Excavation · Cambridge
Grading & Drainage in Cambridge
Lot grading, swales and drainage corrections that move water away from Cambridge homes — the fix behind most wet basements in Preston, Galt and Hespeler.
Most wet-basement calls we get in Cambridge trace back to the surface, not the foundation. A lot that has settled toward the house over forty years, a downspout dumping beside the wall, a neighbour's new patio that now sends runoff onto your side, a low spot along the fence that holds water for days after a storm. Regrading fixes what waterproofing companies would charge much more to manage from the inside.
Cambridge adds one more factor: the rivers. In the low areas of Galt and Preston the ground is already wet in spring, so the slope away from the house has to be right and the swales have to actually drain somewhere.
What's included
- Rough and finish grading of the whole lot or the problem side
- Positive slope away from the foundation — the first ten feet matter most
- Swales, catch basins and surface channels that carry water to the street or a rear yard outlet
- Downspout extensions and buried discharge lines that don't end at the foundation
- Fixing pooling and soft spots, and prepping for sod, seed, a patio or a driveway
- Compliance with the City of Cambridge lot-grading and site-alteration rules
The City's grading rules
Cambridge regulates grade changes through its site alteration by-law, and lots in newer subdivisions — Hespeler north of Queen, Clemens Mill, River Flats — were built to an approved grading plan that sends water in a specific direction. Change it and you can push water onto a neighbour, which is a by-law problem as well as a neighbour problem. We grade to the intent of the original plan and pull the permit when the scope needs one.
Older lots in Galt and Preston
Pre-1970s lots rarely had a grading plan at all. They've settled, been landscaped over, and sometimes had the driveway paved above the level of the garage slab. We rebuild the slope from the foundation out and give the water a route that works in a March thaw, not just a summer shower.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to regrade my yard in Cambridge?
Small adjustments around the house generally don't. Bringing in significant fill, changing drainage patterns or working in a GRCA-regulated area can. We tell you at the site visit.
Will regrading fix my wet basement?
If water is coming in at the top of the wall, at a window well or after heavy rain, very often yes. If it's coming up through the floor or at the cove joint year-round, you likely need interior drainage as well — and we'll say so.
What slope should the ground have away from my house?
Roughly six inches of drop over the first ten feet, then a gentle fall to an outlet. We'll set it with a level, not by eye.
Serving Cambridge and surrounding areas. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote specific to your project.