HawthorneVillager.com

I just called the town's engineering dept. Told them I am planning on replacing the grass in my backyard with flagstone patio, ground cover (irish moss/phlox etc), flowerbeds and shed at the corner. The admin assistant told me I am not allowed to remove all the grass since it will mess up the neighbourhood's drainage system as it would change the grading, and that I have to leave some grass. She then told me I should speak with the manager just to be sure and forwarded me to the manager's voice mail.

I left a message but was what she was saying true? The shed will have concrete pad as foundation and the patio will have HPB for its base. And it will have 2.5% downslope away from the house. How would it mess up drainage? Sounds exagerrated to me.

Also, the end point of my backyard (fence) is about a foot lower than the grade around the back wall of the house. I hope that doesn't mean I can only install the patio slanted the same way! That wouldn't even be funny!

Does any one know or have any insight about this? Help! Need your opinion.

Be sure your shed is 2 ft from the property line also.

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We are thinking about putting flagstone as well and the grading should not be an issue as long as proper sloping away from house towards the drainage is maintained

We already have shed with concrete pad

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Archana & Ravi

I`m interested in hearing what happens here. My next door neighbour has plans to remove 100% of the grass on her property and replace it with interlock. I`m not very happy about this, but I don`t want to start a war.

Still waiting for Engineering to call back. But I highly suspect what the admin told me was entirely true. I cannot be the first one in the entire neighbourhood who is thinking of replacing the grass with something else more useful or requiring less maintenance.

But your last sentence is interesting... why are you not happy about your neighbour wanting to do the same thing I am planning to do? I don't understand how that would make you upset. Are you concerned it will cause drainage problem to you? Do explain please.

First of all, being right next door, we share a lawn and the space between the houses, all of which is grass. Secondly her house grade is significantly higher than mine. I'm concerned that if it's not done correctly, than I will suffer with the water drainage problems. She wants a 100% maintenance free (ie. sealed) interlock, which means it will have to be sloped away from the house.. towards mine.

I put a pool in my backyard and the engineering department had an issue with me placing river rock up next to my fence to maintain the draining. they thought the rock was going to stop the flow of water and i told him it was just there to stop soil erosion. I'm still not sure if the guy understood what i was doing but he approved it.

I think the issue with the full patio backyard and no grass has to do with the way soil will absorb water. When it rains the grass will absorb a great deal of the water and because of the grade move it towards the edges and bottom of the yard, with an all stone (ie. no grass) yard there is no absorption happening and all of the water is now running off the stone following the grade which would push it all to the sides and rear of your lot. Your neighbours yards will essentially be handling the rain on their lot, plus the rain running off of yours.

That's a valid concern. I'd assume if it's done by experience contractor, perhaps one of those highly rated landscapers from homestars.ca, that they would know how to do it correctly. Plus, I am thinking there is always an easement in one of the house(s) around the neighbourhood to help ensure rainwater drains properly. But by all means if you could spell out exactly how you think it should be done correctly, I am all ears. I'll help make sure the contractor follow whatever you think is the proper way... unless he has a better suggestion/approach.

By the way, unlike your neighbour, although I am removing all the grass, I am not replacing it with just stone patio. Towards the fence, I am keeping flower beds and there will also groundcover planted. On the other hand, I am also using HPB to help make sure proper drainage (from my perspective obviously). But does that change your view/fear?

I am interested in your insight because my back neighbour and the two houses adjacent have grading that are indeed lower
than mine. One of them already freaked out when I build a pergola in the backyard, complaining how tall it is/looks. Only to realize that it's really only 9 feet tall and that my grading is about 1.5 - 2 feet taller than theirs.

Our scenarios are definitely different as my neighbour is interlocking the side and front of her house too. Based on the existing grading in my scenario, I believe it will be complicated as her property is already about 18" above mine. Her yard is slopped around the perimeter significantly. I imagine a retaining wall with some sort of drainage system would be ideal.

Why would anyone want to get rid of nice green grass and replace it with stone/concrete/whatever?

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Some people are like slinkies. They're really good for nothing but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

In our situation, the lady next door is elderly and wants a maintenance free yard.
Currently I do all of the maintenance for her, but as she quotes "This is my last home, I'm never moving again. You won't be my neighbour forever and no one will be here to maintain the property when you move"

So don't move!

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Some people are like slinkies. They're really good for nothing but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

I have no intent to move anytime soon.

Many reasons. But if I have a nice green grass to begin with, especially the kind that doesn't require maintenance (i.e. stays perfectly trimmed, I think I may keep it.