Water or drainage problem on your property?

Water pooling in the backyard, basement infiltration, a neighbour’s fill, pavers that drain the wrong way: we find the probable cause and determine what to fix, before you invest in work.

Have my problem assessed 514-946-4567

Find the cause before redoing the work

We can figure out what is happening and determine what needs fixing, so you avoid paying for work that does not address the real cause.

Have my problem assessed

Observed situation

1 House and basement
2 Low point: water pools against the foundation
3 Ground sloping toward the house
4 Property line
5 Higher neighbouring lot
Field-surveyed grades

Recommended fix

1 Corrected slope: water moves away from the foundation
2 Catch basin at the new low point
3 Pipe to the outlet
Existing profile

Water pooling in the backyard

A backyard that holds water usually has a low point with no outlet, too little slope, or more water coming in than the ground can absorb. Adding a drain is not always the answer: first you need to know where the water comes from and why it stays.

Site grading plans and layout

Low point with no outlet

Water flowing toward the house

When the ground slopes toward the house, every rain brings water against the foundation. The cause may be settled soil, poorly graded landscaping or downspouts discharging in the wrong place.

Grading plans and slopes

Ground sloping toward the foundation

Neighbouring lot and runoff

A neighbour who raises their lot, or a new building next door, can completely change how water flows toward your property. To discuss it on solid ground, the grades on both sides of the property line must be measured and what changed must be documented.

Expert assessment: water coming from a neighbouring lot

Fill on the neighbouring lot

Water infiltration and foundation drainage

Water in the basement does not always come from a failing foundation drain. Grading around the house, roof water management and the drain’s outlet often play just as big a role. Pinning down the right cause avoids costly, unnecessary work.

Foundation drainage

Foundation drain

Poorly executed work

Pavers or paving redone with a reverse slope, a badly connected drain, poorly compacted fill: some problems show up right after work is done. Measuring the actual slopes makes it possible to compare what was built with what should have been.

Expert assessment: poorly executed paving and pavers

Pavers laid with a reverse slope

Need an engineer’s report?

When the situation calls for it, our findings are presented in an engineer’s technical report. It is useful for:

a dispute with a neighbour or a contractor
a claim or an insurance file
planning corrective work
meeting a municipal requirement

Engineer’s technical report

Low-lying (cuvette) areas in Montreal

Converting a basement into a dwelling or a habitable room, or building an addition near a low point? Depending on the borough, a civil engineering report on stormwater management may be required. We can analyze the site conditions and prepare that report.

Read our article on cuvette areas (in French)