Insufficient Ground Fall Away From Walls (Side)
Insufficient Ground Fall Away From Walls (Side) is a moderate-severity drainage defect SURE inspectors have documented across 4 inspection reports.
Causes
- Inadequate grading around the property
- Natural landscape and contour
Symptoms to look for
- Potential for surface water ponding against perimeter walls or entering subfloor areas during rainfall
- Potential for surface water ponding against walls
- Potential for water entry into subfloor areas
- Ground not falling away from perimeter walls
- Ground levels not falling away from walls
Remedies
- Assess during a period of rainfall and if surface water appears to be ponding against the perimeter walls (or where applicable entering subfloor areas), engage a landscaper to assess and repair as required
- Regularly check and keep all drains clean of debris to allow surface water to be carried away from the dwelling
- Engage a plumber or landscaper to assess and repair as required if surface water ponds or enters subfloor
- If surface water ponds or enters sub-floor, engage a plumber or landscaper to rectify
- Regularly check and clean all drains of debris
Worth asking our inspector about this specifically.
This is common across Perth stock and usually fixable without drama, but the scope of the fix varies. Every SURE inspection includes 12 months of free advice. Call out the defect by name and we check for it directly.
Curated entries in Drainage
- Curated 1–4/5Undrained Air Conditioner Overflow
Split-system and ducted air conditioners produce condensate that must be piped away from the building. Where the overflow line terminates against the wall or discharges onto soil at the perimeter, repeated wetting creates conducive conditions for subfloor moisture, termite activity, and rising damp in adjacent masonry or framing.
- Curated 1–4/5Inadequate Surface Water Drainage
Where surface water cannot drain freely away from the building perimeter, it accumulates against footings and walls, creating persistent soil moisture that is a primary conducive condition for termite activity and footing movement. The BCA requires finished ground levels to fall away from the building at a minimum 1:100 grade for at least 1 metre at every external wall.
- Curated 1–4/5Downpipes Not Connected to Storm Water
One or more downpipes discharge directly onto the ground at the building perimeter rather than into a stormwater system. Water concentrates against footings, raising the risk of footing movement, rising damp, and termite conducive conditions - we find this in 22.1% of all Perth inspection reports.
- Curated 1–3/5Debris in Gutters
Leaf litter, dirt, and organic matter accumulating in gutters blocks downpipes and causes water to back up, overflow, and saturate fascia and eave linings. We see this in 17.5% of all Perth inspection reports - one of the most frequent maintenance defects on the books.
- Curated 1–3/5Uneven Pathways
Differential settlement of concrete or paved pathways creates raised or sunken sections that direct surface water toward the building rather than away from it. Our inspectors record this in 7.86% of all Perth reports. Beyond water ponding and potential moisture ingress at the perimeter, uneven surfaces present a trip-hazard that may engage liability considerations for vendors and landlords.
- Curated 2–4/5Stormwater Drainage Directed Towards Building
Site grading or paving directing stormwater runoff towards the building foundation rather than away from it. Causes subfloor moisture accumulation, rising damp, and potential foundation movement on reactive soils.