Type of Dirt to Use Around House to Drain Water Away

dcheyfitz asks,

What type of dirt should i use to build up the dirt around my house in order to slope the water away from the house. The water when it rains is flowing back toward the house instead of away from it.

Our Answer

The least expensive kind! Use clean fill dirt and tamp it to slope downward 6 inches over 4 feet. Once that is established, you can you can add a think layer of top soil to support grass seed or cover the fill dirt with mulch. You should never use just top soil for this because it is too organic and will hold water against your house instead of helping it drain away. Also make sure that you clean your gutters and extend the downspouts at least 4 feet from the house to keep your basement dry and prevent your foundation from moving.