re happy to answer your questions.
What About Your Neighbors?
So with the planning of any addition, you should also talk about drains and downspouts. It’s important that you put that in your plan because it will be there, it will show its ugly head. And what’s really unfortunate is when your sweet neighbor, or not-so-sweet neighbor, puts a shed in their backyard and they’ve got to get it in a level spot. Or they put a pool in for the kids, or they put a new retaining wall in, or they put an addition in. And harmless or not, all of a sudden now your yard is dealing with it. And guess what, they’re not breaking the law.
Thou Shalt Not Flood Thy Neighbor’s Property
So it’s really important to be a good neighbor, to be a good steward of your own property. Make sure you’ve thought this whole thing out. Make sure you haven’t put a swimming pool in
a place where they will collapse. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to fix the terrain around pools, put outside sump systems in because they were collapsing the liners. The pool leaked and blasted out a house. The pool failed and took out the neighbor’s basement wall.
Know the Flow
It’s very important! So before you start putting everything into motion, everything into a drawing form, make sure you’ve thought about topography. Make sure you’ve thought about where everything’s going. Because if you don’t think about it before, you will think about it later, and I think it’s very important that you really take a good look at that.
So additions, pools, either from your point or the neighbor’s point, if you see it coming and you know it’s coming, even if it’s the neighbors doing it, be proactive on your part. It’s always cheaper if you do things in your timeframe, rather than the timeframe that’s put on you. So be proactive, be thinking about it and know that changes to your yard will make changes to your house. Feel free to contact us with your questions.