Question: Hi Robert, my name is Lisa and I’d like to know if you can tell me what to do about a planter I have against my home. During these last rains it filled up, nearly overflowing to that line on the house where the foundation meets the house itself. We kept after it with buckets, but don’t know what to do to properly repair this so that we don’t have any issues in the future, if we get big rains again. We love reading your advice and recommendations to people who write in. We’ve learned so much, thank you.
— Lisa T.
Answer: Lisa, this is a very common problem. The issue is that when these planters are installed, there is no consideration for the swimming pool effect that will eventually happen just as it has here, with heavy rains. The water has nowhere to go so it will take the path of least resistance and eventually enter your home.
You were smart to know this, watch and act, when you saw it building.
There are a few things you can do. If you like the material that the planter is built with, leave it. You can drill holes through the material, using a proper drill bit if it is rock or cement block. Do this in several places just above the level of grass or concrete this is adjacent to, and the water will make its way through the holes.
One note on this: You should dig back and install fine mesh on the inside of the hole, to prevent too much soil from entering the hold and plugging it up. If you don’t care for the material the planter is made from, you can remove it and the soil down to below the level of ground that is adjacent and have a more level planter.
Without a photo of your planter, I am only surmising what this area may look like. The idea remains the same, though, and will solve the problem. We are due good weather so this should dry out enough next week, and you can work the problem. Best of luck.
Robert Lamoureux has more than 40 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at [email protected].
