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1K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  Ravenworks 
#1 ·
I need help with ideas. 2 years ago my neighbour built an addition to his house, new garage, and re-paved his driveway. He also put a down spout from his roof on the side of his driveway.
My house is from 1954 and this year I had to redo the weeping tile... Now I am left with what you see on the picture. I need to divert the water from the house but I don't know how. For now my sump pump works like crazy. I hope I can help it somehow. What do you think?
Asphalt is too expensive and my driveway is on the other side of the house. Maybe, I can put some plastic somehow and then the top soil? I don't want to plant anything there. I don't care too much how it looks. I need to keep water away from my hole with the gravel... I've lost my sleep...
 

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#5 ·
You most certainly are responsible for your run-off,just went down this road a few years back.
You will have to one of two things.
1) Get him to divert the water run off and add a way for it to leach out without coming onto your property.
2)Change the grade on both side and create a "Swale" which is a low point in the middle of both properties that will enable the water to go away.
As for the driveway,you can use that as leverage,just say the word "Encroachment"
 
#3 ·
I did not tell you the whole story: I bought this house from a 82 year old person last year. Because of his age he was not able to deal with the isssue with his neighbour. He told me that it is "my problem" now.
I was stupid and did not realize how bad the problem was. I found it out in the fall... Had to do unfinish the basement and install the weeping tile in January... The neighbour seems like a nice guy. He even cleaned my driveway a couple of times in the winter. I don't think I can make him to divert the water from my property. I understand that I have problems because of him, but his driveway is very narrow and he had to pave it right to the property line.
 
#4 ·
I would still check with your local inspectors. If they are unable to make the neighbor fix this they can offer you suggestions. On a house we used to own, upon purchase, the local building inspector gave us a fix notice to add gutters to fix s neighbors problem with water in her basement.
 
#7 ·
"encroachment"you said his drive was put in recently ,was it done legally, depending on you municipality it should be X amount of feet from your property ?
If I were you I would call your zoning board and start asking questions.
As for creating a Swale,goggle it and look at some pictures of what they look like. You will either have to cut dirt add dirt or both to acheive a mutual grade that is compatible for both parties.What it looks like is a V ,high on top and low in the bottom thus draining the water away from the build(s)
I would bet if his drainage was fixed properly a lot of your problems would resolve on there own.
 
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