E. Burns Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 When checking the grading on a home we use the 5-10% fall away from the structure (6" to 12" in 10 feet. Is this what everyone uses? Does anyone know where this is documented? [:-snorkel]Thanks, Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul MacLean Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 That's basically what I use, but then when the houses are only ten feet apart it's had to tell. For me it's a judgment call and I don't worry to much about "code". We have some areas of town that are table top flat and you won't get a 6" drop in three lots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 Hi Ellen, I can probably find it in one or more texts around here, but the standard recommendation in most parts of the country is 1" per foot away from the house for at least the first six feet from the foundation. In some parts of the country where they don't have snow - here for instance - you can get away with only about 1/2 inch without any problems. I should think that down in Florida you can get away with that as well, so 6 to 12 in 10ft. is pretty good. Didn't Florida just adopt the IRC? The IRC[401.3] requires a minimum of 6 inches in 10ft. away from the foundation. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n/a27 Posted January 23, 2004 Report Share Posted January 23, 2004 Hi Ellen, I have gotten to the point that I can usually get a "lay-of-the-land" when driving up to a house. If there are alleys, I drive around and look from as many perspectives as I can. One problem around here is that few communities have any building code enforcement agencies and the grading issues come up with new homes more than old. I have seen three 1/4 million $ houses that had to have "window wells" retro-fitted around foundation vents because the house was sited too low for final grading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted January 23, 2004 Report Share Posted January 23, 2004 Mike, As of 10:50PM January 22, 2004 Florida remains under the Florida Building Code 2001 with the 2003 revisions. Maybe someday our less than progressive state will adopt the IRC. Hell we are still building houses like they do in the frigid north. The authorities haven't realized you don't ventilate attics in hot humid climates like you do in cool dry ones. I guess they don't know how cold air coming out of an air conditioning duct blowing accross a sheetrock ceiling reacts with the humidity in an attic when the temperature on the attic side of the ceiling reaches the dewpoint of the air in the attic. Go know!! NORM SAGE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted January 23, 2004 Report Share Posted January 23, 2004 Jeez, I didn't have any idea there was any kind of standard for that. Grading doesn't get the attention it should here, but being a life-long resident leaves me with an intimate knowledge of which areas drain reasonably well and which ones don't. Outside of that, if it slopes down as it moves away, I'm happy. [:-shades] Ellen, your dress is lovely....and who does your hair, girl?! [-crzwom] Brian G. Incurable Southern Flirt [:-eyebrows] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E. Burns Posted January 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2004 Hi Guys, thanks for the replies. Mike, I thought I found a reference in the Builders Guide (Hot-Humid Climates)but I can not locate the reference. Thanks for the IRC reference. Norm, I checked the Florida Building Code and could not find a reference there. Do you know of one? Paul, The zero lot lines do make it difficult to get a correct slope around here also. I had a heat pump installer the other day tell me he could not get the proper clearance off of the exterior wall?! Brian, The dress is a Donna Karan original and the hair, I worked on it myself before the photo. You like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted January 23, 2004 Report Share Posted January 23, 2004 Originally posted by E. Burns The dress is a Donna Karan original and the hair, I worked on it myself before the photo. You like? My dear you look smashing! Mr. Ellen is a lucky fellow, and you may tell him I said so. [:-thumbu] Brian G. A.K.A. Mr. Janet [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted January 23, 2004 Report Share Posted January 23, 2004 Ellen, Perhaps more important then slope away from the house is the distance the grade is from the siding. Around here (frigid NJ), it is common to see grade less than the required 9 inches (I call it out if it's less than 6 inches), on about 10% of inspections, the siding is actually buried below grade. If the slope is less than required, your client could add top soil to obtain the slope but may end up with soil against siding. Be careful what you tell your client to do. Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 The IRC calls for 6" in ten feet from the foundation. I usually don't give any kind of exact measurements. I usually state that there should be a well developed slope away from the house. I will be on tomorrow with the exact IRC code. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrasseur Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Ellen, As a rule, I use the 6 inches for 10 feet rule. This is also the rule that you will find the IRC adopts. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Wow This thread hibernated for almost 3 years. Gotta be a record. Mike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrasseur Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 WoW! I didn't realize the date of this original post until after I answered it! I hope Ellen wasn't waiting at her computer this whole time [][:-bigeyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Hmmm, What ever happened to Ellen? Brian G. was flirting with her pretty good for a while. Guess he scared her off. OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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