I recently had a walkway installed next to my house, but now I'm worried about the height compared to my foundation. I live in the Midwest with a full basement and a low foundation all around. The old sidewalk had been there for about 40 years but started sloping towards the house, which I thought was causing water issues in my basement. I replaced it to ensure it slopes away, but it's now a few inches above my foundation, and I'm still dealing with water leaks. I discovered some wood in the back corner of the house is rotten, which is adding to the problem. I'm considering my options: tearing up the new walkway, re-grading the yard (which has its challenges like an ornamental tree), or maybe installing a French drain without losing my new walkway. Plus, I'm concerned that my vinyl siding was installed right against the previous walkway, and now I don't know what to do since it's scraping against the new one. I've inherited this house, which my grandmother owned, and although I got a good deal, the foundation issues have me worried. What are my best options here?
2 Answers
I totally get how frustrating this must be! From what you've described, keeping the walkway might work, especially if you can integrate a drainage solution like a French drain. You could also consult with a contractor to figure out if they can lift the walkway a bit or properly adjust the siding to avoid those water flow issues. Just make sure to take pictures of the damaged areas for better advice. You’re not alone in this; a lot of us have faced similar challenges after home renovations!
It sounds like you're dealing with a tricky situation! First off, maybe explore adding a French drain along your walkway while keeping it intact. This could help direct water away without tearing everything up. If the rot in the wood is bad, you might have to deal with that sooner rather than later, though. Check the siding too; making sure there's proper drainage there is vital to prevent further issues. Lastly, regrading might not be ideal with all the obstacles, so maybe get a pro to see if any other options could work for you. Good luck!
Yeah, definitely consult someone! It seems like a small fix can avoid big future headaches. Better safe than sorry!