Foundation
Check the grade slopes away from the foundation
Every year, in May.
What to do
Walk the perimeter and look at where the ground meets the wall. You want it falling away from the house.
Why it matters
Water pooling against the wall seeps through it. The Alberta warranty excludes water damage traced back to grading the homeowner did not manage, so skipping this can cost a claim rather than just a repair.
What to look for
- A drop of about 15 cm over the first 2 m out from the wall
- Depressions or settled trenches where the backfill has compacted — normal on a new build, and what you fill
- Soil or gravel touching untreated wood or the bottom of the cladding; you want 20 cm of clearance
- Flowerbeds and edging that have quietly re-graded water back toward the wall
- Standing water against the foundation after rain, which is the thing this prevents
Where this comes from
Habitat Studio p.10 and p.30, and CMHC CE 47. Habitat says spring, CMHC says fall; May wins because after the melt you can see where the water actually went.
Catch it while it’s still maintenance.
Domisura keeps this schedule for your house — dated to when things went in, and reminding you when each task comes round. The record stays with the address when you sell.
Start a record for your homeGeneral guidance, not professional advice. For gas, electricity, structure or water, get a qualified trade.