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New Construction Drainage Worry

Posted on 3/17/24 at 7:21 pm
Posted by Kunu
Member since Jan 2016
42 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 7:21 pm
Im looking to buy a home that was just built. However, the yard seems to hold a lot of standing water and has drainage issues.

About how much would it cost to fix these issues? I’ll try to attach some photos for a better idea of what I’m talking about.

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyeSK0] [/url]

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyGGwD] [/url]

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyeuAf] [/url]

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyGeZ4] [/url]

[url=https://im.ge/i/Ryeobp] [/url]

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyeTiq] [/url]

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyeFpm] [/url]
This post was edited on 3/18/24 at 8:53 am
Posted by Kunu
Member since Jan 2016
42 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 7:23 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/17/24 at 7:24 pm
Posted by Civildawg
Member since May 2012
8606 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 7:35 pm to
You need to either make the seller fix these or run far away. What the heck was that builder thinking?

If he did that bad on the grading, I'd hate to know what other crap jobs he did building that house
Posted by tide06
Member since Oct 2011
11270 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 7:38 pm to
Did the builder build on a bunch of red clay?

If so good luck with drainage and getting any grass to grow.

Can that issue be fixed? Yes, using French drains and aeration for the grass with topdressing.

Is it a red flag that there are potential concerns that could costs $10k to remediate and might lead to water in your house at some point if not addressed? Yes
Posted by Willie Stroker
Member since Sep 2008
13027 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 7:56 pm to
quote:

Im looking to buy a home that was just built

Complete the sentence.

…on a sinkhole.
Posted by turkish
Member since Aug 2016
1799 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 8:01 pm to
Consider yourself fortunate that you were able to inspect the site after a good rain before it was too late.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15287 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 8:20 pm to
No way in hell I'd even think about buying that house. Too many issues to start with.

One pic shows your foot underwater next to the foundation.
You backfill that area and the soil is up against your bricks, not along the edge of the slab where it should be.

You will have weep holes in the brick on the bottom course and that could wind up letting water enter that area and possibly get indoors or at least start a mold issue in your walls.
Posted by Kunu
Member since Jan 2016
42 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 8:23 pm to
I appreciate all the advice thus far. Is this fixable with gutters and the right drainage system or is it generally fricked from not being built up properly from the jump?
Posted by ISEN_AG
ThunderWolf Manor
Member since Aug 2013
1933 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 8:38 pm to
Hell no. Don't touch that...As of right now it's not your problem and you really don't want it to be.
Posted by Cracker
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
17777 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 8:55 pm to
If the builder fixes it then you buy it what about the run off onto another property that’s gonna be on both

RUN!
Posted by greenbean
USAF Retired
Member since Feb 2019
4686 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 9:05 pm to
Posted by AyyyBaw
Member since Jan 2020
1070 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 9:33 pm to
Only one way to fix that - dirt.
Posted by baseballmind1212
Missouri City
Member since Feb 2011
3266 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 9:52 pm to
Easy fix.

Tell the builder he can re-grade the lot (including French/area drains) to shed water away from the slab.

Or take 40k off the price. 20 for you to do the work, 20 for the headache.



He will do neither, and sell it within a month.
Posted by ruzil
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2012
16960 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 10:31 pm to
Any consideration in buying this house would include having a civil engineer assess the property to see if a drainage plan is feasible.

What is the elevation of the property and where does the water need to drain. What is the elevation of the storm water drainage (if any) and how much fall do you have to drain the property.

This should have been considered before the house was built.

Ask the builder what his plans were for drainage. If none was considered, run.
Posted by Obtuse1
Westside Bodymore Yo
Member since Sep 2016
25887 posts
Posted on 3/17/24 at 10:45 pm to
FYI if you scroll down the page where you hosted you pictures you can copy from where it says BBCode and you paste it in your post, no need to use the img button.

ie:

[url=https://im.ge/i/RyeFpm] [/url]
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
8823 posts
Posted on 3/18/24 at 7:15 am to
How would you characterize the rain that did this? Normal, significant, or historic? Now imagine what it would look like if it was a genuine historic multi day rain event.

Is the property also getting water from uphill properties?

I could mitigate this with a few tactics, but I’m firmly in the run away camp.

As someone who has done a ton of drainage work on my homes, I see a ton of issues on new construction. Folks moving here (Ozarks) from CA will have some rude awakenings this Spring.
Posted by Drop4Loss
Birds Eye Of Deaf Valley
Member since Oct 2007
3885 posts
Posted on 3/18/24 at 8:47 am to
Is the builder
Level Homes ?
Improper grading before the closing
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
14076 posts
Posted on 3/18/24 at 8:34 pm to
Pic 3, over the fan, looks like Alejandro and the boys met in the middle with that batten spacing and made’er work.
Posted by East Coast Band
Member since Nov 2010
62929 posts
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:29 am to
A bit of a different situation, but a house we were looking at had major foundation issues due to improper building and handling stormwater.
This was on a hill and had a basement, but nonetheless I could easily see years of neglect and what it does to the house.
Sinking corners, basement flooding, foundation wall cracking, etc.
Run away from this house
Posted by GEAUXT
Member since Nov 2007
29288 posts
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:59 am to
Small yard, clear cut trees, no privacy, water up to/above the foundation. Why in the world would you want to buy that house? I bet your wife likes the stainless appliances and upgraded granite counters.

Seriously, don't let emotions rule. Listen to everyone saying to run away from that. It will not be your only issue with that house.
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