The development of a yard is not a simple thing. Even the most basic outdoor space with a deck, a fence, and a lawn require knowledge of materials, structure, drainage, soils, planting, and detailing for the weather. And more developed gardens that contain lighting, pathways, retaining walls, irrigation, and other complex components require deeper knowledge.

Whenever the shape of the land is altered, the movement of water is altered as well. Therefore, thinking about how water moves in and through a site prior to construction is critical in determining how the site plan is going to create new drainage patterns. In this excerpt from their book, Graphic Guide to Site Construction, authors Rob Thallon and Stan Jones outline the principles involved in erecting preventive erosion-control measures prior to construction, draining water away from the house, preserving existing grades around trees you wish to save and more.

Rob Thallon is an architect and an associate professor of architecture at the University of Oregon, where he teaches courses in design and construction.  He has written numerous articles and books on residential construction including Graphic Guide to Frame Construction and Graphic Guide to Interior Details. Stan Jones teaches design and landscape technologies in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon.

Drawings by: Rob Thallon, rendered by: Vince Babak