Exterior Grade & Catch Basin Drainage in Ellicott City & Howard County, MD
On Ellicott City’s hillside lots, the grade itself sends runoff toward the house. We re-establish positive slope and install catch basins tied to buried PVC so surface water is intercepted before it reaches your footings.
Request Free In-Person Inspection
No obligation. Fixed-price proposal in writing.
Signs your property requires this service
If you are seeing any of these warning signs in your Ellicott City or Howard County home, it is time for a technical inspection.
Yard pooling after rain
Standing water in low spots seeps down to footing level and saturates the soil beside the foundation.
Negative slope toward the house
Ground that slopes back toward the foundation channels runoff straight at the wall.
Surface runoff at the foundation
Sheet water reaching the house during storms needs surface interception.
Hardscape runoff
Patios and driveways that shed water toward the home concentrate volume against the foundation.
Our step-by-step engineering standard
- Phase 1
Grade & runoff survey
We survey the lot slope, low points, and hardscape runoff paths to plan surface interception and regrading.
- Phase 2
Grade correction
We re-establish positive grade away from the foundation for the first several feet so the soil itself sheds water.
- Phase 3
Catch basin installation
We install catch basins at low points and runoff paths, tied into buried solid PVC that carries intercepted water safely away.
- Phase 4
Flow test & finish
We confirm surface water is captured and discharged before it can penetrate to footing depth, then finish the surface.
Technical standards & material specifications
- IRC R401.3 (6-in fall / 10 ft)
- Code-pitched buried conduit
- Surface interception
- Primary Symptom
- Yard pooling, negative slope toward the house, surface runoff
- Technical Solution
- Regrade to positive slope + catch basins tied to buried PVC
- Governing Code / Standard
- IRC R401.3 (6" fall / 10 ft)
- Expected Lifespan
- Permanent grade + 25-yr piping
Why Howard County homes need this
Ellicott City’s steep hillside lots slope runoff toward the house, and low spots pool surface water that seeps down to footing level and saturates the soil column beside the foundation.
Re-establishing positive grade and intercepting runoff at catch basins sheds water at the surface so it never loads the soil beside your footings, protecting the crawl space and foundation together.
The Stack Effect
Exterior water management is the foundation of a dry home: keep runoff out of the soil beside your footings and every downstream system — vapor barrier, drain tile, and sump — works less and lasts longer.
Investment & ROI for this service
Typical Howard County range
$1,200 – $6,000
What affects the price
Area regraded, soil volume moved, number of catch basins, and buried piping length.
Long-term value
Sheds water at the surface so it never loads the soil beside your footings, protecting the crawl space and foundation.
Every project is quoted with a fixed, written proposal after a free on-site inspection — no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What is positive grade and why does it matter?
Positive grade means the soil slopes away from your foundation. IRC R401.3 calls for a 6-inch fall within the first 10 feet. When the grade slopes toward the house instead, runoff is channeled straight at the wall and down to the footing.
How does a catch basin help?
A catch basin collects surface water and hardscape runoff at low points and ties it into buried PVC that carries it away, stopping the pooling that otherwise seeps down to footing level.
Is regrading better than interior waterproofing?
They solve different parts of the problem. Grading and catch basins keep water from loading the soil in the first place; interior systems manage water that still reaches the house. Together they’re far more effective than either alone.
Will this fix my wet crawl space by itself?
Exterior water management dramatically reduces the water load, and for some homes it’s enough. Where groundwater or humidity is also a factor, we combine it with encapsulation or interior drainage for a complete solution.