Most wet basements here leak on the uphill wall. We catch the water higher on the slope and carry it around the house to a safe outlet.
Drainage on Pittsburgh hillsides is about water coming down from above. Rain runs off the lot uphill, soaks into the clay and moves along the top of the shale until it hits a basement wall or a retaining wall. The fix is to catch it before it gets there: a curtain drain or swale above the house or wall, sending the water around to a safe outlet.
We also rebuild the grade along the house so water runs away from the foundation, pipe downspouts away from slopes so they do not saturate the hill, and replace failed footer drains when the basement is opened. French drains need a real outlet, and on a slope that outlet must not dump water where it will erode the yard or a neighbor's.
Many parts of the city and the older suburbs have combined sewers, and roof and sump water add to overflows when they are tied into the sanitary line. We route water to approved storm outlets or to a spot on your lot where it can soak in or run safely, and we check with the municipality before tying into anything.
Drainage solutions in Pittsburgh: common questions
Why does my basement leak on the uphill side?
Water from the slope above soaks in and moves along the rock toward your wall. A curtain drain above the house and a working footer drain usually stop it.
Can water behind my retaining wall make it fail?
Yes. Trapped water pushes hard on a wall. Drain stone and a pipe behind the wall let it out.
Can my downspouts drain onto the slope?
Not right onto a steep slope, where they can start erosion or a slide. We pipe them to a safer outlet.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the site with you.
- Written quote: Scope, equipment and price in writing.
- Utility locate & plan: We have utilities marked and plan access, haul-off and erosion control.
- Dig, grade & clean up: We complete the work, grade the site and haul away spoil.