How to create slope away from house and prepare for lawn and paving?

JayBee05

Hi all,

I'm at a bit of a stalemate..Planned out a few things in hope of cleaning out the front and back yard..Was hoping to get some info on how best to proceed..

Back yard - 
Starting from the backyard, I'm hoping to go for seeding (Buffalo grass) With paving (400 x 400) close to the rear wall and grass around. I'm also hoping to factor in a small fire pit area facing the rear boundary. 

Sides -

I'm hoping to lay down 400 x 200 pavers, would they be good to be laid on edging with concrete base or is crushed rock or soil a better base with concrete? I'm hoping to add dark pebbles around the pavers

My main point of query what's the best way to create a slight slope away from the house base and how easy is it to prepare the soil and base from what I have now ( currently site has been filled with topsoil, but it's weathered down now)

MitchellMc

Hi @JayBee05,

It sounds like you have a good vision for your outdoor spaces, but I can see why you’re feeling a bit stuck. For the backyard, seeding or laying Buffalo grass is a solid choice as it establishes well and tolerates moderate wear. When planning paving near the rear wall, make sure to consider drainage and slope. You want the ground to slope away from the house at roughly 1–2 percent, or around 10–20 millimetres per metre, to prevent water pooling near the foundation. This can be achieved by carefully raking and leveling your soil before laying the pavers or the grass. For your fire pit area, consider using paving or gravel to create a safe, heat-resistant surface.

For the sides and your 400 x 200 pavers, they need a stable base. A concrete base is very solid and will keep the pavers level for a long time, but it is more permanent and labour-intensive. A more common approach is to use a compacted crushed rock base with edge restraints. This allows water to drain, is easier to install yourself, and still provides good stability. Using just soil as a base is not recommended because it can shift over time. You can then add a layer of dark pebbles around the pavers for a finished look.

To create the slight slope away from the house, start by checking the level across the area, then add or remove soil to achieve the desired fall. Rake the area roughly level, add extra topsoil in low spots if needed, and compact it well. Once the slope is established, you can install the crushed rock base for pavers or prepare the soil for grass. Since your site has already been filled with topsoil, you may need to adjust some areas to maintain the correct slope, but with careful preparation, this is very achievable and will give you a solid foundation for both grass and paving. 

Here are some helpful guide: How to grow grass from seed, How to lay turf and How to lay pavers. You might also like to look through our Top 10 most popular backyard projects and Top 10 most popular side yard projects for inspiration.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell