How do I choose a professional for grading & site drainage?
Choose a properly qualified and insured professional whose written scope identifies diagnosis, permits, parts, labour, exclusions, warranty, cleanup, and total price.
What this means
Grading & site drainage covers pooling, slopes, erosion, window wells, and sump discharge. Relevant observations include Water pools beside foundation, Window well fills with water, Soil slopes toward the house, Sump discharge returns to foundation, Yard erosion is worsening. The correct response depends on age, design, climate, usage, installation, recent work, and the exact manufacturer instructions; these observations narrow next steps but do not prove a failed part.
Safe checks
- Verify the licence or certification required locally for work on grading & site drainage.
- Compare at least two written scopes when the situation is not an emergency.
- Confirm insurance, permits, parts, labour, warranty, exclusions, cleanup, payment schedule, and change-order rules.
Stop and get help if
- Leave or isolate the area for fire, gas, carbon monoxide, electrical exposure, collapse, sewage, or rapidly spreading water.
- Get qualified assessment when a hidden, growing, recurring, or structural condition is suspected.
Which professional to call
Use a qualified exterior or drainage specialist when the condition exceeds safe user access or the visible checks do not explain it.
Find the relevant tradeSource and method
This answer combines HomeSOS's structured triage with safety boundaries supported by a public source. It does not replace inspection.
Health Canada: Home safetyReviewed August 12, 2026