Question
Whenever we get heavy rains (which is about 4x year only :)), I notice that on certain sides of our house, we get small puddles of water forming.  My worry is that this may be damaging the foundation of our house.

Currently, we just have grass on the sides.  Any suggestions on what we can add to prevent water damage and add to the aesthetic value as well?

Answer
Hello,

I would suggest installing a sheet of heavy plastic held down with concrete pavers,stones,bricks,etc..,around the perimeter of your foundation.  This will keep the water from infiltrating around the foundation.  Extend this barrier out 6 feet from the foundation.  Alternatively,the plastic could be buried a few inches below the soil.

With the above ground plastic,planters of various shapes and sizes could be used to break up the monotony.

If you would like to test to see if water is getting around your foundation,make a piezometer.  This device will measure the level of the groundwater around your foundation.  It works on the same principle as an automobile dipstick.  Obtain a 10 feet long,1 inch diameter pvc pipe.  Slot the bottom 5 feet with a hacksaw.  Insert this pipe into a 10 feet deep,6 inch diameter hole.  Backfill this hole with sand and seal the top 3 inches with clay.  Insert a tape measure (dipstick)to see what depth of water is in the pipe.  If you consistently get water around your foundation,then you will know you must install some kind of subsurface drainage.  Good luck.  Write back if you have further questions.

A better,but more expensive solution would be to install a concrete or some other impervious apron around the perimeter of the foundation.  Stone or rubble set in concrete could be used as such an apron.  Grade away from the building whenever possible.  Plastic and rubber sheeting is subject to puncture.

Use 20mm plastic or rubber.  This thickness is typically used for pond liners.  Join sheets with a high quality adhesive,such as silicon or use a high quality double sided tape.  Seal the sheets to the side of the foundation with high quality adhesive.  This seal must not allow water to leak through.

Mark  Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email: [email protected]

http://www.scribd.com/markscrib47


Note:
My reply to reader feedback listed below:

I am looking for a one inch thick by four feet by three foot hard plastic apron to install around my foundation to avoid the expense and time a concrete apron instalation would take. No one has invented this yet and seems to be a great solution. If this were interlocking it would be even better.

My Reply:
The type of plastic you have in mind exists in the form of plastic and composite lumber. Plastic lumber is availabe as 4 by 8,up to 3/4 inch thick, plastic sheet and boards. The sheets are not manufactured as 3 by 4 because 4 by 8 is the standard construction modular dimension.  The plastic plywood is also available in reinforced form.

An interlocking corrugated floor board is available. It is lightweight and constructed like corrugated cardboard. You may be able to special order interlocking plywood or boards from one of the plastic lumber manufacturers. Also,a 1 foot square interlocking plastic subflooring material exists.

Perhaps the need for an interlock could be eliminated by gluing a rubber strip over the gap in the plastic plywood or by bolting a plastic board or strip over the gaps.