Why do some owners choose not to backfill the area behind the house?
timber26
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Hi!
I have searched the forums and not found an answer to my question. Thanks in advance.
I am building a small cabin, 13X19, and I have a foundation construction question.
I will be building into a hill and I have noticed that some home owners choose not to backfill the sides and back of the property. Why? There is an open space that one can walk completely around the property and usually a wall on the back and sides.
I have also noticed that commercial buildings do this a lot too when built near a hill.
Why is this strategy useful? Moisture elimination? Heads off future foundation problems?
Eric
Replies
Several considerations --
If one backfills the high side on a hill it's necessary to make the high-side foundation wall be a retaining wall. (This may be the main consideration.)
Uneven stresses will be placed on the foundation.
The wall will have to be waterproofed just like any basement wall.
On the other hand --
Not backfilling creates a "pond" where water will want to stand. Depending on the particulars, this can exacerbate water problems in the lower level, or at least make the outside space unusable for other purposes.
Unless somehow diverted water will rush downhill in heavy rains and can create other problems.
Maintaining the berm behind the house can be a problem -- difficult to mow/weed, erosion problems, etc.
walkouts
Style, structural and drainage considerations