A lot shall be graded to drain surface water away from foundation walls for a minimum of how many feet?

A lot shall be graded to drain surface water away from foundation walls for a minimum of how many feet?

• A. 5
• B. 6
• C. 10
• D. 8

Answer: (C)

Directing surface water away from the foundation is essential to protect the building from moisture intrusion and foundation damage. Extending the graded area a full ten feet gives water room to drain away and reach an appropriate outlet, which helps keep hydrostatic pressure off the walls and reduces the chance of seepage into basements or crawl spaces. Shorter distances, like five, six, or eight feet, leave more water closer to the foundation and increase the risk of pooling or slow drainage, especially during heavy rain. In practice, a gentle slope away from the wall—about two percent—over that ten-foot zone is typically used, which is roughly 2.4 inches of drop over ten feet, providing effective drainage without requiring dramatic changes to the landscape.

Directing surface water away from the foundation is essential to protect the building from moisture intrusion and foundation damage. Extending the graded area a full ten feet gives water room to drain away and reach an appropriate outlet, which helps keep hydrostatic pressure off the walls and reduces the chance of seepage into basements or crawl spaces. Shorter distances, like five, six, or eight feet, leave more water closer to the foundation and increase the risk of pooling or slow drainage, especially during heavy rain. In practice, a gentle slope away from the wall—about two percent—over that ten-foot zone is typically used, which is roughly 2.4 inches of drop over ten feet, providing effective drainage without requiring dramatic changes to the landscape.