Yard, Slope, Basement and Walls

8 years ago

We are in the planning stages of our new home. We have a preliminary site plan, attached. We have discussed with our architect the following:

- Filling the majority of the backyard to be nearly level, peak at 106' and continuing until the red marking to around 104' (We have kids and want a level yard to play in)

- Partial basement under the portion of the house i have circled in yellow, at this point the land drops to around 95'

- Discussed having a terraced side yard with retaining walls

- A couple questions:

- If we do not want the added expense of the retaining walls, and fill the backyard more gradually (IE instead of filling to 104 across the back, we fill to 104, then 103, then 102 etc...), will we "FEEL" that uneven slope in the yard when we are playing out there or the kids are playing with their friends?

- Any way to avoid the need for a retaining wall, either by fill, starting the slope earlier or any other ideas?

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
That is only about a 6% grade change.....I doubt you will even notice the slope when out on the 'back 40' :-)
PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago
The house finish floor levels are going to be the prime determinant in establishing proper grades. It's not going to be practical to level a yard relying on massive fill. You'll want to balance cut and fill as much as possible, so there is the minimum amount of soil to haul in, or away. And you'll want to correlate the level portion of the back yard as much as possible with the back entrance. If this is not a wooded site where you are trying to retain forest as much as possible, it looks like you stand a good chance of having a mildly sloped play area since the longitudinal direction of the lot is already level, and the lot width is not that severe. Retaining walls will be relegated more for protecting the house from slope and/or for whatever artistic functions you deem warranted. In effect, you'll be trying to push slope toward the lot perimeter while leveling the central portion. Since there's a 10' or 11' grade change overall just to accommodate the house, you're bound to have some retaining walls. Having 5' height walls at both the top and bottom side would make a lot more sense than having a 10' wall at just one end.
spitaki10 thanked Yardvaark
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spitaki10
Original Author
8 years ago
Yardvaark, thank you for the great insight. The lot is not forested, it’s in a neighborhood and is surrounded by homes on both sides as well as the back. Would you recommend I go ahead and reach out to graders prior to the final plans being completed so the architect can incorporate the proposed grading into the final site plan? Thanks so much!
Bruce in Northern Virginia
8 years ago
Also make sure you have someone on the team who develops a drainage plan for the lot. With 10' difference on the high side, it should drain well overall, but you want the water to go around the house, not be directed up against the wall on the high side. If the high side water is allowed to drain straight down and be against the wall, it will create significant pressure that really puts a strain on the waterproofiing and/or french drains. Instead, you want all that water to take the easiest path (the yard drainage system) and just go completely around the house, not up against that wall.

Bruce