recently bought a new house and inspector said i need to add some dirt around low lying areas outside the house (mainly right next to the foundation.

Should I just buy some fill dirt or try to think up of ways to get water away from the foundation? (there's only gutters on the front of the house.

I was thinking of adding fill dirt to help water flow away and then put some some sort of rock bed to keep water from coming off the house and washing the soil away.

Just some thoughts.

it depends on the amount of money you want to spend on this project. The best solution is to gutter the whole house and tie the downspouts to French drains. That will eliminate any water build up near your foundation.

What'll that run me?

If it's done my a professional company, at least several thousand dollars, depending on how big your house is and if you want the complete house done. If you were to install French drains around the entire perimeter of your house, tie it into your down spouts, and exit it all at the street, your looking at probably 10 grand at least done by a legit company

Every inspector ever recommends better drainage

If it looks like it needs some dirt, the get some sand

quote:

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Every inspector ever recommends better drainage

If it looks like it needs some dirt, the get some sand

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Agreed. I presume this is a concrete slab on grade? Water around the foundation isn't a terrible thing. Now if it's still ponded there a day or more after a rain event or the topography of the yard is such that it could lead to water getting into the home, then you might want to look at improving the drainage. Otherwise, without knowing more details, it's something he puts on the report for the sake of putting something on the report.

Inspectors don't like to not put anything on their reports. It doesn't look like they did anything.

there's one specific spot that i'll have to put a drainage paver (where the roof pitch funnels water down. Other than that, theres 1-2 other areas that are a little low that can hold water.

Yes, it's a slab on sort of a grade. One side of the house sits up some (couple feet) above the alley entrance.

There's a flower bed/landscape bed on that side of the house with some crape myrtles and landscape wooden ties (old house, i know). My plan (please provide input if you have any) is to put landscaping stones (retaining wall kind) where those wooden ties are, add some dirt to get rid of the grade (build the wall high enough to make it level with the foundation, probably about 12"), add dirt and then put riverbed rocks or something to keep erosion low.

See pic (I know it sucks, it's from google street view)

Based on the picture I don't see any need to build it up much. If you build it up too much you could create worse problems for yourself with water going into your weep holes. A couple inches of drop from the foundation to the border should be enough to get the water away from the house. Also, the more you build it up the deeper the hole you leave your AC in.

It looks like you have a low spot on the left side. I'm guessing that's below a valley in the roof? I'd bring in enough dirt to level it out and have a couple inches of drop. Put down a weed barrier, then use mulch or rocks to top it off with a large rock to prevent that spot from digging itself back out. Depending on how much you stay on top of your landscaping, consider that rocks are a much bigger pita to dig in if/when it gets overgrown.

I'm not a professional, this is just from personal experience/observation.

lowest spot is where the pitch meets with the other roof to the right of the air conditioner. this whole bed could use use some dirt. I think some dirt, mulch, and then large pavers where where the water falls in concentrated amounts off the roof should be fine?

Also, this gives a better view of the slope.

Yeah that would work. I'd put down a weed barrier. if you don't want to buy it use a layer of 4-5 sheets of newspaper will help kill anything underneath.

now to think about what else i could plant there. I had that small crape (or whatever it is) cut down and the crapes topped (left the 3). This faces the east so it doesn't get a huge amount of sun.

I'd like something low maintenance that wont get too big. maybe some boxwoods? Would have liked to put some knockout rose bushes but i don't think they'd get enough sun to really bloom and take off. the previous owner had one at the front of the house on the north side, i bet the darn thing never bloomed.

Nm