A friend is having water problems.
I sent this to him and thought some others would like to learn...






http://www.askthebuilder.com/B67_Tip...d_Houses.shtml
Many modern building codes have responded to this problem. They require that the top of foundations or slabs be at least 6 inches above the highest point of soil at any location around the house. Furthermore, the ground must fall away from the foundation at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet around the perimeter of the house. Note that this is a minimum requirement. The more slope the better.
In my opinion, you can never have too much slope away from your house. My guess is that anyone who has a wet basement or ground that slopes back towards their foundation will agree.

Existing Construction
Those of us with existing houses that have grade problems face different challenges. Landscaping, sidewalks and other improvements must be dealt with in trying to correct grade problems.
If you are lucky enough to have a sloped lot, your task of establishing grade can be accomplished. It may take a small piece of earth moving equipment like a Bobcat or skid-steer loader, but it will be worth it.
If you have a situation where ground is slopping towards your house (houses built on hillsides), the trick is to slope the ground gently by creating a swale. This swale, or ditch, allows you to do two things. It gets water away from the house and at the same time collects the water which runs downhill towards your house.


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More links:
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/f...ding/slope.htm
There are many causes of foundation leaks. Some repairs can be extremely expensive, some can be quick and cheap. It makes sense to try the cheap-and-easy repairs first, to see if they work, before digging into the heavy stuff.

Basement leak remedies can take two basic forms: 1. Keeping water away from the foundation. 2. Ensuring a water-tight seal all around the foundation.
Generally, solutions that fall into category #1 are easier and cheaper. These could be:

****Make sure the soil is properly graded away from the foundation.
  • Deter water from entering the soil next to the house by covering the ground with a water-tight barrier, such as plastic, or soil with a high clay content.
  • Escort the water away from the foundation area with a simple system of drain pipes.
  • Install rain gutters and ensure that the downspouts are directed well away from the foundation.

The solutions from category #2 would include excavating the soil around the house and:
  • Filling any cracks in the foundation with hydraulic (expanding) cement.
  • Repairing loose or poorly finished mortar joints in concrete block foundations.
  • Coating the foundation with a sealant, such as tar, Thoro-Seal (a cement-based product), or a bituminous membrane like Vycor Ice and Water Shield.
http://www.google.com/#q=how+to+grad...2ea6e12edc6080